Many roads to Rome.

From another perspective.
Neil, my birds are locked up for the winter....Get out in March/April when the weather improves and snow is going/gone. I am extra careful at that time of the year and make sure they get up and flying ASAP....they are most vulnerable to predators at that time of the year...Lost one of my best last year...usually lose a few....I have to scare them out of the loft and sometimes up to exercise. But in a couple weeks they are in much better shape....lost the winter weight and the hawk attacks keep them on their toes. At this time of the year they are out twice a day....if they are getting attacked...If no attacks I will allow open loft from 8 am to 4 -5pm. They usually do not eat much but will make sure they still get lots of barley and if they do not eat it....they are not hungry. Might use a good mix to call them in....
Like · Reply · 1 · Yesterday at 1:40pm
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Tom Makowecki
Tom Makowecki After that they get as much open loft as I can give them.....to the neglect of my YB's...but I try and get the yb's out around noon....for an hour or so. then open loft OB's again. There will usually be some birds flying around most of the day...and by the long weekend in May...race ready. Many do not believe me but they flew around so well this year that they had 2 tosses from 23 miles....on the tuesday and Thursday before the first race...and that was the only tosses they had all year. Most went to every race....Hens in egg and exception! I do this to try and discover my best pigeons. I do not want to MAKE any better than their God given natural ability....and let the best be the best. There are always situations that hold birds back or motivation etc etc....and some birds can have an off year....but it is a system I enjoy and the birds have adjusted to. I do live on a farm that my birds will not bother anyone....I should say that once the birds are in good condition AND other birds have returned for the summer....the hawks do not pose much of a problem.....actually might even stimulate them for better exercise if a hawk or falcon flies by.......
Like · Reply · 1 · Yesterday at 1:56pm
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Neil Gonzalez
Neil Gonzalez After the OB season do you loft fly YBs/OBs together? In the OB season do you feed twice a day, call them in too feed and later, loft fly and call them back in to feed? How many prisoners do you have, is there a difference in there health compared to the birds that loft fly most of the year? Do you breed from your race team? How are there breeding results vs your Stock breeding pairs?
Like · Reply · Yesterday at 2:40pm
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Tom Makowecki
Tom Makowecki I don't exercise OB and YB together...after OB...mine are more or less locked up for the winter...just moult and rest. OB s have food in the loft all the time but still come in when I call for a better mix....My stock birds are always prisoners....and breed just as good or better pair for pair....but I tend to keep more from my breeders...sell or give away from my flyers....and some breeders...I keep way to many - some are kept for years for bloodlines and not bred from for 5 -10 years LOL....I have to room so I have different things going on. I always take some special latebreds from special matings....these stay in the stock loft but might not be used for years...Sounds crazy but it entertains me and I don't spend my life driving on tosses.

halcanada wrote:

From another perspective.
Neil, my birds are locked up for the winter....Get out in March/April when the weather improves and snow is going/gone. I am extra careful at that time of the year and make sure they get up and flying ASAP....they are most vulnerable to predators at that time of the year...Lost one of my best last year...usually lose a few....I have to scare them out of the loft and sometimes up to exercise. But in a couple weeks they are in much better shape....lost the winter weight and the hawk attacks keep them on their toes. At this time of the year they are out twice a day....if they are getting attacked...If no attacks I will allow open loft from 8 am to 4 -5pm. They usually do not eat much but will make sure they still get lots of barley and if they do not eat it....they are not hungry. Might use a good mix to call them in....
Like · Reply · 1 · Yesterday at 1:40pm
Remove
Tom Makowecki
Tom Makowecki After that they get as much open loft as I can give them.....to the neglect of my YB's...but I try and get the yb's out around noon....for an hour or so. then open loft OB's again. There will usually be some birds flying around most of the day...and by the long weekend in May...race ready. Many do not believe me but they flew around so well this year that they had 2 tosses from 23 miles....on the tuesday and Thursday before the first race...and that was the only tosses they had all year. Most went to every race....Hens in egg and exception! I do this to try and discover my best pigeons. I do not want to MAKE any better than their God given natural ability....and let the best be the best. There are always situations that hold birds back or motivation etc etc....and some birds can have an off year....but it is a system I enjoy and the birds have adjusted to. I do live on a farm that my birds will not bother anyone....I should say that once the birds are in good condition AND other birds have returned for the summer....the hawks do not pose much of a problem.....actually might even stimulate them for better exercise if a hawk or falcon flies by.......
Like · Reply · 1 · Yesterday at 1:56pm
Remove
Neil Gonzalez
Neil Gonzalez After the OB season do you loft fly YBs/OBs together? In the OB season do you feed twice a day, call them in too feed and later, loft fly and call them back in to feed? How many prisoners do you have, is there a difference in there health compared to the birds that loft fly most of the year? Do you breed from your race team? How are there breeding results vs your Stock breeding pairs?
Like · Reply · Yesterday at 2:40pm
Remove
Tom Makowecki
Tom Makowecki I don't exercise OB and YB together...after OB...mine are more or less locked up for the winter...just moult and rest. OB s have food in the loft all the time but still come in when I call for a better mix....My stock birds are always prisoners....and breed just as good or better pair for pair....but I tend to keep more from my breeders...sell or give away from my flyers....and some breeders...I keep way to many - some are kept for years for bloodlines and not bred from for 5 -10 years LOL....I have to room so I have different things going on. I always take some special latebreds from special matings....these stay in the stock loft but might not be used for years...Sounds crazy but it entertains me and I don't spend my life driving on tosses.

Interesting read Hal about what I would exspect thou from a sheep farmer type   .

Knackered. Yes. Retired now last few years. Worth a heck of a lot of money. He sold up, his wife took off after buying a place of her own in another Province. Unknown to him. Shared account at that time. Anyway, he is one person I will always trust. Never sent me duds and in case there were some in the batch of young birds he just added extra. Your type of bloke.

halcanada wrote:

Knackered. Yes. Retired now last few years. Worth a heck of a lot of money. He sold up, his wife took off after buying a place of her own in another Province. Unknown to him. Shared account at that time. Anyway, he is one person I will always trust. Never sent me duds and in case there were some in the batch of young birds he just added extra. Your type of bloke.

Careful what you say Hal Some have said to me your an absolute A******e/P***k   N*****k at times & there     my friends etc.

Yes but you realize that and so are not insulted..