Exercising birds

When do you guys stop letting the birds out for daily exercise, I've noticed there doesn't seem to be any birds flying around, I always used to see them at some time during the day but recently there's none about.

i don't let mine out over the winter lofty, altho a fancier in next street to me has them out every day, rain, snow or shine and they fly for hours.........

Over the last few weeks, i left my birds to just relax and go through the moult, it can be a very stressful time for some birds, So i think by doing so, i am preparing them well for their next cycle.

would think if stressed going through moult would be stressed racing jmo dev to be honest dev I would not keep a bird showing any sign of stress

rainbow wrote:

would think if stressed  going through moult would be stressed   racing jmo  dev to be honest dev I would not keep a bird showing any sign of stress

George, the last few pins to be thrown, can be as painful as a human going to the dentist, and having a tooth pulled out without any Anesthetic, So prevention of causing any stress is a good practice. Similar to when birds are racing, you would only race them when race fit, again causing them no added stress. We must remember they are athletes, and will only perform when they are fit.

I cant let mine out at the moment in the week because of work but I let them out at weekends for a bath weather permitting, as it helps the moult and softens the shafts.

I've said it before a aviary is a must no matter how small

dev I think we are talking about 2 different things if a bird shows stress because of the moult then I don't think it will face the channel that is jmo that's all

rainbow wrote:

dev I think we are talking about 2 different things   if a bird shows  stress  because of the moult then I don't think it will face the channel  that is jmo that's all

agree the moult is a natural process for all birds as rainbow said if showing signs of stress there is a health problem

shippy wrote:

rainbow wrote:

dev I think we are talking about 2 different things   if a bird shows  stress  because of the moult then I don't think it will face the channel  that is jmo that's all

agree the moult is a natural process for all birds as rainbow said if showing signs of stress there is a health problem

I agree with the above, it is a natural process, but like i say, i like to prevent and prepare my birds for the coming season, and to me the moulting part is paramount. I would hope that all goes well for them to move onto next cycle. There is no stress in my loft, and thats the way i like to keep it.

birds are locked down from October until march too many sparrowhawks and peregines about ,birds should sail through the moult with no medications whatsoever during this time .

to be fair theres nothing really to gain by having birds out in the winter time we once the moult starts confine them to the loft for a long rest although we do have a  5 foot wide corrider the length of the loft they can fly around in the first time they go out is once there all sitting eggs
and this continuse till the y/b hatch then there locked down again till there sitting for 8 days after that they get 2 weeks loft flying then around 10 12 to 15 mile chucks before the first race this we find eases them in to racing sharp and ready to go i see no point in training hard for the short races although i would train natural birds a bit further they get lazy and wise un like widdowhood cocks there always on the move

try to avoid stress at all cost p.s we never have the birds out if its misty or raining theres no point

my birds go out every good day all through winter, there not forced out just open the trap and leave them to it ,although to be honest there usually waiting ready to get out and they fly for fun . if only I could get them like that in the race season

our birds go out every day come sun rain snow or fog the only time when they stay in is when the rain is coming from the east as it goes into the loft but i like them out to do as they please

mufc rick wrote:

my birds go out every good day all through winter, there not forced out just open the trap and leave them to it ,although to be honest there usually waiting ready to get out and they fly for fun . if only I could get them like that in the race season

This is how I remember with my birds, open the loft , if they go great, if not I never used to force them, only in the most severe weather I wouldn't let them out, some nice opinions though lads.

Lofty wrote:

mufc rick wrote:

my birds go out every good day all through winter, there not forced out just open the trap and leave them to it ,although to be honest there usually waiting ready to get out and they fly for fun . if only I could get them like that in the race season

This is how I remember with my birds, open the loft , if they go great, if not I never used to force them, only in the most severe weather I wouldn't let them out, some nice opinions though lads.

Lofty its everyone to there own mate its what you thinks best for your pigeons plus you will soon see if it benefits your birds with the way they act around the loft and there characteristics also