ybs out and about

yes had our ybs out just now for an hour a couple went up and away first time they did a few fly pasts and disappeared out of sight but eventually came back and down and in through the bobs ...the fun starts now eh ,we got 21 ybs over with another 15 hatched out 2nd round which have just been rung ,just about able to breed enough for ourselves this year in time for racing not really had enough ybs this last few seasons to race so happy to get there this year

sounds good Darren, some have only got them in the nest so far, your on the ball this year..........

Always a Scarry time the first few times out but glad you got them back will be a few weeks for me yet as mine are just sitting a couple of weeks now before the first round hatch and that will be it

markevans wrote:

Always a Scarry time the first few times out but glad you got them back will be a few weeks for me yet as mine are just sitting a couple of weeks now before the first round hatch and that will be it

Know the feeling Mark Sunday, sitting inside watching TV as such & I saw the Gossie grab one off the roof of the loft just on sunset here Mad panic moment for the rest with many having a night out as such. End of the tale thou, 1 to the Gossie & 4 still missing etc.

Knackered, must be heart breaking seeing your pigeons attacked, we have plenty of incidents but not as bad as yours.


Matters are getting worse though, year on year, the RSPB breeding raptors by the dozen and letting them loose.



Got far worse since I had to part with our feathered friends, was two each I think and that was in the last two years.


Can only see things getting worse, the RSPB appear to be able to dictate terms in all things relative to our wild bird populations and their only love appears to be raptors.



Hope you have less trouble and the pests look elsewhere.


Regards.

Any pain killer dabbed on the neck ensures that they won't be back.

Often think the Fur and Feather markets are useful.

As was explained to me, 40 years ago, a very good and realistic truth of an understanding.
Our eyesight is far from as good as pigeons! We can see from ground level miles away comfortably.
A pigeon way up high can see miles upon miles away. Obviously.


Once a pigeon 'Locks On (race time) with a determination to a destination it just misses hedges, trees etc.
Now on a training toss, they circle - mostly high and will see 60 miles or more if looking.

Some pigeons will land and go into a loft a couple of miles away!
That bird is telling you something at the time. It's not happy with you or your loft. Or isn't mentally unfit etc.
Times are now, inevitably, when a reality check of ourselves is needed.

There has been far too many instances of pigeons returning in seemingly impossible conditions , rain, snow,
fog, over water in the dark etc'; etc; for anyone to hazard a guess at what is involved in the pigeons make up regarding orientation.


I have had pigeons return in conditions one would think impossible in terms of human thinking.


Do not think a pigeon has to see land marks or anything else to return to a location it wants to.



If a pigeon could see 60 miles and recognise a land mark, it could then recognise it up to 60 miles the other side giving it a 120 mile visual orientation point, but the point is it could not see it in the dark nor in snow or fog etc; so one could reasonably think visual orientation, other than close home is a no goer.



Just read that some swifts spend 10 months in the air without ever landing, we may have theories but mother nature knows best.


Wants to, being the main point and to what extent it is willing to exert itself.


Regards.

Exactly! Name of the game!!
"Wants to, being the main point and to what extent it is willing to exert itself."

Misty Quote ' … Do not think a pigeon has to see landmarks or anything else to return to a location it wants to'.

Exactly, me too 100%. But do believe when a youngster goes ranging - used to go up into little specks, often out of sight. Then roam anywhere up and over 60 miles radius of more flying with zest, they took in exactly where they were/are at all times.
Hence when training/ racing the circle - mostly - and then lock into where home is. Like I say they aren't looking/seeing landmarks etc. they KNOW where there are going! Missing objects under, besides, the last second!

Now I firmly believe that incest mating- especially from incest parents devalues much in their natural abilities. Homing instinct is not least. Once it was incest to breed (Tops)Then outcross pigeons to race.
Old-timers such as Jansenn wouldn't even consider it. Indeed the old man Jansenn would also allow widowerhood as he said it is unnatural and damaging to the pigeons.
Then we will hear 'Weer, the number of winners winning on Widowhood hens or widowerhood cock birds proves different - Buscheart etc. Soon, of course, the more affluent fancier was winning on widerhood against the same fanciers that they have always beaten. Then off course most against other Widowerhood pigeons.
But it was soon learnt that they couldn't hold their own on distance, and hard day races. Then later again on all pigeon races. Now natural and especially open lofts, when able are indeed in the first weeks.

we had 2 ybs missing for 2 days but they dropped in this afternoon together ...nest mates to ,what are the chances of that...let the cocks out and they came back with them

glad to hear you got them back Darren, might make good uns after there adventure........

Yes strange how thinks like that happen the two stopping together for two days then come back the same time

Mine just started to hatch out yesterday should all be out by Monday that's everything that's going to hatch

Its always squeaky bum time when youngsters go out for the first time