Will you be ready ?

Will you be ready for your first race whenever that may be . Ours is the 17th of April and so far so good for us . All birds going out and nearly all sitting.  So by the look of it ours will ready for their first race . Can't wait as birds looking fantastic now

first race monday 12th april from leicester , then sat 17th from rugby .....

had the cocks out first time tonight, was going to wait till next weekend but nice night so opened the let. First time out since end of september but they struck up and done a few laps before dropping, panting a bit. One cock kept at it on his own and went away, dropped in just before dark none the worse. They can go out every other night now, that's the plan anyway. 2 weeks time should see the hens split off so be pushing it for them. They'll have to go out pretty much open hole for a full weekend then couple of days later in the basket, but at the end of the day everything depends on the weather. Got 18 to race anyway, pick the races, just schooling them this year.

barnie wrote:

had the cocks out first time tonight, was going to wait till next weekend but nice night so opened the let. First time out since end of september but they struck up and done a few laps before dropping, panting a bit. One cock kept at it on his own and went away, dropped in just before dark none the worse. They can go out every other night now, that's the plan anyway. 2 weeks time should see the hens split off so be pushing it for them. They'll have to go out pretty much open hole for a full weekend then couple of days later in the basket, but at the end of the day everything depends on the weather. Got 18 to race anyway, pick the races, just schooling them this year.

Similar down here Barnie with all my old cocks yesterday etc fat as pigs some were I'm that bad, 2 couldn't even fly up to the landing board & I had to chase them around the yard to catch then after their bath to save them from the local cat brigade .

Surely more than 3 of us racing?

Knackered wrote:

barnie wrote:

had the cocks out first time tonight, was going to wait till next weekend but nice night so opened the let. First time out since end of september but they struck up and done a few laps before dropping, panting a bit. One cock kept at it on his own and went away, dropped in just before dark none the worse. They can go out every other night now, that's the plan anyway. 2 weeks time should see the hens split off so be pushing it for them. They'll have to go out pretty much open hole for a full weekend then couple of days later in the basket, but at the end of the day everything depends on the weather. Got 18 to race anyway, pick the races, just schooling them this year.

Similar down here Barnie with all my old cocks yesterday etc fat as pigs some were I'm that bad, 2 couldn't even fly up to the landing board & I had to chase them around the yard to catch then after their bath to save them from the local cat brigade .

given the runaround were we oz

yep, 17th we go but still depends on the welsh minister friday, birds been paired for week now, wont let them rear this year as i'm not going to breed many y/b so see how that pans out

oldstrain wrote:

Knackered wrote:

barnie wrote:

had the cocks out first time tonight, was going to wait till next weekend but nice night so opened the let. First time out since end of september but they struck up and done a few laps before dropping, panting a bit. One cock kept at it on his own and went away, dropped in just before dark none the worse. They can go out every other night now, that's the plan anyway. 2 weeks time should see the hens split off so be pushing it for them. They'll have to go out pretty much open hole for a full weekend then couple of days later in the basket, but at the end of the day everything depends on the weather. Got 18 to race anyway, pick the races, just schooling them this year.

Similar down here Barnie with all my old cocks yesterday etc fat as pigs some were I'm that bad, 2 couldn't even fly up to the landing board & I had to chase them around the yard to catch then after their bath to save them from the local cat brigade .

given the runaround were we oz

could maybe say that etc O/S fast little buggers thou I found here when trying to save them from a cat type meal moment Now, on the racing side all fires up this weekend apparently in a local sense, with an any age series of sprint type races after a total shut down after last year with the corona scenario. Boys down the bottom talking the talk as they do, but will not be much interest up the the top end here somehow on average I suspect    .

got the message club will be open for anhour this weekend, taking our club fee`s ........will have to go pay it

David wrote:

got the message club will be open for anhour this weekend, taking our club fee`s ........will have to go pay it

Much is done by phone/text these days etc David I suspect/suggest in a pigeon sense sadly. Chook farmer types here just recently received one telling them, no more walking in one minute before close time on basket night & they will have to be there an hour earlier now to do their fair share of the basket work as such. One chook farmer here thou because of the stress factor was going to get a personal type visit apparently, instead of a text retired Vet as some were concerned he would maybe somehow have a heart attack when finding out the new rule come race night & the effect it would have on him when basketing his chook type team .

Ours will be ready,  everything is going well at present but that can soon change

had these out 4 times total, cocks and hens together, but not forced out, in fact some just walked on the front and went back in. young birds in nest all 10-14 days old and the cocks are already driving the hens so speeds things up a bit for me. only let them sit 4 days after second egg laid then they get split. Then I got almost a week off work, now everything depends on the weather during the week off. Ideally I want them out twice a day and doing at least 40 mins at the end. Then the baskets will have to come out about 3rd or 4th April and be going twice a day till they do what I need, straight home and through the bobs without messing but no doubt that will go t***s up

barnie wrote:

had these out 4 times total, cocks and hens together, but not forced out, in fact some just walked on the front and went back in. young birds in nest all 10-14 days old and the cocks are already driving the hens so speeds things up a bit for me. only let them sit 4 days after second egg laid then they get split. Then I got almost a week off work, now everything depends on the weather during the week off. Ideally I want them out twice a day and doing at least 40 mins at the end. Then the baskets will have to come out about 3rd or 4th April and be going twice a day till they do what I need, straight home and through the bobs without messing but no doubt that will go t***s up

Glad you have a plan there in motion etc Barnie just remember thou, maybe plans need to be flexible some what I suggest at times with pigeons being pigeons .

more about the weather right now knackered, sleet and strong wind coming in this weekend. Too early for me to be taking chances with a small team. Too many wires close by.

had the lot out this morning, eventually they all went up and done a few laps but the hens are coming into the second cycle so cocks driving and hens really best off in the shed. They'll be out again tonight if the sleet and rain keeps off but any hens standing over the bowls I'll keep in till they've laid up.

Didn't all drop at the loft, some landed on neighbouring roof tops but they haven't been flying for months so I suppose got to make allowances for them. Oldest YB is 14 days and that pair laid 2nd round last night. They don't hang about once breeding starts.

Driving is the most fitness exercise they can get. They use every muscle etc. - like we may do swimming lol -
For it is also very important for the hens to get rid of any excess inner fat.

Dont think so our first race will be on the 17 of April to cold to train and not paired the race team yet or the stock birds probably wait till the beginning of may to start

started to batch up properly tonight, did about 10 minutes, some cocks struck back up and clapped around. 3 hens messed about on shed roof until it was almost dark I think they were just buying some time away from the frenzied cocks driving them

On edge watching for hawks, although there's a good few crows knocking about in the high trees, supposed to keep hawks away, I'm not convinced, you can never relax this time of year.

don't know if mine will be ready as they are just going down on there 1st set of eggs, not paired the stock up yet.

Well mine, like a lot of old fanciers' aren't out if East in the wind. Let alone trained. Mind cold day with Westerly - like a N. Westerly today is fine.
 Good adage to save many losses, as true today as it's ever been. 'When wind in the East, no good for man or Beast'!

Indeed only ever, like the old fanciers send a cock, or hen first race(s) or so to keep in the averages. I never bothered regards averages though.

Training starting on the 30th the local trainer said take them my self first couple of times

as you know i hung my T3 up after old birds last year but may get back in the game for 2022 with a small yb team and fly south in the bicc and use the club races as training i may just revert to yb racing...enough interest this year though with the one loft ybs and yearling and a kit being flown by a national flyer who kindly offered me a seat to see them arrive he also has some ybs left from last year to race as yearlings so enough to keep me going for 2021...all the very best to you lads for 2021 i hope it pans out well for you all

oldstrain wrote:

as you know i hung my T3 up after old birds last year but may get back in the game for 2022 with a small yb team and fly south in the bicc and use the club races as training i may just revert to yb racing...enough interest this year though with the one loft ybs and yearling and a kit being flown by a national flyer who kindly offered me a seat to see them arrive he also has some ybs left from last year to race as yearlings so enough to keep me going for 2021...all the very best to you lads for 2021 i hope it pans out well for you all

thats what i like to hear darren, i like it when you race, it gives me some interest with me not racing myself, as you always let me know how they do ...........

I feel Darren that this season - besides uncertainties, will heighten and resolve exactly where you are and want to be.
A season 'Looking In' and missing blessing's and goals ... though you will have a lot of interests 'Looking In'!
It may well be you being very much a 'Hands On' person it will rekindle a flame to race again.
But most importantly you will - in 10 months - resolve exact where you and what you want and desire and be able to do.
Good to see the 'Pigeons bug' is not waning.
Good fancier are few. Workers and helpers far, far fewer.