2023 RPRA Entries

David wrote:

It's too late to breed now for this year, young  bird racing starts in about 3 weeks time....unless you want to breed a few 2023 late breds to race as yearlings next year.....

Would they not need the experience of racing as young birds though?

more likely to go down in there 1st old bird race

George & Morgan wrote:

more likely to go down in there 1st old bird race

Thought so, thank you

George & Morgan wrote:

my advice don't breed far too late

Tend to disagree here George somewhat wouldn't worry about the racing side as such for John & Ellie at this early stage there, but just by having something in the loft early on for the enjoyment scenario factor would have some benefits from my perspective here.

if they bring in ybs next year they will need all the space also latebreds here are not worth keeping unless you have a good winner and wish to take a pair of ybs

George & Morgan wrote:

if they bring in ybs next year they will need all the space also latebreds here are not worth keeping unless you have a good winner and wish to take a pair of ybs

Thats all ok George but it's all down the track type thing I suggest at this stage. Important from my perspective that Ellie & John have something there in loft early on to get in the groove type thing at this early stage, even if only a pair of fantails or the like .

i thought they had a few birds maybe not just checked Knackered he has 4 pairs he don't need any ybs at this time of year

George & Morgan wrote:

i thought they had a few birds maybe not just checked Knackered  he has 4 pairs he don't need any ybs at this time of year

Ok George you win     for Ellies sake thou I will refrain, from mentioning Mr Goshawk & our mate Mr Peregrine type thing with their 4 pair there apparently  .

gutted lost yb at 6mls trainer

George & Morgan wrote:

gutted lost yb at 6mls trainer

Almost criminal, what on earth good is a 6 mile trainer ?.

They know their way home, should loft fly at least 30 miles round the loft., every day.

Just unbelievable.

Regards.

seems they were 50 short last night

These one lofts are becoming a joke, every year it's getting worse, I think they need to hire different loft managers ....

5th trainer 6 mls

Do you have anymore birds left?

2

George & Morgan wrote:

2

Good luck with the remaining 2, how many did you enter?

3

Just cannot see what these short tosses are supposed to do, maybe see how many they can lose.

The poorest pigeon amongst them, not forgetting these will be off the fancier's best should be back around the loft in a few minutes from 6 miles.

Something smells.

Could be the pigeons are sick of loft and treatment, and the most intelligent find pastures new.


Regards.

my thoughts misty

In all the update videos I've seen of one lofts I've never really s en to he birds exercising like they normally would do around back yard type of loft, they are always lazing around on a he grass or sat on the roof, with maybe around 40 flying in small circles around the loft....never have I seen a large group of them going off ranging or co e back from ranging, l suppose this is hard to get them doing with housing so many birds and I suppose this is why so many are losses once racing starts.

you'd be amazed how many every-day smaller team fanciers are having to take their young birds very short tosses just to get them to use their wings. Can't get them up on the wing at all, and I'm not talking rubbish fanciers; some of these have been in the top 5% for as long as I can remember.

darkness ybs never exercise well as they mature quicker and start to pair up so at a certain age forget about them loft flying,they will do 30 mins though,also having ybs different ages is a problem when exercising as they will pull the others down

Any healthy young bird with a reasonably full tummy should be eager to have a good fly around the loft, no good expecting hungry pigeons to be worried about flying more like awaiting their next meal.

The darkness system does nothing of benefit for the health of a pigeon, bucking nature has it's draw backs.

Sun on their backs and freedom every time, not fastened up in darkness.

Buck nature and you will regret it.

Regards.

That's spot on Darren, from my own experience and listening to some other fanciers darkness young birds are very prone to be lazy and not want to exercise ....so 1,500 young birds on darkness in a one loft is going to be a disaster, if they don't exercise properly everything else is not going to be right, big losses are inevitable.

yeah one can only learn by there mistakes and the darkness is never worth it ,ybs are much healthier and happier being natural ,just breed later if you want them for the races ,no need to pair until  valentines day or even later end of march would be cut off point for me to race them being weaned end of may and then keep the lights on after longest day in late june  until 10pm they should hold the wing then revert to natural darkness after the last race,mine did well when i tried it and they flew well in the last yb races having some really good team results not just odd bird against darkies ...did it effect the moult ? none whatsoever they raced well as yearlings ... so i toyed with the light a little so not exactly naturals but a much more enjoyable way i found to race ybs until the end and be competitive and the ybs seemed in there element and
contented without that drastic darkness system that i am sure is the bearer of no good health wise