a general discussion

back in the 60s i had a discussion on whether a pigeon bred in another loft was more easily lost than a pigeon bred and raced to the same loft i was of the opinion they were. what do you lads think maybe next year a exchange of eggs by members could be a test for anyone who may have lost a gift bird this year. i was of course talking only about young birds

ive often wondered this myself rainbow, and sometimes ive come to the conclusion birds bred elsewhere do tend to get lost more than birds bred in the same loft...........but then something happens to alter my opinion, for example me sending 8 yearling cocks to a race, i lost the 6 which were bred in my loft and got the 2 back which were not a day later...........so it seems when the chips are down outsiders had the courage to make it home............

for me personally i have lost more birds from other lofts than what i have bred. out of my own bred birds i have only lost one racing.

i think when ive lost ybs from other lofts it tends to be because they are stronger on the wing as they are usually slightly older than when i wean my own...........when i wean my own its usually around 26-7 days and ive found somtimes 2 or 3 days makes a big difference to the developement of a yb

An interesting subject I've pondered as well. In my very modest experience I can say I've lost several birds off my loft (flyaways) which were bred elsewhere and weaned in my loft and have lost none I've bred myself. BUT, all my racers were bred elsewhere and are totally settled - there seems to be a vulnerable period after which I'd suggest if they were going to go they'd have gone.

As an aside if I recall properly when Mark liberated the one-lofters he also released his own youngsters and all were subject to a BOP attack, most if not all of the home bred birds returned whilst large numbers of the one-lofters were lost

SGWBrown wrote:

As an aside if I recall properly when Mark liberated the one-lofters he also released his own youngsters and all were subject to a BOP attack, most if not all of the home bred birds returned whilst large numbers of the one-lofters were lost

am interesting point there steve..................