pigeons

[jrt666 1]

my dads raced them for 30+years hes still at it had a few pages to himself in the gazette over the years if its still going.

used to do well doesnt do so well anymore, cant be arsed to train them like he used to,and training is everything in that game.

 

 

bet hes seen a few changes in the game during those 30 years eh?

yep trainings a big part of fella more so in the sprint to middle distance races

did you ever give it go mate or you just into the dogs?

Edited May 19, 2007 by jrt666

[Chaz 6]

Unfortunately I am in the process of having to pack the pigeons up as I am losing the land where I have my lofts, been flying for 7 years mainly interested in the distance races my main family are all line/inbred to an old Joe Shore cock with additions from one or two other places, I didn`t race last year because of the bird flu and my lofts being on a farm, but the last race I competed was the longest club race 478 miles I had the only bird on the day in the club and 6th fed only 7 birds on the day.

[jrt666 1]

Unfortunately I am in the process of having to pack the pigeons up as I am losing the land where I have my lofts, been flying for 7 years mainly interested in the distance races my main family are all line/inbred to an old Joe Shore cock with additions from one or two other places, I didn`t race last year because of the bird flu and my lofts being on a farm, but the last race I competed was the longest club race 478 miles I had the only bird on the day in the club and 6th fed only 7 birds on the day.

 

 

sorry to hear about you having to pack up mate

 

nice result though with the only bird on the day in your club and the 6th fed

hen or a cock mate im gona guess a hen

[Chaz 6]

Unfortunately I am in the process of having to pack the pigeons up as I am losing the land where I have my lofts, been flying for 7 years mainly interested in the distance races my main family are all line/inbred to an old Joe Shore cock with additions from one or two other places, I didn`t race last year because of the bird flu and my lofts being on a farm, but the last race I competed was the longest club race 478 miles I had the only bird on the day in the club and 6th fed only 7 birds on the day.

 

 

sorry to hear about you having to pack up mate

 

nice result though with the only bird on the day in your club and the 6th fed

hen or a cock mate im gona guess a hen

 

 

3 year old red cock (killed by a sparrowhawk 3 weeks later )

 

still got his sire and son and daughters

[jrt666 1]

Unfortunately I am in the process of having to pack the pigeons up as I am losing the land where I have my lofts, been flying for 7 years mainly interested in the distance races my main family are all line/inbred to an old Joe Shore cock with additions from one or two other places, I didn`t race last year because of the bird flu and my lofts being on a farm, but the last race I competed was the longest club race 478 miles I had the only bird on the day in the club and 6th fed only 7 birds on the day.

 

 

sorry to hear about you having to pack up mate

 

nice result though with the only bird on the day in your club and the 6th fed

hen or a cock mate im gona guess a hen

 

 

3 year old red cock (killed by a sparrowhawk 3 weeks later )

 

still got his sire and son and daughters

 

 

birds of prey still a big problem then i take it allways seems to be the good ones that get had.

 

so you deffo gota pack it in then i take it cant get sum land sumwhere else no

[Chaz 6]

birds of prey still a big problem then i take it allways seems to be the good ones that get had.

 

so you deffo gota pack it in then i take it cant get sum land sumwhere else no

 

 

 

I am holding on to them as long as possible in the hope that something will turn up, I have only got my stock birds now so will have to start from scratch again but at least I know I have the birds that can do what I want

[jrt666 1]

 

 

birds of prey still a big problem then i take it allways seems to be the good ones that get had.

 

so you deffo gota pack it in then i take it cant get sum land sumwhere else no

 

 

 

I am holding on to them as long as possible in the hope that something will turn up, I have only got my stock birds now so will have to start from scratch again but at least I know I have the birds that can do what I want

 

hope somthing comes up to sort you out fella realy do.

like you say youve got ya breeders so you sorted in that department

 

be lucky

[Guest mucker]

mainly interested in the distance races .

same here chaz i only had an interest in them long jobs and would make an effort to get down the dads place on a weekend,the suspence long distance to us in them days would have been perth and thurso etc the north road as it was called,gradually i think everyone defected to race from the south not sure why.best of luck with your lofts.

[jrt666 1]

mainly interested in the distance races .

same here chaz i only had an interest in them long jobs and would make an effort to get down the dads place on a weekend,the suspence long distance to us in them days would have been perth and thurso etc the north road as it was called,gradually i think everyone defected to race from the south not sure why.best of luck with your lofts.

 

think the north roads still raced mucker but your right its mainly south road now i think cos thats where the dough is what with the midlands national en all

thurso and then the real tryer of lerwick

 

where did ya dad race from if you dont mind me being nosey

[proper job 1]

my old man has flown them all his life. One of my earliest memories is being taken to Penzance early one Sat. morning to see the Irish birds being liberated, early 70's, thousands of them. A lot has changed now, nowhere near the numbers racing like they used too. The big problem in Cornwall is Peregrines, its heaving with them down there, and when they strike it panics the birds so much they go anywhere and everywhere. What used to be a 20 minute training flip now takes an hour as they release only a pair at a time, minutes apart to minimise the damage should a strike occur, but they are fighting a losing battle and many are now giving up.

[jrt666 1]

my old man has flown them all his life. One of my earliest memories is being taken to Penzance early one Sat. morning to see the Irish birds being liberated, early 70's, thousands of them. A lot has changed now, nowhere near the numbers racing like they used too. The big problem in Cornwall is Peregrines, its heaving with them down there, and when they strike it panics the birds so much they go anywhere and everywhere. What used to be a 20 minute training flip now takes an hour as they release only a pair at a time, minutes apart to minimise the damage should a strike occur, but they are fighting a losing battle and many are now giving up.

 

 

totaly agree with ya must be heart breaking to see one of your birds taken out the air in front of your eyes and not be able to do anything to help. Peregrines are protected but there numbers are booming there even living in towns now so think that tells you sumthing about how many there must me about.

 

bet that was some sight all those bird being lib'd eh.

[proper job 1]

yeh, there'd be about a dozen transporters, all line up and at a shout they'd all drop the flaps together, it seemed to take longer than it actually did, but then the sky was full of birds. They'd fly in a circle getting bigger all the time, out over Mounts Bay and then they'd start breaking away, not all at once, but in groups and I used to wonder if they broke in the groups they belonged to. My Dad used to be quite successful, really liked the long distance races, Antwerp, Nantes, Pau. At the time I could never understand what the deal was, but now I can think, yes It must be one hell of a feeling to be looking out for a bird in a 500 mile race, one that you hatched, fed, trained, handled, and straining your eyes looking for that speck in the sky. I can hear him now, the whistle, shaking the tin, me not daring to move in case I frightened it, then down on the board, through the trap and he's in there , ring off, in the thimble, in the clock, and striking it. To him it must have been like winning the Derby. He would only ever clock the first bird in, no more, thats the one that counts he would say. Bloody hell I feel like taking it up now.

[Chaz 6]

yeh, there'd be about a dozen transporters, all line up and at a shout they'd all drop the flaps together, it seemed to take longer than it actually did, but then the sky was full of birds. They'd fly in a circle getting bigger all the time, out over Mounts Bay and then they'd start breaking away, not all at once, but in groups and I used to wonder if they broke in the groups they belonged to. My Dad used to be quite successful, really liked the long distance races, Antwerp, Nantes, Pau. At the time I could never understand what the deal was, but now I can think, yes It must be one hell of a feeling to be looking out for a bird in a 500 mile race, one that you hatched, fed, trained, handled, and straining your eyes looking for that speck in the sky. I can hear him now, the whistle, shaking the tin, me not daring to move in case I frightened it, then down on the board, through the trap and he's in there , ring off, in the thimble, in the clock, and striking it. To him it must have been like winning the Derby. He would only ever clock the first bird in, no more, thats the one that counts he would say. Bloody hell I feel like taking it up now.

 

 

 

It`s a wonderful feeling mate,

 

it`s just starting to get dark your eyes are straining trying to make out if that speck in the distance is your all pooler or a woody off to roost, then you see it a little flick then the bird folds up careering towards his home and mate he is on the loft wings dropped , ready to take flight at the slightest movement all that pent up instinct after spending all day avoiding the pitfalls that can befall him and not sure that he can trust his owner until he realises he really is home safe and sound , a bit of corn thrown through the door and he is in, slowly follow him in , no rush now he has done the hard bit let him take a drink of water and calm down for a second , then slowly ever so gently pick him up rubber off and in the bobbin, STRIKE the bird is clocked the culmination of years of breeding and a years planning, training and conditioning,

 

Then the best bit get on the blower and let everybody know you have one, after nearly 15 hours and 500 miles your bird is home sitting on his babies and billing and cooing with his hen you pick him up ever so gently to make sure he is okay and carrying no injuries and just to feel the bird is a magical thing knowing that he has put his all in to reach you and his home , then you make sure he has all the grub he needs and let him be he needs the rest and so will you, but you will get no sleep you will lie awake reliving the moment a thousand times in your head and then as the night sky begins to lighten you are up and down the pen as there are still others away and each deserves the same greeting as the first, you never know it may be their turn next year.

[jrt666 1]

yeh, there'd be about a dozen transporters, all line up and at a shout they'd all drop the flaps together, it seemed to take longer than it actually did, but then the sky was full of birds. They'd fly in a circle getting bigger all the time, out over Mounts Bay and then they'd start breaking away, not all at once, but in groups and I used to wonder if they broke in the groups they belonged to. My Dad used to be quite successful, really liked the long distance races, Antwerp, Nantes, Pau. At the time I could never understand what the deal was, but now I can think, yes It must be one hell of a feeling to be looking out for a bird in a 500 mile race, one that you hatched, fed, trained, handled, and straining your eyes looking for that speck in the sky. I can hear him now, the whistle, shaking the tin, me not daring to move in case I frightened it, then down on the board, through the trap and he's in there , ring off, in the thimble, in the clock, and striking it. To him it must have been like winning the Derby. He would only ever clock the first bird in, no more, thats the one that counts he would say. Bloody hell I feel like taking it up now.

 

 

 

It`s a wonderful feeling mate,

 

it`s just starting to get dark your eyes are straining trying to make out if that speck in the distance is your all pooler or a woody off to roost, then you see it a little flick then the bird folds up careering towards his home and mate he is on the loft wings dropped , ready to take flight at the slightest movement all that pent up instinct after spending all day avoiding the pitfalls that can befall him and not sure that he can trust his owner until he realises he really is home safe and sound , a bit of corn thrown through the door and he is in, slowly follow him in , no rush now he has done the hard bit let him take a drink of water and calm down for a second , then slowly ever so gently pick him up rubber off and in the bobbin, STRIKE the bird is clocked the culmination of years of breeding and a years planning, training and conditioning,

 

Then the best bit get on the blower and let everybody know you have one, after nearly 15 hours and 500 miles your bird is home sitting on his babies and billing and cooing with his hen you pick him up ever so gently to make sure he is okay and carrying no injuries and just to feel the bird is a magical thing knowing that he has put his all in to reach you and his home , then you make sure he has all the grub he needs and let him be he needs the rest and so will you, but you will get no sleep you will lie awake reliving the moment a thousand times in your head and then as the night sky begins to lighten you are up and down the pen as there are still others away and each deserves the same greeting as the first, you never know it may be their turn next year.

 

 

i think you two have just about sumed it up there realy duz bring my memorys flooding back never sent past berwick myself but i was a kid and even the short ones newark and the like were like a 500 miler to me

i remember a little chq w.f hen i had getting 5th club in my first season (not much i know) from berwick as a young bird i was so proud of that pigeon she was gona be my star for the next years old bird races till i lost here from the second newark

 

the bit about is it a race bird is it a woody made me smile i think there were a few times i whistled and shook my tin at starlings in fact im sure there were

 

the heart on some of those little balls of fethers though, think weve all seen a pigeon arive home smashed up through hitting the wiers or what ever its a wonder how they got home at all but they did and that shows the guts of them