RHONDDA VALLEY FED
Reports by Martin Dunn
GWYN HUMPHRIES, SON & FAULKNER OF TYLORSTOWN
First loft visit of 2008 is to the Tylorstown loft of Gwyn Humphries and Faulkner, the short journey over to the Rhonddda Fach on a bright sunny Saturday Morning was a very enjoyable 2 hours spent visiting Gwyn. This visit was brought about primarily due to the outstanding 2008 young bird season Gwyn has had, winning 8 x1st club from the 11 races flown, although Gwyn’s performances have been improving year on year over the last few season’s.
The loft is situated at the rear of Gwyn’s garage, a double decker affair, the race birds fly from the top loft, which is around 44 feet in length, split into 3 sections, first 2 are for the old birds with around 18 boxes in both sections, although they are not all full, Gwyn keeps around 40 old bird racers, raced on the natural system.
The next section is around 16 foot long, used for the young birds on darkness, this section contains both box perches and nest boxes which are open for the young birds to pair as when they are keen to do. Both old bird and young bird sections have a number of extraction fans and vents in the loft roof to help with the air circulation.
Downstairs contains the stock birds, divided into 3 large sections, there is more than enough room for the 15 pair of stock birds, added to this the floors are concreted with drainage points, Gwyn can wash the sections through as when he feel it requires.
The loft over looks the large roundabout that signals the end of the Rhondda Fach by-pass, this brings its disadvantages with the huge number of lights on this roundabout, it keeps the loft well lit during the night, therefore Gwyn has to darken the loft down at times.
Gwyn is down at the loft by 07:00, each morning, he’s retired now from his job with the R.C.T. council, he’s a carpenter by trade, which can be seen in the construction of the lofts. By the time he gets down there, the naturals have already been out for exercise, Gwyn opens the sputnik traps when he parks the car up for the night and the birds are free to go at first light. To keep the birds fit they are also sent on the local training lorry with Chris Jones, twice a week and Gwyn will often take them with him if he’s going anywhere on the line of flight.
Gwyn Humphries holding his Maerdy Single bird winner and over £3000
Gwyn says that both the cocks and hens are coming well with no preference for either, the old birds are fed twice a day, morning and Evening on Versele Laga best all round, around ¾ of an ounce both times. If they are having the work they need the fuel to do it. Added to this they receive Aviform ultimate and E-Plus during the week.
The 15 pairs of stock birds are paired together either the end of December or Early January, as stated earlier they have plenty of room and lots of air.The stock birds are from Gwyn’s cousin, Anuerin Williams of Maerdy, Anuerin is responsible for a number of winners in the Valley during 2008. These are based on the Janssen and Brasspenning lines from Anuerin and really look the part with some beautiful light chequers. Gwyn has also added some Jan Aardens for the longer races, which he is hopeful of.
The 50-55 young birds are placed on the Darkness system when parted, and are left together to pair up if they wish as they mature, this is all the motivation they need. When the young birds are flying well, they then start training, starting off at the top of the Llanwonno mountain opposite the loft around 2 miles, they are then worked down the mountain and taken over to the next valley, Ynysbwl, around 5 miles. From here they go to Nelson and Gelligaer, around 10 miles. When they are coming well from here Gwyn will put them on the local trainer to Magor around 40 miles, twice a week, He will also train them himself on the days they are not on the trainer.
The young birds are fed a mixture of Breed and Wean and a young bird mix during the week and will receive the same supplements as the old birds. Gwyn will routinely treat for Cocci and Canker and will keep a close look to make sure nothing untoward is in the birds.
Looking through the young bird and old aviary – Note Gwyn’s Scarecrow
Both old birds and Young birds have access all day to an aviary, and Gwyn said this is the best thing he’s done, the birds love to be out in the Aviary all day, whatever the weather. The bottom of the aviary is metal, which allows ease of cleaning. Both old birds and young birds trap through the traditional sputnik trap, where the Ets is installed and ready, the clock is kept on the look out with Gwyn and he can check as the birds have arrived if they have registered or not.
Inside the young bird section
Onto some of the his Results starting with 2007, where he was runner-up in the strong Tylorstown club, winning 5 x 1st with the young birds alone.2008 proved to be a another very good year, 8 x 1sts with the young birds, sees him as top prize winner in the club, Gwyn is also 2nd highest points winner in the Rhondda Valley federation with young birds, and in the running for the young bird averages, velocity proper.
The icing on the cake for 2008, was from the Maerdy single bird nomination, where Gwyn clocked his very good Brasspenning cock, to take the £2500 first prize, this was this young cocks 3rd fed position with young birds, he was 20th national Ramsgate to go with it and 1st Rhondda valley 2-bird, to clear over £3000 for a days racing.
It was a pleasure to go over to Gwyns, the birds were in excellent condition and a classy looking lot they were, Gwyn said that he hoped to improve his channel performances in 2009, and looking at the team he has, it wouldn’t surprise me if he does.
