How’s the breeding going

agree David i have a bale of wood shavings but they do blow about in the loft

last yb was not doing very well so breeding now finished if well enough will separate the birds to-morrow have one hen to go 2 rounds of blank eggs cock has filled eggs twice this year to a different then see what more can go to make room for 4 new blood i bred

well she has now gone got lots of cocks from her but only one hen  each time i post i can see a son of her last yb from her is at the olr

Is she now in the loft in the sky George ?.

yes misty

George & Morgan wrote:

yes misty

Hated that part of the sport but culling is necessary for many reasons.

Regards.

this was the hardest misty

George & Morgan wrote:

this was the hardest misty

Believe me George I know the feeling.

Regards.

One thing I hate about pigeon keeping is disposing of them, I I just can't do it.......i suppose that's why I'd never be successful at racing ....

i just throw them out but it was different with this hen

Done the same thing myself George, took them a few miles where there were plenty of townies and let them go.

Only works with young ones bred to keep the parents happy and not rung and stock birds that have never been let out.

But if you want a team of healthy natural pigeons you have to cull all that show any sign of weakness physical and health wise, then culling becomes less necessary and this takes time.

This unfortunately applies to all sports involving animals etc;

Regards.

this hen don't fill eggs so will throw her up

Sorry for your losses George

Shame George she's a nice looking bird, I think I might take a leaf out of your book and do the same......is far too many birds but don't have the heart to kill them or have them killed, it doesn't seem right to kill healthy birds....

David wrote:

Shame George she's a nice looking bird, I think I might take a leaf out of your book and do the same......is far too many birds but don't have the heart to kill them or have them killed, it doesn't seem right to kill healthy birds....

Little blue hen at the Mere still there looks as happy as Larry.

Sure any pigeon released into a flock of townies would soon settle in with them seen plenty that have done.

Better than culling.

However, no fancier breeds all good pigeons and hundreds of fanciers would have no chance of selling their poor ones and could not go on keeping them, hence they have to cull.

Tis a fact of our sport.

The same applies to many other sports involving animals.

Regards.

True misty, most pigeons are no good....

Just smashed half a dozen eggs, some hens paired up and laying.......not happy about it but can't do much about it .

David wrote:

Just smashed half a dozen eggs, some hens paired up and laying.......not happy about it but can't do much about it .    

Pain in backside all that type thing David I'm maybe pull all perches out there maybe & make life miserable through the off season there in placing steel type mesh well of the floor at a 45 degree type angle for them to sit on day & night could perhaps help.

David wrote:

Just smashed half a dozen eggs, some hens paired up and laying.......not happy about it but can't do much about it .    

We all know that there are very few top class pigeons bred from any pair so it could be that the eggs smashed are the only ones the pairs would ever breed.

Always tried to hatch every egg from my best breeders.

Regards.

they would never hatch misty, only hens are in that section........eggs not fertilized .

should go for corn tomorrow, am not desperate for it but saves going during the week, can honestly say since stopping breeding and separating them the corn intake has been reduced drastically

my son collects mine Sunday

George & Morgan wrote:

my son collects mine Sunday

Would anybody like to adopt half my ferals ?.

Love seeing them but words getting around free food.

Wheat not too expensive but quantity ?.

Also, one pet seagull on offer.

Regards.

got to cut down here misty as have kept 4 ybs

split the birds to-day and put these 2 ybs from the broken wing hen in with the  hens was shocked that they must be worse  ybs i have ever handled hope they improve or there out