Answer to Killer’s question

[Andy]

Hi Killer. If racing North Road the races from Thurso 523 miles and Lerwick 620 miles are both marked on the Tuesday (for me at 8.30/10.00am). Thurso are due for a Friday liberation Lerwick for a Saturday. If racing from Barcelona South Road 700 miles they are marked on the Sunday morning for a Friday liberation. It is unlikely that they would be moved off site until a liberation is done. It has been known for them to be held for a week or more. I think 10 days is the longest I can recall.
The thing that I do find a bit frustrating is that we mark on a Thursday morning for a Saturday race from 100 miles. But these are nationals with multi marking stations and pickups. A lot of members would be flying a lot further than me from these races.

[Murray]

Tuesday marking for Saturday liberation.
In the UK?
Hell, 70 years ago pigeons could be in Scotland overnight on the railways.
Even down here in the colonies pigeons can go 500 or more miles with a Thursday night hampering.

[Buster121]

Killer I have answered your other question re topics

[killer]

Andy ,how long will they , hold them at race point in truck

[killer]

Sorry mate ,need to put on glasses ,I’ve got a guy over here trying sabotage our 700 mile race saying over 3 days in truck the birds get wing lock ,we basket Monday night day night for a Friday liberation ,if we can’t get them up by Sunday ,they go into holding lofts ,my experience over the years with a 10 day hold over got most home,Cheers

[Andy]

I have only heard of wing lock over the past year or so. Never something we knew about let alone worried about years ago. I can’t see that being kept in baskets would cause that. What about pigeons that break a leg or are sick. They can be shut in a box for weeks and be ok when let out. I had a stray in last year that was in a crate for over 3 weeks. Still flew ok when let out.
The trouble is Murray that not only do the transporters have to go around several pick up points before leaving for the liberation sites but the miles that they have to drive are a lot further than those the pigeons fly. Also of course if flying from over the channel the ferry times effect the times of pick ups and if internationals the birds are taken to Belgium first where they are all race rubbered before going to the race point.

[killer]

Thanks mate ,I’ve never had problem with our distance birds ,,but if the sprinters or middle bird are feed a high protien it may acure I’ll let you in on what I do here on basketing day I put 1 cod liver tab down the throat with 5 ml of delluted electrolytes ,on return I give 1 egg cup equal of lemon juice ,,moult vinegar ,& garlic , l find this detox them of lactic acid ,this fresh ingredients them up ,thanks again sorry iits in 2 lt freash water cheer

[Murray]

I am probably old fashioned on this, but I think it was a shame that the railways stopped carrying pigeons. I remember as a kid seeing the big old railways hampers full of racing pigeons on the platform at Christchurch railway station back in New Zealand. The hampers were made of wood and dowels and had built in drinkers. They would go overnight to Dunedin or Invercargill and be released the next morning.
Now it's two nights or even three on the road freight.
The new ways are not always better,

[Andy]

I am probably old fashioned on this, but I think it was a shame that the railways stopped carrying pigeons. I remember as a kid seeing the big old railways hampers full of racing pigeons on the platform at Christchurch railway station back in New Zealand. The hampers were made of wood and dowels and had built in drinkers. They would go overnight to Dunedin or Invercargill and be released the next morning.
Now it's two nights or even three on the road freight.
The new ways are not always better,

It must have been quite a site at the railway stations. I think over here it used to be down to the station master to let them go. I presume that they went in any weather as once unloaded from the train they were just sat in the open on the platforms.

[killer]

Best thing road transport those Stations had fine wire ,that took its tolll,