Should have been titled Muzzaboy!!
Some of our longer standing members will know Muzzaboy. He was one I bred as part of our Barcelona challenge that unfortunately I stopped when all the paperwork and vet visits were required to fly the channel and I went back to just club racing. He is a 4 year old cock bred out of a cock from John & Ben X Pete’s Muzzabella, bred by Pete Davenport to give Murray an interest in the challenge and named by Murray, hence the name.
He has been racing regularly over the past 4 years from South (over the channel) North and now East to West. He has been my first bird on a few occasions and usually quite reliable to be in a reasonable time.
Yesterday he was sent to Eastbourne 118 miles, his 9th race this year and his 34th in total. I sent 8 to the race and was surprised that by the time I went to the club he was the only one still missing. While I was up the club Roxanna phoned me to say that he had just arrived. Dived straight into the loft so quickly she didn’t even have time to get up from her chair. When going into the loft to let him in with his hen she said that he was just stood by the drinker with water pouring out of his chest. He was in a real mess. Roxanna thought he was about to drop dead.
When I got home I had a good look at him. He had completely opened his chest and crop up. The crop had several holes in it.
I decided that I probably couldn’t do much about the crop itself as it was a bit like a colander. So I pulled the crop together the best I could and superglued the skin together over the top. This morning he was cooing in his box and happy to eat. He has still got a slight leak where I obviously missed a bit but looking much better. From the video of the liberation a number of birds hit a bank in front of the transporter, some on the road and a few in the hedge the other side of the road. Not saying that he was one of them but I think he hit something rather than being hawked. So I’ll never know, but did he fly the whole 118 miles in this state, or did he hit something nearer to home, maybe trying to escape a hawk. It was quite a windy day. Hopefully he will make a good recovery. Obviously finished now for this season.
Poor Muzzabella
Poor Muzzaboy.
I'd be inclined to think it actually was hawk that hooked him. I had one come home with a very similar injury a few years ago. I glued him up too and he healed up.
They are tough! he seems quite content.
I'd be inclined to think it actually was hawk that hooked him. I had one come home with a very similar injury a few years ago. I glued him up too and he healed up.
They are tough! he seems quite content.
Greetings from the land down under. 
Blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for verily, he shall not be disappointed.
Blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for verily, he shall not be disappointed.
It was from Eastbourne Devo. Looked like a nice open area for a liberation although fairly high and open. The liberation had been delayed partly because of mist first thing but then due to the strength of the wind being unsafe for a decent liberation.
All of the birds had been moved to one side of the lorry and the lorry positioned to shelter the birds from the wind when let go. Of course this would have meant liberating them with the wind behind them. If liberating into a strong wind a lot of flaps may not open. Seen this happen. The trouble with this if my memory of physics is correct the wind would hit the far side of the lorry, go over the top and then cause a down draft the other side pushing the birds down. Of course the bottom rows of birds are always pushed down by the birds coming out from above. I think the biggest problem was that they seemed to be to close to the bank and road. It looked like they had plenty of room to have moved further down the field.
Back just enjoying club racing for the time being.
Andy, i was watching a video this morning. The lib was in Germany on a car park, the wagon parked in a way of not giving the room for birds to clear safe. Turned the other way would have given them so much room, for the birds to get up safe.
Some places and liberations are very suspect. I watch a lot of the big liberations where birds are liberated opposite each other and then fly into each other. Others where birds hit the ground or have to avoid obstacles. Some will be flying out almost blind to what’s in front of them if close behind others. There must be injuries to the birds from some of these liberations.
Back just enjoying club racing for the time being.
He did well to get home Andy, good to hear he is already making a good recovery, well done to him and you.
As you say, there are some absolutely dreadful liberations, even in the big classic races, I wonder who assess some of these sites !!
With your one last weekend there really were no excuses, they had ample room there for a better liberation.
As you say, there are some absolutely dreadful liberations, even in the big classic races, I wonder who assess some of these sites !!
With your one last weekend there really were no excuses, they had ample room there for a better liberation.