Life in St Arnaud

[Buster121]

As you know, I give my pigeons vegetables regularly. I think fresh veggies are good for them and the birds like them, so we are all happy.
One veggie I use is celery. Especially the leafy tops. Depending on the season we can pay anywhere from $2.99 for a bunch to $5.99 for half a bunch. Then I often throw half of it in the compost.
So, since we have embraced the country lifestyle and are planting things everywhere, imagine my joy when I saw celery plants for quick sale at $1.00!
They had just got a bit big, and these big retailers have to turn them over.
So...002.JPG

You cannot beat fresh home grown veg, I have some at present but every morning I go up garden there is less and less in the tubs something is decimating them overnight all that is left of broccoli and cauli's is stems no leaf at all but no idea as to what is doing it as never see anything

Bit late for Caterpillars but it could be slugs or snails, they are everywhere at the moment !!
Could be mice of course !!

Slugs was my thoughts as it only happening overnight but never see any slug trails and we do have tonnes of them, I get a good shovel full every morning and put in bin but they never go down

[Murray]

As you know, I give my pigeons vegetables regularly. I think fresh veggies are good for them and the birds like them, so we are all happy.
One veggie I use is celery. Especially the leafy tops. Depending on the season we can pay anywhere from $2.99 for a bunch to $5.99 for half a bunch. Then I often throw half of it in the compost.
So, since we have embraced the country lifestyle and are planting things everywhere, imagine my joy when I saw celery plants for quick sale at $1.00!
They had just got a bit big, and these big retailers have to turn them over.
So...002.JPG

You cannot beat fresh home grown veg, I have some at present but every morning I go up garden there is less and less in the tubs something is decimating them overnight all that is left of broccoli and cauli's is stems no leaf at all but no idea as to what is doing it as never see anything

Snails or slugs mate. Get some slug pellets. Our seedlings were getting smashed until I put slug pellets out. That fixed 'em.

[Buster121]

As you know, I give my pigeons vegetables regularly. I think fresh veggies are good for them and the birds like them, so we are all happy.
One veggie I use is celery. Especially the leafy tops. Depending on the season we can pay anywhere from $2.99 for a bunch to $5.99 for half a bunch. Then I often throw half of it in the compost.
So, since we have embraced the country lifestyle and are planting things everywhere, imagine my joy when I saw celery plants for quick sale at $1.00!
They had just got a bit big, and these big retailers have to turn them over.
So...002.JPG

You cannot beat fresh home grown veg, I have some at present but every morning I go up garden there is less and less in the tubs something is decimating them overnight all that is left of broccoli and cauli's is stems no leaf at all but no idea as to what is doing it as never see anything

Snails or slugs mate. Get some slug pellets. Our seedlings were getting smashed until I put slug pellets out. That fixed 'em.

Will have to have a look, thanks mate

[Murray]

Some good news and some bad news.
The pied Heremans hen hatched one baby yesterday, but the other one didn't hatch. . Unlike her first baby which was small, this one is big and strong, so I am pleased.
The Billion Dollar Baby hatched one this morning. The big dumb grizzle Thone' sits hard on the eggs and flattened the other one so it's another single. Nice strong baby too.
Three other pairs are very close to hatching babies in the next couple of days.

Thats frustrating mate I hope the ones you've got turn out well for you.
Could you foster those two out and get both pairs back down on eggs again ??

I've got nothing else near that stage. I think that when I put rings on them I'll foster one under the other pair and get one pair back on eggs. I have a few days to think about which pair. I guess it isn't that important, they are both good pairs.
Might talk to David and get some feedback.

[Murray]

I had a chat with Davey Cox, bounced a few ideas off him. I think I'll put the baby off the Slatey Heremans and 666 under the grizzle Thone and Billion Baby. Then they can raise two.
That's the Billion Baby when she was a baby!

And the Grizzle Thone' when he was about 6 months old. Even then he was a strong pigeon!

This is their first round after the grizzle lost his mate and the B$B was reluctant to pair up this year. Probably best to let them raise this round rather than setting them back to square one.
So many pigeons have come and gone since then.
I took Roadrunner and the Trillian Baby's youngsters in to D. Cox on Tuesday. This afternoon I was in the loft looking at Trillian in the bowl with a piece of straw in her beak. In my ear I had David asking, " What about the Roadrunner? Is he back on eggs?" I grinned. Davey is very keen indeed on the Roadrunner.

[Andy]

How many have you got flying out now Murray?

[Murray]

None.
I have almost a 50/50 ratio of homed in pigeons and those that haven't been out.
I had a bad period where I lost too many. I had pigeons that were happy here, then boom, gone. There are about one million hawks per hectare around here, so maybe they got chased and got lost?
So, nothing is flying out just now. I need to get a colony of pigeons bred here. At present I am breeding youngsters for other people. I have orders to fill and then I want to breed a bunch of youngsters for me, to hopefully train and race next year.
I feel terrible when I have pigeons who don't understand why they are not allowed out.
The B$B's daughter, paired to the big Heremans cock, was flying soon after we got here. She stares at me in the sputnik.
I hate it. It really hate it.

[Devo1956]

Its all part of the sport Murray, change is good for some but not for others. Just enjoy what you have mate, and make sure you breed yourself a good round so you can race. Keep it going mate, the weather is getting better for you.

[Trev]

I had a chat with Davey Cox, bounced a few ideas off him. I think I'll put the baby off the Slatey Heremans and 666 under the grizzle Thone and Billion Baby. Then they can raise two.
That's the Billion Baby when she was a baby! 004.JPG
And the Grizzle Thone' when he was about 6 months old. Even then he was a strong pigeon! 001.JPG
This is their first round after the grizzle lost his mate and the B$B was reluctant to pair up this year. Probably best to let them raise this round rather than setting them back to square one.
So many pigeons have come and gone since then.
I took Roadrunner and the Trillian Baby's youngsters in to D. Cox on Tuesday. This afternoon I was in the loft looking at Trillian in the bowl with a piece of straw in her beak. In my ear I had David asking, " What about the Roadrunner? Is he back on eggs?" I grinned. Davey is very keen indeed on the Roadrunner.

Sounds like a good plan Muzza, I hope it continues to go well for you. The birds are looking well and nicely settled, I'm sure you will soon be where you want to be with them again mate.

[Devo1956]

A nice trip out for you Murray. it will be good to meet Dave. I am sure there will be good birds to see in your loft and other lofts i visit.