Test Loft
2011 is the first year we have run a test loft. This means we accept young birds from fanciers from all over the country and race them on their behalf. The birds are transferred to us and we race them every week.
- We race every test loft bird until it is heavy in the moult or injured, if fit they go to every race.
- Every winning test loft bird will get their results published on pigeon chat and credit is given to every breeder.
- All birds left at the end of the young bird season are raced as yearlings and the test loft will continue until they are retired or lost.
- We will try to get every test loft bird to a national or classic as young birds.
- Regular updates will be done throughout the young bird season
- 2012 is full up with 84 birds donated. A reserve list is available for fanciers wanting the chance to enter.
********ONE OF LAST YEARS TEST LOFT BIRDS FINISHED 1ST SECTION C , 5TH OPEN BBC CARENTAN - WELL DONE TO ANDY HAYDN WHO BRED IT**********
- 2012 donor list so far. - 75 test loft birds in 6th April 2012.
Blue = lost or beyond repair.
Biscuit boys - 4 - NEHU12HOU 1253 BLUE, 1255 SMOKEY, 1256 DARK CHEQ, 1259 BLUE W/F.
Brian d - 2 - IHU12S 9821 BLUE PIED, 9822 BLUE.
Mr & Mrs Chambers -6 - NEHU 12 HOU 2900 CHEQ, 2901 GRIZZLE, 2902 RED, 2903 RED, 2904 CHEQ, 2905 CHEQ
Carl Cousins - 4 - WHU12R03805 CHEQ W/F, 03806 CHEQ , 03801 CHEQ, 03808 CHEQ PIED.
Tony Austin - 2 - GB12T 08091 BLUE, 08092 BLACK.
Mick Hughes - 4 - IHU 12S 38756 L/CHEQ, 38774 MEALY, 38772 L/CHEQ, 38752 BLUE W/F.
Andy Haydn - 4 - GB12Z 68602 BLUE, 68616 BLUE, 68617 S/ BLUE, 68624 CHEQ PIED.
Pigeon 1111 - 4 - GB12X 12008 BLUE, 12009 MEALY, 12010 MEALY PIED, 12011 RED.
Steve light - 4 - GB12C 29163 S BLUE, 29166 BLUE, 29177 BLUE, 29178 BLUE
Ronnie Johnstone - 4 - GB12V 39002, 39004, 39006, 39009 - ALL BLUES.
Cartref Lofts - 4 - GB 12 V 05532 CHEQ PIED, 05539 D CHEQ, 05548 D GRIZZLE, 05540 D CHEQ.
John Howman - 4 - GB12Z 02941 CHEQ, 02942 BLUE, 02943 L CHEQ, 02944 CHEQ,
Craig Whale - 2 - GB12S 48270 GRIZZLE, 48274 BLUE.
tompigeon- 2 - NWHU 12C 0568 RED, 0578 CHEQ PIED.
N Hoggard - 4 - GB 12 B 09506 CHEQ, 09503 CHEQ W/F, 09518 BLUE, 09519 BLUE.
AJ - 6 - GB12E 05691 BLUE, 05662 MEALY, 05672 RED, 05671 BLUE PIED, 05677 CHEQ, 05678 BLUE.
Niall Murphy - 1 - IHU12S 37928 BLUE
M Wilkinson - 4 -WHU 12 D 09005 RED, 09021 RED, 09055 D CHEQ W/F, 09054 D CHEQ TIC.
- We race every test loft bird until it is heavy in the moult or injured, if fit they go to every race.
- Every winning test loft bird will get their results published on pigeon chat and credit is given to every breeder.
- All birds left at the end of the young bird season are raced as yearlings and the test loft will continue until they are retired or lost.
- We will try to get every test loft bird to a national or classic as young birds.
- Regular updates will be done throughout the young bird season
- 2012 is full up with 84 birds donated. A reserve list is available for fanciers wanting the chance to enter.
********ONE OF LAST YEARS TEST LOFT BIRDS FINISHED 1ST SECTION C , 5TH OPEN BBC CARENTAN - WELL DONE TO ANDY HAYDN WHO BRED IT**********
- 2012 donor list so far. - 75 test loft birds in 6th April 2012.
Blue = lost or beyond repair.
Biscuit boys - 4 - NEHU12HOU 1253 BLUE, 1255 SMOKEY, 1256 DARK CHEQ, 1259 BLUE W/F.
Brian d - 2 - IHU12S 9821 BLUE PIED, 9822 BLUE.
Mr & Mrs Chambers -6 - NEHU 12 HOU 2900 CHEQ, 2901 GRIZZLE, 2902 RED, 2903 RED, 2904 CHEQ, 2905 CHEQ
Carl Cousins - 4 - WHU12R03805 CHEQ W/F, 03806 CHEQ , 03801 CHEQ, 03808 CHEQ PIED.
Tony Austin - 2 - GB12T 08091 BLUE, 08092 BLACK.
Mick Hughes - 4 - IHU 12S 38756 L/CHEQ, 38774 MEALY, 38772 L/CHEQ, 38752 BLUE W/F.
Andy Haydn - 4 - GB12Z 68602 BLUE, 68616 BLUE, 68617 S/ BLUE, 68624 CHEQ PIED.
Pigeon 1111 - 4 - GB12X 12008 BLUE, 12009 MEALY, 12010 MEALY PIED, 12011 RED.
Steve light - 4 - GB12C 29163 S BLUE, 29166 BLUE, 29177 BLUE, 29178 BLUE
Ronnie Johnstone - 4 - GB12V 39002, 39004, 39006, 39009 - ALL BLUES.
Cartref Lofts - 4 - GB 12 V 05532 CHEQ PIED, 05539 D CHEQ, 05548 D GRIZZLE, 05540 D CHEQ.
John Howman - 4 - GB12Z 02941 CHEQ, 02942 BLUE, 02943 L CHEQ, 02944 CHEQ,
Craig Whale - 2 - GB12S 48270 GRIZZLE, 48274 BLUE.
tompigeon- 2 - NWHU 12C 0568 RED, 0578 CHEQ PIED.
N Hoggard - 4 - GB 12 B 09506 CHEQ, 09503 CHEQ W/F, 09518 BLUE, 09519 BLUE.
AJ - 6 - GB12E 05691 BLUE, 05662 MEALY, 05672 RED, 05671 BLUE PIED, 05677 CHEQ, 05678 BLUE.
Niall Murphy - 1 - IHU12S 37928 BLUE
M Wilkinson - 4 -WHU 12 D 09005 RED, 09021 RED, 09055 D CHEQ W/F, 09054 D CHEQ TIC.
The first of the 2012 test loft birds to arrive. Bred by Ronnie Johnstone from West Brom.
Here we go..
Here we go..
The birds are coming along well. they are starting to get used to the loft and are huddling in the cold weather.
19th Feb 2012, birds have been going out for a week now. they are enjoying the trap and are exploring their surroundings.
The birds are in the ETS trap in the picture, below the birds is where the pad will be fitted when racing starts.
The birds are in the ETS trap in the picture, below the birds is where the pad will be fitted when racing starts.
The birds are starting to mature and they will soon start to have a body moult due to the darkness they are on.
More birds are arriving on Friday the 24th of February from Andy Haydn from the midlands.
More birds are arriving on Friday the 24th of February from Andy Haydn from the midlands.
Arrived 24th of Feb.
4 from Andy Haydn from Rugeley
2 from tom from Wrexham.
The test loft has 10 young in it now. with more coming next week.
4 from Andy Haydn from Rugeley
2 from tom from Wrexham.
The test loft has 10 young in it now. with more coming next week.
3rd of March 2012 - we have around 15 test loft birds in now and more to follow next week.
The 2 mealies are from Phil Cresswell from Notts, the black is home bred. 3rd march 2012.
We have now put the deep litter down for the birds, roppart it is called. no dust and fine wood sticks.
The birds are enjoying themselves.
The birds are enjoying themselves.
Birds enjoying the welsh air and sunshine. 11th march 2012.
The lofts were opened up this morning, The Irish birds have been out and back in all ready.
What a lovely day.
What a lovely day.
The youngest of the partnership. Getting involved early , learning the game.
Birds looking out for the first time, freedom beckons.
Birds on the hedge opposite the loft, this is always their first landing place when leaving the loft for the first few times..
young enjoying the sun, 23/03/2012 - they are starting to moult their body .
What a lovely day, birds enjoying the sunshine. 23/03/2012
Birds are enjoying their freedom, most are flying and lots are moulting heavy.
we have nearly all test loft birds in the loft now and we are very grateful for the top class birds that have been donated.
We will give every donor our best shot at winning a big race with a test loft bird in 2012.
we have nearly all test loft birds in the loft now and we are very grateful for the top class birds that have been donated.
We will give every donor our best shot at winning a big race with a test loft bird in 2012.
Birds enjoying the box trap. 6th April 2012.
One from Ronnie Johnstone - midlands,, looking well..
Busscheart from west Wales, not had a colour like this before.
14th April 2012. Blue bred by Ronnie Johnstone from West Brom. One of the oldest in the lofts.
Birds had a sparrow hawk attack this week and there were many missing due to them being scattered. Most if not all are home and are fully recovered and acting like young birds again. This is our 2nd attack in 2 weeks and both times the hawk has been on a young bird under the loft, we have saved the young bird each time by scaring the hawk off the bird. We hope to get peace soon when the hen goes to nest.
Birds had a sparrow hawk attack this week and there were many missing due to them being scattered. Most if not all are home and are fully recovered and acting like young birds again. This is our 2nd attack in 2 weeks and both times the hawk has been on a young bird under the loft, we have saved the young bird each time by scaring the hawk off the bird. We hope to get peace soon when the hen goes to nest.
6th May 2012 - the birds are looking very well and some of the older ones are flying well. the younger birds are heavy in the moult but will be in fine feather soon. The blue int he picture is through the moult and is looking well.
Difference in moulting birds, the red is younger than the pied and the moult is heavy on one and finished in another.
Birds are a credit to the donors and there are a wide range in colours sent this year.
Birds are a credit to the donors and there are a wide range in colours sent this year.
