Tom Corrie Jnr reports on
CALLUM WALKER
Rising Star of the Lanarkshire Federation
This week’s Lanarkshire loft profile takes me to Law Village on the south side of the Federation. Law Village, formerly a mining village with a present population of nearly 3,000, nestles between the larger Carluke and Wishaw.
Callum Walker is the young man featured and though having been in the pigeons for three seasons, he has already made an significant impact.
Callum worked in the armed forces from the age of 17, spending his time in the Middle East before being medically discharged due to injury. He returned to Scotland in 2008 setting up his family home in Law Village and working within an industrial electrical firm.
Callum on the right enjoying judging at Clarkston show recently with good friend Robert Anderson (L) presenting class winner Stuart Mullan (centre)
He has settled well back in Scotland and with the support of his family is enjoying having his racing loft outside in his garden. Like with most new houses the garden space is limited but Callum has self built his lofts that are kind on the eye and practical for his environment.
When 8 years old he served his apprenticeship under the guidance of his father as H Walker & Son and they were successful in the mighty Lanarkshire Federation, winning their fair share of prizes including 1st Federation before he joined the forces. His father no longer keeps pigeons. On return he acquired some pigeons from local fancier Jock McKenzie and these birds have served him well and continue to win at all levels.
Lofts
Two self-built 16 x 8ft, one just built recently to house the youngsters and stock pigeons.
Racing loft 16 x 8 has a section for 16 cocks and another section that incorporates individual boxes for the 16 hens and general store area.
The stock pigeons will be moved to another location in the near future to allow the end for his distance candidates.
Stock pigeons are paired up early around end of November early December. These are rung with RPRA rings and some eggs are kept in house until the racers are paired in mid January and these stock eggs floated under them.
Around 60 ybs will be bred and raced on darkness this year to compete on all fronts as Callum likes to compete at club, federation and National level.
Stock pigeons are fed on Natural breeding mix with a selection of minerals and grit always available for the birds. He also likes using G10 pellets and these are also used during the racing season.
New self-built yb and stock section loft incorporating ETS trapping
Original racing loft that has proved highly successful
Birds
At present Camphuis Janssen and old distance bloodlines through Jock McKenzie.
More recently he has acquired birds from Jock King of Kirkaldy, John Proctor of Dundee, Jim O Hara of Allanton, Walter Boswell of Hamilton and the best of Irish distance Walkingshaw birds from his good friend Robert Anderson.
He has also one pair of Planet Brothers Van Loons and a sprinkle of Van Reets and a recently purchased Kirkpatrick grizzle hen.
Callum is very keen on purchasing the very best and all his stock are off the very best, straight from these fanciers’ best.
System
Birds are raced on a form of celibate/roundabout with cocks racing from boxes and hens being locked in individual boxes in separate sections preventing them seeing each other. In fact they never see each other until the seventh race.
The birds are exercised separately twice per day with the hens going out first. The cocks go into the hens’ section and hens trap back into boxes and then the cocks go out.
Cocks and hens are raced alternate weeks and when it’s not their week for racing they are trained mornings and have loft exercise evenings to keep them right.
After the seventh race they are paired and sent to the longer races on the nest cycle.
Both sexes race well on this system and exercise for fun around the loft.
The built up area doesn't seem to stop them enjoying easily one hour ranging the local area and returning in a tight formation.
Floor of racing section showing vents which run the length of this section
Feeding for racing
Saturday (race day), as much depurative as they wish, nothing added to feed or water.
Sunday, spoon of depurative morning and night.
Monday morning pinch of seed with some G10 pellets (this is fed in main racing box), evening one once of racing mixture.
Tuesday, Wednesday are the same programme.
Thursday seed and G10 morning, at night all they wish of Gerry Plus type mixture.
Friday no feed.
As racing progresses he feeds a heavier No1 racing mix and feeds accordingly to the needs of the pigeons.
He makes up his own herbal tonic (detox) of twenty herbs that is given to the birds every Sunday during the season; he purchases these through the internet. This is of great benefit to the birds as their skin is always clean and pink. He also gives them Vesela Laga purgative salts every three weeks during the racing season.
The birds’ droppings are studied to obsession and have to be showing down and scale on top.
Callum spends considerable time bonding with his pigeons and often lets the hens out individually to pamper them.
Birds have a bath on a Sunday but don't bath during the non racing season due to raptor attacks.
Callum feels you have to be able to watch and understand the needs of your pigeons; he treats them with military precision.
Inside the stock section
Spotting condition
He likes to watch the pigeons exercise and when the balloon crop is evident on the cock birds this is a very good sign; they dart away in all directions .
Dropping have to be small in one place and have a layer of small down and scale.
The birds’ feet have to be warm to the touch of your skin.
Skin scale free.
Three week cycle of treatment
Before racing commences the birds are treated for canker, cocci and respiratory with products that are changed frequently.
He worms them with Dac wormer via drinkers.
Callum doesn't feed grit or minerals during the racing season. He thinks they get everything they need from their feed and G10 pellets.
Birds are vaccinated for both paramyxo and paratyphoid, the youngsters being done in the nest.
He has been the victim of the dreaded YB syndrome each year and treats to good effect by waiting for around three days of the symptoms showing among team then no feed for three days, adding Virkon S to the water at a rate of one teaspoon to a gallon until birds are back up flying for one hour.
Last year he purchased beans for the distance races that unknown to him were mouldy and severely affected the birds’ form. He advises people to watch what they buy. Callum has learned from his mistake.
Hen racing boxes, being used presently to re-pair birds that the eggs are kept to foster under racers Mid January.
Present clubs
Carluke club, Lanarkshire Fed, SNFC and SNRPC.
The club has over twenty members and sends 400-600 old birds early races and 600 to 700 youngsters.
Federation is up to 7,000 and National around 5,000 inland racing.
Callum’s present roles within the club are President, ETS clock setter and he also manages the club feed sales every Sunday between 12-1pm and Wednesday 7-8pm at the club premises with a large selection of mixtures available at very competitive rate.
Callum enjoys this role as you are always in contact with other fanciers and talking pigeons.
He also enjoys the social side of the sport and regularly shows birds and also likes attending prize nights and the Blackpool Show.
Future Plans
To compete at all levels including National racing but not chasing averages.
Best racers in his area
GWP Macaloney - they are the best in the business.
Racing section with this year's racing cocks
Present star of loft
A 2011 cheq pied cock, a Camphuis Janssen named "Woody" that has won an astonishing £4,000 in his short racing career, yes £4,000 at club and national racing.
His wins include 4x1st clubs, 3x2nd clubs and many more prizes.
He has managed twice 3rd section Lanarkshire Federation and 8th Sect, 32nd Open Cheltenham SNFC 4,500 birds.
This bird is a very special pigeon, a great handler, very tame, a real beauty.
Callum said his brothers and sisters are also winning, with fellow club member Marshall Findlay competing well at club with them; if Callum was first he was second with the same line.
Also fancier Bobby Todd managed to race a couple of this line in the South Lanarkshire Fed and these were his timers each week of that yb programme.
In the 2013 season all Woody’s brothers and sisters scored winning many prizes including out to SNRPC YB National level.
Woody the star of the loft
Recent results
Since 2011 Callum has won 16 x1st clubs and multiple 2nds and 3rd prizes.
In 2013 he won 16 section and Open positions in the mighty Lanarkshire Federation.
9 National certificates have been achieved: SNRPC 2nd, 4th, 10th section; SNFC 3rd, 6th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 24th section. A great return in a very short time.
Best Achievement
Breeding Woody
Middle box, Woody's parents.
Overall he has found the pigeons give him a feeling of well being, good friendship and all this forms a hobby that he has always enjoyed and feels he will continue to enjoy.
Thanks to Callum for his time and the opportunity to see one of the most progressive lofts in Lanarkshire.
Tom Corrie jnr
Lanarkshire Federation Press Officer
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Elimar - January 2014
