race tonics

What i mean is , about a week of rest, after a long training toss, flying around the loft is ok, the day before basketing , no loft flying. Do you know what i mean Ian?

yes i understand what your saying

on the subject of burning them out i would say that once racing has started not to train the widowhood cocks and just excercise round home twice per day...if they are flying for between 45-60 mins morning and 30-45 mins afternoon/teatime thats enough...i dont think there is any need to train them during the week unless on the odd occasion when the fancier thinks they might need one.

i like to get them out for 1 hour in morn and 1 hour at night train if i think they are getting lazy

yes ian, i agree...if they will fly for that long thats great...when they do i dont think there is any need for training as they are doing enough by all that excercise...

you were on about cider vinegar mixed with honey where do you get it from and how much

ian, i got it from holland and barrat health shop and it was about 3.65...ive been told when using cider vinegar the measure is 5ml to a litre so with it being mixed i put a bit more in but the amount will be up to you and what you think yourself...

ok cheers david ill get some tomorrow

ill have a look and see if it gives % of honey and vinegar for you ian.

cheers david

yes ian, its 50% honey and 50% cider vinegar, and the one i have is 500ml bottle.
it says it also has energy, protien, carbohydrates ...and is made by martlet

sounds good david must try it

Hi Iany

The best way i have found to get the birds to drink on basket night is to have the birds out on a friday morning get them in give them a small amount of seed but remove the water fountain

Two hours before you basket the birds place freash water in the loft and i can bet that the birds will take a drink the reason for giving them the water two hours before you basket is to prevent them from being sick in the basket and will prevent them from becoming dehydrated in the transporter

Must say am a big beliver in honey as a natural boost as sugar is energy and honey is a natural suger

Hi Bricoux

You are correct with people placing a nail in the water fountain to help with giving the pigeons iron

A lot of the old fanciers would leave two or more in the fountain and let them go rusty

Hi All

Johnsons tonic has been around for years and it is still one of the best tonics you can use if i am correct not 100% sure Dave Allen uses it a lot and also garlic which i am 100% sure about

One good tonic which i used for the birds on there return was two level teaspoons of honey and lemon juice in the water fountain use very loock warm water to disolve it as if you use boiling hot water you will kill most of the good bacteria once desolved add fresh water to fill the fountain to the top

You will see the recovery of your birds is far better must say when stopped using this tonic the pigeons were not the same

For me the best tonics are natural ingredients, look what you can get from a health shop why pay fancy prices when you can get just the same thing for you which you can give to the pigeons

Whats good for you is good for the pigeons

hi don, i use garlic in the water 24/7, i did use it only on a monday and tuesday but was advised to just leave a clove in till it became mushy...this i do now but i still change the water for fresh daily...what are your thoughts on this please don...

the best way i think for garlic is to place a clove in a bottle add loock warm water then leave it till the clove goes mushy and the water is all cloudy just like looking at ginger beer in a glass all misty

Then add this to the fresh water every day must say david this mixture will smell so keep it in the shed that is the way dave allen does his garlic

thats the only thing with garlic don, it stinks...every time i am using it my wife and daughter say i stink of it...

Hi David

the best thing is to ware some disposable gloves no smell of garlic on your hands and do the mixture in the shed or out of the way from your wife and daughter

yes don, i like the sound of the mixture you told us about and leave it to go cloudy....how much would you add to the drinkers?

Just two or three tablespoons full each day when giving them fresh water everything is fresh

how often would you give garlic in water don...?