UkPigeonRacing

I picked up some feed and some pine shavings in Bendigo yesterday.
I took a bag out to the loft on the barrow and when I got back to the car the Cockatoo had turned up and was in the back chewing it;s way into the bags
It's a menace of a thing.
Then it flew out to the loft and was trying to figure out how to get in.

You did make a fuss of him back a while ago Murray. only yourself to blame.

Well tame Murray

For those that dont know St Arnaud, its like The little house on the Prairie. A small town with great people.

Devo1956 wrote: Sat Aug 08, 2026 12:27 pm For those that dont know St Arnaud, its like The little house on the Prairie. A small town with great people.

Sounds idyllic to me

Devo1956 wrote: Sat Aug 08, 2026 12:27 pm For those that dont know St Arnaud, its like The little house on the Prairie. A small town with great people.

Yes, it's only a small town less than 3000 people, but a great community. We like it.
Devo visited us last year, it was a magical time for us. Memories that will last and last.

I paired up about 8 pairs today, mostly repeat matings from last year, and got another three of the young cocks in nest boxes with their girlfriends,
Everything went super smoothly, I only had one cock who got fired up and was looking for a fight. I'll try him again tomorrow.

I'm trying to get a team of 8 cocks ready to race, but the weather has been shocking, and I'm battling.
After a late lunch I put them in the boxes and headed out. I was planning on going about 30 miles. It was grey and overcast, and spitting in places.
I got about 20 miles and the sky was black as the inside of a black thing ahead of me.
I pulled over, and it started raining as I let them go and I just hoped they got away quickly. They must have done, because I was only home a few minutes when they arrived in a bunch, wet but unfazed.

Murray wrote: Tue Aug 11, 2026 8:57 am I paired up about 8 pairs today, mostly repeat matings from last year, and got another three of the young cocks in nest boxes with their girlfriends,
Everything went super smoothly, I only had one cock who got fired up and was looking for a fight. I'll try him again tomorrow.

I'm trying to get a team of 8 cocks ready to race, but the weather has been shocking, and I'm battling.
After a late lunch I put them in the boxes and headed out. I was planning on going about 30 miles. It was grey and overcast, and spitting in places.
I got about 20 miles and the sky was black as the inside of a black thing ahead of me.
I pulled over, and it started raining as I let them go and I just hoped they got away quickly. They must have done, because I was only home a few minutes when they arrived in a bunch, wet but unfazed.

Well done mate a good start, hope you get some good stuff from them again

I took my 8 cocks, 5 yearlings and 3 late breds, out for a toss again yesterday. I put them up and headed off home, about 10 miles down the road there was a big peregrine circling around. I just had to hope they didn't fly into it, but it looks like they did, They were about 20 minutes slow and only 6 of the 8.
I was on the phone to David when the next one arrived half an hour latter and the last one was half an hour after that.
This is why I'm a bit inclined to perhaps overdo the early short tossing. When something goes wrong, and it does eventually let's be honest, they are equipped to deal with it.

I had a message that a pigeon with one of my rings on was reported in Maryborough, 50 miles away from me. I knew straight away what is was, it's one I sent to my mate David in Bendigo.
I called the person, she was a non fancier and very nice, a bit of an animal welfare, animal refuge type. And bless them too.
So I called David and told him I'd go and collect it. He is on the road all day with his freight company, he hasn't time to be going that far to collect a stray.
We had a nice drive to Maryborough today, did a little shopping, visited our favorite bookshop and Catherine went to the op shop while I picked up the pigeon.
I got it home and had a good look at it. It's very thin. It's been chased halfway across Australia. I don't like hawks, I really don't.

The breeding is going along very well, I've got 10 pairs that have their second egg today, so that's good. I'll have a nice round of about 20 to go somewhere.
I've got a couple of little side plans, There are two hens which have paired up and were tight on 4 eggs. I "borrowed" a couple of eggs.
Old Tonto the pied Thone' hen is looking a treat, despite being 14. She hasn't laid and her mate the red Thone' was being a pain, so just before I put a handful of straw and the two eggs in their bowl. 5 minutes later he was on the eggs and now the old hen is on them and looking very happy.
I'll let them sit for a week then float a pair off the Billiondollarbaby or the Pitbull or something under them.
They' ll sit them, hatch them and raise them. I've had people tell me that you can't do that, they won't produce milk for the babies. These ones can't have read the book.