exchange bird home

I am pleased to say my exchange bird, who went to folkstone 3 weeks ago returned just after lunch today looking well and healthy still had his rubber on.. Where he has been heaven knows but hes survived well, we had a terrable race that day heavy rain all along the race point after a late lib. It was his 6th race and I thought he would come, but was disapointed but he has made it maybe hes learned a lot and will be hard to loose again. Not sure peoples thoughts about late birds but I always keep birds that keep coming and never seem to forget where home is. He wont race next year anyway, as Im not racing old birds so he will be there as a 2 year old and might do the channel races for me.

glad to hear hes come home martyn, altho he didnt race home on the day there has to be circumstances why he didnt as you point out he has raced 6 times before.......sometimes even good birds get lost so he has shown some initative in coming back after this lenght of time on his own, i had a hen come back 5 weeks later from training but she had been badly injured and still had visible damage to see.......also had a cock come back 4 days after liberation from open race but as you say, maybe they have learned from it and will be better later in their career.