Starting out

[Buster121]

Joined the RPRA today so first stage completed, do you know if I get rings included in my membership I can't seem to find the answer on the RPRA website?

Did you join in your name or your sons as I am sure they still give free rings to juniors unless they changed it with the new pricing structure they just had

[Daz71]

If I may just interject here, with all due respect, Daz and Daz Jr need some advice on how to set up a starter loft, how to get some good young pigeons and care for them.
The dark web that is the RPRA, or the same body in other countries, is maybe not something to be worrying a prospective fancier.

Thanks Murray what would a starter loft consist of? I must say it is pretty hard to get any info on my local clubs from the rpra, who to contact & so on without becoming a member, we just wanted to make contact with someone & get a feel for it all first..

[Daz71]

Thanks Andy so any birds we buy will already have the rings that's handy I forgot to mention I have set a max of 6 birds to start with 3 each we have been looking at getting some birds from Tumley Lofts

[Daz71]

we are in Billericay Essex, yes I agree we are going to get a loft around 8x6. I have made contact with my local rpra rep (London Region) that's who we joined the rpra through.

[Daz71]

Yes getting a 6 young bird kit, what age will we be able to tell the sex & what would be the best time of year to buy them? also at what age do they start racing from sorry for so many questions

[Buster121]

Yes getting a 6 young bird kit, what age will we be able to tell the sex & what would be the best time of year to buy them? also at what age do they start racing from sorry for so many questions

To race you need before end of May, for stock anytime really

[Daz71]

so they would 4 weeks old when they are delivered to me what age do they start training/racing

[Daz71]

Firstly I can't thank you all enough for your advice, it is very much appreciated. I have started to make a list of what we will need in the loft to enable us to take delivery of some birds as follows:-

Wood feeder with tilting painted metal grid - 60 cm
Plastic V Perch x 8
Plastic Drinker 2 Litre with lid
Feed 20Kg

am I missing anything? cleaning products?

[Buster121]

Andy think you have covered everything there, one thing I would use is a feeder drinker stand helps keep water cleaner as off floor and although you only having 8 birds would have some extra perches, you can pick both these up on ebay


https://www.pallatts.com/feeder-with-drinker-stand/

[Daz71]

Who do you guy's use for supplies please, also thinking of making the perch boxes from melamine faced ply for ease of cleaning is this a good or bad idea?