Breaking pigeons in

In 1985 a friend packed up … his daughter and partner of 16 died. He gave me 3 pairs. One was his favourite little red hen. I took them on a Thursday I believe. This hen bird took a shine to a blue bar cock bird I had broken in the March / April and had flew it the whole programme (Like some do when not broken early, that visit their old loft often first from a race). I let it 9The hen) out after 3 days as is right. It returned to Terry. He was a mite perplexed that I had let them out etc. I explained that a bird - if possible and able - has to be broken in three days … as I had broken 20 odd of the 24 I had had from fellow fancier packing up. March the 10th I fetched them Following April I was racing them... True! This he knew of course but said 'You will never break that hen in'!
Another three days on the Sunday it was out flying and trapping with her mate. I went out on the following Sunday after and it was out like. I did something I had never done before I rattled a corn tin! The hen took off to Terry's. He lived about 150 yards from me the way the crow flies.

I took a cardboard box with me around to Terry's. He had also another two there.
'I told you Roly you will never break that hen in. What you got in the box? You brought the box for the three then, I'll try and get them in '.
'URTH UTH' I said. 'But the hen will fly home to my loft'! I stated. He laughed, thought I was bonkers.
I took the blue barr cock out and let it see it's hen on top of Terry's loft. I let it go and it flew straight up to her. They dawdled and cooed around a bit, the cock took off followed by the red hen to my loft. Never had any trouble with herafter that'.
Terry often even now relates relates that tale in still in disbelief! Often finishing with 'I'd never believed it if I hadn't seen it'!

That's a great read Daz

That fist race was actually the 19th of April. Fetched 10th of March and raced Both North and South. The fancier reneged on his words and moaned.
said to Me - Realism here 'When the pigeons are high up they can see for miles upon miles. You are about 10 miles, so as soon as they are up in the air they can see my loft ...' Now that must be true of course. Yet when 'Homing' they only miss obstacles, trees churches etc. in the last second or two. So they must hone in and lock on it's course. More of that maybe later. Now One of these pigeons was an absolute belter to look at. Many asked where I got etc. some wanted a youngster or whatever. But was seldom in my loft. I lost it probably just before the fancier pulled the loft down... who knows?!
Any way next season as a 3 year old it came home to me after the first Worksop race and before the Pontefract race. It reared two rounds and flew Lerwick. Then disappeared. Next season it came and done exactly the same. It did so again the next year then disappeared and never came back again.

had too, that first year a tick eyed blue hen. Sent and lost first race, Next week it came like the clappers and entered like a good one! Next week was sent and lost. Week after on the Saturday it hit my loft like a good. It did this for a few weeks.
When I met Eric Wilson, whom I had it from, I told him. He said he had a hen that did the same... you guessed it, it was the same hen Two lofts.
Mind to day and with Hind sight We / I could have worked it out a treat.

Always found, the more intelligent the pigeon the easier it is to settle to a new loft, numerous examples too many to relate but am sure many other fanciers found that to be the case.

Regards.

What would be the oldest pigeon you would try and break for racing, I’ve some nwhu 2017 birds I wouldn’t mind racing but I’m afraid of trying to break them

Usually when a fancier obtains a pigeon over 3 years old it is usually for stock purposes.

Yearlings should be easily settled if not having been previouly bred from.

Cannot ever recall racing a new pigeon other than a youngster.


New ones either proven breeders or young ones from the nest.


I would just pair them up and have them sitting or feeding young when trying them out.

Good luck, theyare no good just sat in the loft.



Regards.

Thanks misty, may give them a go next year then, supposed to be good birds, bred by a Colin Fleming , Hofkens and Grondelaers, had them from an old fancier in our club who has just given up, buys kits of young birds from this Colin guy every year

Lofty wrote:

What would be the oldest pigeon you would try and break for racing, I’ve some nwhu 2017 birds I wouldn’t mind racing but I’m afraid of trying to break them

worth a try roy, as misty says, they are no good just sat in the loft.....I should know, ive a loft full of corn eaters serving no purpose because they were wasted by not racing them.

good luck with them

Depends how far the old loft is away in one regards. Also if still up. that gives you different aspects to how.

If acquiring a bird from a loft not too far, then old loft keeps it6 short of food... none. Then taken to new loft for feed and water. The let go to old loft. After a few days or so it will stay etc. Like the Germans and co do when their y/b's birds have flown the program they send to a 'One Loft' race say the South African one. They  realise that they can't get home. Return to the place where they have been fed.

The reason a pigeon is broken is that it likes it's new loft better than the old one.

One should feed a new bird for three days, say morning. The let it out every three days. It will when broken race to the new loft.
But to think the longer the better, that they forget is a fallacy. They don't forget ever.
Many pigeons broken - if broken after a long stay in new lofty especially, will go to old loft first.

I believe also an aviary where they can se out and above is very useful.

I put them in a basket so they are looking at the front of the loft for as many times you can be bothered.
Pick a day to drop the flap and let them fly out.
If they go back to the old loft don't go rushing to get them..
Let them sit out a few hours
The bright ones come back themselves
There never properly settled untill they stay once there split.

Was a time, when a few Old wise fanciers used to put them in a copper barrel. Yes and swung it around a bit. Three days on and off. They came out very disorientated, then put in the loft. Were broken in. I have never seen it, but apparently was done to good effect.

I would put the fanciers in a barrel and close the lid.

The kindest way is always the best.

I would pair them up with other settled race birds as early as possible and do not think you will have any problems .

Regards.

If you're settling a hen pair it to one of your own loft reared cocks, a kind cock not one prone to scalping etc. Once they're down in the bowl after a few days and getting along fine, take the hen away and put her where she can't possibly see another pigeon, garden shed, rabbit hutch whatever. 2 days and nights in isolation she'll only have one thing on her mind, put them back together but not fed, keep them hungry and try them out together without any other birds an hour before dark. The cock won't leave her and she won't leave the cock. Couple of days later and she'll be coming on to lay, hopefully she would have stretched her wings with a few laps of the garden with the cock by this time then she should be ok.
Settling a cock, pretty much the same but take him away once he starts driving, isolate him for 1 day/night only, then back with his hen and try out an hour before dark.
Worked for me anyway, infact I got 2 hens off David a few years back and settled them using this method in a very short time.
You need to be patient and a few peanuts also helps.

barnie wrote:

If you're settling a hen pair it to one of your own loft reared cocks, a kind cock not one prone to scalping etc. Once they're down in the bowl after a few days and getting along fine, take the hen away and put her where she can't possibly see another pigeon, garden shed, rabbit hutch whatever. 2 days and nights in isolation she'll only have one thing on her mind, put them back together but not fed, keep them hungry and try them out together without any other birds an hour before dark. The cock won't leave her and she won't leave the cock. Couple of days later and she'll be coming on to lay, hopefully she would have stretched her wings with a few laps of the garden with the cock by this time then she should be ok.
Settling a cock, pretty much the same but take him away once he starts driving, isolate him for 1 day/night only, then back with his hen and try out an hour before dark.
Worked for me anyway, infact I got 2 hens off David a few years back and settled them using this method in a very short time.
You need to be patient and a few peanuts also helps.

I like this idea, nice and gentle on the birds, will be trying this for sure along with telling the old fancier if they do come back not to let them in or feed them

Sounds good Lofty,keep us posted

Will do, won’t be yet though,when I get them paired up will let you know how it all pans out