DERBYSHIRE REPORTS

by Adrian Duggins

I start these notes with a very sad heart, for my dearest mother in law passed away last Saturday, 8th March. She was a lovely lady, who only lived across the road from us. My wife Jenny managed to acquire this little bungalow for her and father in law Harry who died 4 years ago.

They came here so Jenny could look after them both, which she had done for over 10 years. Harry was the secretary of the Matlock HS for 10 years in the eighties, he also kept pigeons, after I married his daughter and gave him the pigeon bug.

Mother in law never failed to ask me the result every week and spent hours watching them fly around her home and every morning she was up at 6.00 am and always watched me filling the watering cans from her front lounge window, always with a cheerful wave. She will be sadly missed.

At Darley Dale HS's meeting last week two new members were accepted, and everyone at the meeting seemed very keen, so once again we are still looking for more members so come and fly with us, send in your application to me.

Well it’s that time of the year again - Hawk time. This month is the worst, we have had 4 attacks in 5 days. Three of these were on the youngsters, on two occasions actually knocking the youngsters on the ground, but I was watching and managed to frighten her off.

The last attack out of 28 youngsters only 14 remained, but during the course of the day 27 returned and the one missing was still flying around the following day, so I let some old birds out to see if would pick it up and they did, but the Hawk attacked them knocking a widowhood cock to the ground, so very quickly I had to get the old birds in.

So with not letting any birds out now for over a week the youngster just disappeared. I decided that to lose one was better than losing widowhood cocks, so all have been confined to the lofts. All the young bird lofts have pens on so the youngsters can see all around them, which is great, and stops the worry of having to have them out every day.

It has put me back with the widowhood cocks, for they need to exercise every day to build them up for the coming season. I’m just hoping that next week I can have them out perhaps once a day, get them straight in without any Hawk problems, but I doubt very much.

Had a lot of telephone calls regarding Orego-Stim. I use it every week, never less than 3-4 times a week, and the birds are looking great with perfect droppings. I wouldn’t be without it. I have reared some beautiful youngsters with a good breeding mix, G10 pellets and Orego-Stim in the water, nothing else.

I was talking to Brian Johnston of  Norton last week and we were discussing what fabulous pigeons are Leo van Rijn & Meeder and he mentioned he still had some which are direct from them for sale, bred from all their best lines, so if you need to make up a pair or replace one then give him a ring on 07872965027. I have seen these birds and they are fabulous.

With not being too well last season, we have cut the birds down and moved the remaining stock birds into the racing lofts and adding pens on them with grills on the floors which are a fantastic help and really cut the cleaning out down, but I did wonder if there was anyone local who would like to help me look after the birds and come and enjoy being involved in a good racing loft. A few years ago I had two fabulous men in Wilburn Boam and Ernie Redfern. Both were then in their 80s but they really helped and we had many happy hours together and laughed until tears came while waiting every Saturday, with their hilarious stories. I still imagine they are looking down on the lofts and waiting with me every Saturday.

Just one more thing that’s happening locally and that is a new North Road Flying Club at Cromford with the headquarters in the Greyhound Hotel. The club secretary will be Shane Concannon who tells me that there is a lot of interest and looks like about 10 members so far and nobody will be turned away. If you are interested and need to now more give Shane a ring on 01629 8252828 or 07810 148641.

For all your news and views telephone 01629734443 or Email Adrian.jenny @btopenworld.com.

26/3/08