manxman

Having talked to other local shoots who received the same birds & also the opinions on this thread, it looks more than likely the poults were not hardened off sufficiently. The other shoots were predictably tight lipped about how many the have actually lost,but reading between the lines I would say more than would normally be expected. Many thanks for the helpful replies.

Wow, loads of great replies. I have work at 5.00 so quickly, plenty of shelters in all 4 pens. On medicated pellets. All 7 to 8 weeks.

I was thinking on those lines, Gandalf. If things carry on like this we won't have a shoot this year.

Having a disaster with our birds this year. Delivered 2 weeks ago from our usual supplier. Two days later we had some rain overnight & I found 12 dead in the same pen out of 50. The day after another 23. Last Tuesday had a bit more rain & 8 dead in another pen. It's raining tonight & I'm dreading what I'm going to find tomorrow. We usually get 200/250 & in the past 10 years or so we expect to loose maybe a dozen tops while in the pens, often less. We have done nothing different to previous years. Same birds, same feed. Everything cleaned & disinfected & I've known much worse weather. Can anyone offer advice as to what might be wrong?

If it's any interest to you, I have a similar quality gun, perhaps slightly better engraving, that I paid very close to your asking price 2 years ago, so I would suggest you are in the ball park price wise. Best quality vintage boxlock prices are rising all the time.

Going on my annual decoying holiday a week tomorrow. For the first time in 20 years going there, it looks like wind & rain forecast. I'm going come hell or high water, just wondered what the chances of a decent bag are. Normally average 80 - 100 a day. I presume they have to feed every day. Anyone have much experience of decoying poor weather? I don't.

Our small syndicate affected terribly by the weather. Had to cancel 4 days November/December. Consequently the feeders got hammered despite trying to keep them topped up. Our feeding regime usually keeps pace as the number of birds declines through the season. Alas, a lot have wandered & our 300 acres is a quagmire. A poor season although what birds we shot flew exceptionally well & were a great condition.

Considered that but the farm is a fair way from my house. Couldnt get there every day. In Spain at the mo but if they still haven't hatched when I get back, then I'll incubate them & once off the heat, leave them in the old barn with plenty of crumb & water & see how they get on.

I hatch out a few guinea fowl each year to release on our small shoot. Frankly, we don't shoot them, we just like seeing them around & the farmer enjoys them too. Last October we had a clutch of 9 chicks running around but none survived past November. Today the farmer showed me a nest with no less than 20 eggs on which a guinea is sitting. Obviously a hatch this late is doomed. I have an incubator & can rear them to about 3 weeks. After that I'm snookered as I have nowhere to bring them on in the winter. Can anyone offer advice to give them a fighting chance through the winter?

Remington sold.

Having a summer clear out. First up a Remington Realtree jacket. Size large. Waterproof & breathable in very quiet peached outer fabric. 2 zipped upper slash pockets. 2 large cargo pockets. Zip on hood. Hardly worn. £35 posted Next an Arktis waterproof & breathable jacket. Generous size large. These are the dogs danglies, used by police tactical firearms units, special forces ect. Have a gander at their website. A serious piece of foul weather kit. Cost an arm & a leg at the time. Slight marks on one arm. There is a tooth missing on the zip. Still fastens. Slightly awkward to get started therefore £55 posted.

Well bad news I'm afraid. Alfie died on Thursday. I'm absolutely gutted. He was supposed to go in for full blood tests that day. Vet seems to think his heart gave out. Without a post mortem I'll never know but that isn't going to bring him back. Whatever he had been suffering from, no medication had any lasting effect. I'm beating myself up here thinking of what else I could have done. Many trips to the vets & hundreds & hundreds of pounds tells me not a lot but I still have a nagging doubt. Many thanks to all for their helpful suggestions just the same.

Hi, Fortune. That's what I initially thought was wrong & wormed him but he got progressively worse. The vet is unsure what exactly is/was wrong with him. x rays showed most likely pneumonia but later believed it could be a tick born virus. The next step if he doesn't improve is blood tests. Up to date with his jabs as well. No harm in worming again though.

Thanks people. I have a friendly local butcher so will pay him a visit. What about dried pigs ears & the like?

My young dog, nearly 2, became quite poorly in January. Lost weight, all the vigour went out of him. Vet initially diagnosed pneumonia & put him straight on a drip & kept him in 24 hours. A 2 week antibiotic course saw him bounce back pretty quick but he relapsed afterwards with similar symptoms. A few weeks on steroids put him back on his feet but he is not the dog he was. He is putting on weight but painfully slowly. He still looks dreadfully thin. I've upped his food & put a little cooking oil with it as directed by the vet. I know when I've overfed him because he gets the squirts. Has anyone have some good old fashioned remedies for fattening up a recuperating, skinny dog?