What would you change

This is to the members that raced this season, or again for members that dont race at present.
After this years racing season or looking at last years breeding season, is there anythink you would change. In your loft management or in your selection of breeding program.

breeding dev

rainbow wrote:

breeding  dev  

In what way george.

The first thing I would as soon as the season ends is remove the pigeons that have not earned there perch

Because as soon as they have moulted they will look a different pigeon then you give them another chance/season and if they don't perform then you've wasting your money on them again.

Have done it to many times

was gifted some birds one pair have not bred a yb to reach 1st race will now split them and give them one more chance as i'm sure they will

I would breed earlier, so that I could get a few training tosses into the old birds, they weren't ready for the season, so I was all set to race on round about but lost all my hens in their first race in an east wind.

Also I thought I had a great round of youngens, training went perfectly and in the end had them all beating me home from 40 miles.
I sent them on the local training wagon twice to teach them how to break from the pack, but in the week leading up to the first race they seemed quieter than normal and droppings were looser.
First race I dropped 7 and was half our behind.
Same on the next race dropped 4 and half hour behind so I stopped them and had them tested. Result came back clear.
They were not holding food in their crop and were never sick. 1 day they would have perfect droppings another day dark slimy green droppings.
In my opinion they had a form of the yb sickness but very very mild, enough to affect their homing ability.
I was using Ropa b, and I think that may have kept it from coming out completely.
This year I'm seriously considering not racing young birds this season and just training them up well myself.
It's soul destroying putting in all the hard work and watching your team getting demolished like that.

Boosey wrote:

I would breed earlier, so that I could get a few training tosses into the old birds, they weren't ready for the season, so I was all set to race on round about but lost all my hens in their first race in an east wind.

Also I thought I had a great round of youngens, training went perfectly and in the end had them all beating me home from 40 miles.
I sent them on the local training wagon twice to teach them how to break from the pack, but in the week leading up to the first race they seemed quieter than normal and droppings were looser.
First race I dropped 7 and was half our behind.
Same on the next race dropped 4 and half hour behind so I stopped them and had them tested. Result came back clear.
They were not holding food in their crop and were never sick. 1 day they would have perfect droppings another day dark slimy green droppings.
In my opinion they had a form of the yb sickness but very very mild, enough to affect their homing ability.
I was using Ropa b, and I think that may have kept it from coming out completely.
This year I'm seriously considering not racing young birds this season and just training them up well myself.
It's soul destroying putting in all the hard work and watching your team getting demolished like that.

If you dont mind me asking Boosey, do you have a date in mind for pairing up.

I havnt thought to much about it yet Devo, but probably sometime in December.

[
quote="Boosey"]I havnt thought to much about it yet Devo, but probably sometime in December.[/quote]

I am putting pairs together on 25th dec, full moon.

The only thing I would change and I,m going to haha is,racing my hens again.I only raced cocks last season for the first time in a long time.I had a decent season with 3 wins but our hens fly just a good as the cocks and I missed racing them.so that's what I,m changing next season

good luck will be a busy season for you ray

i have twice as many hens as cocks so will pair 2 to 1 .the hen that gets home first will get the cock the other hen will sit out and watch them in the box b4 being moved bk into the hen section hope it works out

Good idea rick

devo56 wrote:

This is to the members that raced this season, or again for members that dont race at present.
After this years racing season or looking at last years breeding season, is there anythink you would change. In your loft management or in your selection of breeding program.

Certainly is Devo Number one priority etc for me, would be my whole attitude towards my birds now "it is utter crap" compare to when I was a wee bit younger here. Now with all that being said unless there is some drastic changes in my view in relation to the weather (Hot hot hot) by those in power in the way we race I will be one of many I would suggest that may be looking to take up breeding canary's, for the thrill & the enjoyment factor.