Got kind of an odd problem.
I have a pigeon thats been sitting a chicken egg for a few weeks now.
Egg should hatch soon.

Whats that poor pigeon going to think and do when a chick pop's out ?
And whats that poor chick going to think ?
I'm thinking they are both going to need some serious psychological
treatment.

Randy

I have rehoused my 4 hens into a childrens playhouse, i have raised it off
the ground 1 ft.I let the hens freerange at the bottom of the garden,gated
off from my main garden.I am deciding wether or not to build a enclosure in
front of the hen house.The house they was in before had a small low
enclosure attatched to the front which was handy as i could keep them in
this if i was late getting back to shut them in for the night - which isnt
alot-the last time was at christmas.. As i let them roam everyday
regardless of a enclosure or not was revising -to enclose or not?
Thanks Keith

My sister-in-law in Milton Keynes has had a heart attack. My husband has
been reading up and it seems that drinking raw goat milk will help lower
cholesterol without drugs. Both she and my husband seem to think that it is
illegal to sell raw milk at all in the UK. Is that accurate?

Thanks;

Amy

Hi Group,

I have recently lost my female Indian Runner duck so thought I'd get some
new ducks, I currently have two male khaki campbell ducks and a few days ago
brought two female muscovy ducks, only thing was the person getting rid of
the ducks also had a male muscovy and wouldn't sell them unless we brought
all three.

All the ducks are together in a pen, they have food, water and a pond, and a
house for sleeping in, my khaki's seem to be keeping their distance from the
other muscovy male and the two females seem to be staying with the muscovy
male.

During the day time I let my khaki's out of their pen and they wander in and
out whenever they like, I usually leave the gate open a little bit so they
can let themselves in but with the new ducks I've been keeping the gate
shut, I'm not sure if I should let the Muscovy's out yet, should I keep them
in their pen for a week first?, I've read a bit about Muscovy's so I don't
think the male would take off anywhere but I don't want the females to fly
off either, I live on a small hobby farm.

I've read that male muscovy's can be agressive but so far their does not
seem to be any sign of that, any suggestions would be great.

Dynamite is New Weapon in Battle to Save Forest
By Craig Brown
v
WHEN it comes to protecting the environment, dynamite is not one of
the materials that comes to mind.

But yesterday RSPB Scotland began a unique approach to conservation by
using explosives to blow up a number of trees in the ancient Abernethy
forest.

The project, which involved blowing up the crowns of nine trees, is
part of an attempt to increase the amount of large-volume dead wood in
the forest.

When trees die, their function within the forest ecosystem is far from
over, and they retain a crucial role in the health and productivity of
the woodland.
av
In fact, in a natural forest ecosystem free from human interference,
between 20 and 30 per cent of the trees will either be dead or dying.

The R.S.P.B permits hunting!
13/01/2008 21:56:52 by Jim
http://www.birddiary.co.uk/discusshome.asp?tid=1052
v
In the papers today,a report stating that at Langstone harbour in
Dorset,the rspb is actually issuing hunting licences!WHAT!I hear you
say.Well,i believe it.Apparently this has been going on for 30
years.The warden says its because to police the hunting would be too
difficult,so by issuing licences,it can be better monitored..In the
same way Churchill ought to have issued visas to the Germans in
1940,because defending the country was too difficult!

I bet these hunting licences bring in a pretty penny,and as they are
only hunting common ducks,why not?
So,common ducks dont need protecting then?Then again,its well known
that the rspb doesnt include the Red Grouse on its protected species
list.Why,rich toffs pay thousands to shoot them!

I am still waiting for an answer to my letter to the RSPB regarding
the licensing of shoots on lands we, the public paid for to protect
wildlife.
av
Many RSPB employees have been working overtime since the recent press
coverage claiming "some reserves have inherited shooting rights"!!
Lets not confuse the issue. The recent revelations concern the RSPB
licensing shoots on land owned outright, you don't need a licence from
the RSPB on land with inherited shooting rights.

It's a CON and has obviously been going on for some time. We have
every right to be concerned.

I saw this on gardenbanter
v

Given the fact that this strain of HN51 is what is killing humans
already and highly pathogenic, there seems to be more concern for
factory farming than our own health!

" Farmers are on red alert, but yesterday they said the discovery of
more wild swan carcasses did not make the situation worse, as avian
flu still has not infiltrated domestic flocks"

avv
POULTRY INDUSTRY 'FACING DISASTER'
LOUISE VENNELLS

11:00 - 12 January 2008

http://tinyurl.com/yntdmr
The poultry sector in Britain could be wiped out by a "catalogue of
disasters" culminating in the latest bird flu outbreak, an industry
leader has warned.

Yesterday, officials were investigating more dead swans discovered in
and around the Abbotsbury Swannery in Dorset, after three found on
Thursday tested positive for the deadly H5N1 strain of the disease.

The results of the latest tests are expected over the weekend.

Drastic decline in one of Britain's rarest breeding ducks
In light of recent press coverage exposing the RSPB shooting fiasco
http://tinyurl.com/26sena
http://tinyurl.com/yvf8bh

Is it any wonder we see the following?
avv
Jan 10, 2008
http://tinyurl.com/27kw7f
LONDON (AFP) — One of Britain's rarest birds has seen a drastic
decline in its population over the last 12 years, a new survey has
shown Thursday.

A joint survey by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds,
Scottish Natural Heritage and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust from has
shown a 45 percent decline in common scoters -- a plump, jet black
diving ducks with long tails.

A letter I certainly agree with and in future shall be questioning
which charities I give money to. If I give money to a charity to
protect wildlife, I don't expect them to also be earning money selling
licence's to shoot wildlife!

axv
Links between conservation charities and hunting

http://www.liberation-mag.org.uk/conservation.htm
Whilst trawling the Internet for info for the forthcoming
CON-servation website which will expose the inextricable links between
conservation charities...