The newer members won't be familiar with the story of Gordon.
Quickly, he arrived at my place in Bendigo about 10 years ago, starving and begging. I threw him some scraps and next thing he's turning up with one, then two others, all starving and running after me.
i did some research and found that a bloke had got some pigeons near me, then his marriage had failed and they had been abandoned. It wasn't a happy story.
The only survivor I am aware of is Gordon. He is just a stray with no ring, and at the same time a beautiful creature. When we moved Everyone involved agreed that regardless of what happened, he was coming.
He has never forgotten being homeless and hungry. We went to Bendigo today, and were a bit late back. It's an hour each way. When I went out he was pacing up and down looking panic stricken. I had a chat to him, picked him up and held him for a few moments, and then he was happy.
The birds, they are more human than we give them credit for at times.
Life in St Arnaud
That’s Gordon in the front of the stock aviary isn’t it Murray?
Back just enjoying club racing for the time being.
No, Andy, that is a yearling hen from last year, by the White flight Thone' out of the Melbourne hen. Very nice hen which I kept when I was sending them all away. I hope she will pair up with one of the red Thone' brothers' but she shows no interest yet. She's quite bonded onto me.
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's very cold again in St Arnaud this morning. Biting wind off the southern ocean.
When I went out I found that the birds had picked all the maize out of the feed. Especially the ones in the stock shed. it's a bit open at the front and not so warm. So I put some maize on top pf the feed and they all attacked that. Must need it to keep warm.
I found another two hens have laid their first egg.
The Grizzle Thone's mate laid. She's very inbred to my old Van Loon x Jansen strain. Lovely hen. The grizzle is quite inbred too, to some of Jos Thone's very best national and international winners. So I think they may leave something. Last year they raised a couple of rounds which went to other lofts and didn't do much in the short races. Not as fast as the Heremans - Van den Bulck type things but possibly stronger for the longer races.
I have a Heremans cock which is by a pigeon that won the first three races in a row several years ago, and mated to his own sister. The strain win races for my mate David. I wanted to pair him to the Billion Dollar Baby (Heremans x Patrick Boeckx / Van den Bulck) this year but she is not interested. I think the shift upset her. So he's paired up to a daughter of hers, which makes her a sister to several winners. The young hen is a bit smaller too, which may be good as the cock is larger.
When I went out I found that the birds had picked all the maize out of the feed. Especially the ones in the stock shed. it's a bit open at the front and not so warm. So I put some maize on top pf the feed and they all attacked that. Must need it to keep warm.
I found another two hens have laid their first egg.
The Grizzle Thone's mate laid. She's very inbred to my old Van Loon x Jansen strain. Lovely hen. The grizzle is quite inbred too, to some of Jos Thone's very best national and international winners. So I think they may leave something. Last year they raised a couple of rounds which went to other lofts and didn't do much in the short races. Not as fast as the Heremans - Van den Bulck type things but possibly stronger for the longer races.
I have a Heremans cock which is by a pigeon that won the first three races in a row several years ago, and mated to his own sister. The strain win races for my mate David. I wanted to pair him to the Billion Dollar Baby (Heremans x Patrick Boeckx / Van den Bulck) this year but she is not interested. I think the shift upset her. So he's paired up to a daughter of hers, which makes her a sister to several winners. The young hen is a bit smaller too, which may be good as the cock is larger.
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.
Good to see things moving for you Murray, will be good to see how things pan out with the babies, how is Catherine settling into the new place
Sadies Lofts home of decent birds just a useless loft manager, and now a confirmed loser but proud
The whole thing has been her project. By which I mean that If she wants green carpet and I want grey, we have green carpet....
Seriously, it has been a big job, we have nearly finished, and we are starting to get some semblance of order.
When we bought it we knew it was in need of a lot of work.
We didn't realise how much.
When young Michael ripped the old bathroom out we could stand on the ground. No floor, walls or ceiling.
This is the new bathroom.
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.
While putting a lot of new stuff in, we are trying to retain some of the original material of the cottage.
The sitting room is a major achievement, the old log burner is replaced with an electric fire and new surround, new floating flooring, curtains, light fittings and furniture. The blanket is because the boys tend to sleep on it.
The sitting room is a major achievement, the old log burner is replaced with an electric fire and new surround, new floating flooring, curtains, light fittings and furniture. The blanket is because the boys tend to sleep on it.
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.