YBs on Darkness...?

have members got their ybs on dark, or have some got them natural...? either way why have you decided this...?

just weening the first ones this weekend might go with the darkness this year first on it in 1996 to about 2000 go with this one just to try and compete with the rest

natural for me with ybs so long as they get 5/6 races I am happy with that ,wont beat darkies though in the later yb races ...just don't like the concept of darkness and being tied to opening and shutting times ...we got little Alfie who likes to go out and about

All on dark for us because we want to win with them..not having anymore of seeing others beat us by 20 mins every week ..got a lot of ybs in this year so we need to get some sort of idea what's good or bad .but sometimes that doesn't work.as sometimes steady ybs make your best yearlings

Same here all Darkies you have to be if you want to win and be competitive.

David wrote:

have members got their ybs on dark, or have some got them natural...? either way why have you decided this...?

Hi David

It really depends on what you want to do with your Y/B's this year and in the future. Also what type of birds do you have - Late developers or birds that will develop well this year.

I have done very well with birds on the darkness system and I don't believe it does them any harm in the long term, to have been through the darkness system. I have also done reasonably well with Non darkness birds.

If you want to give your young birds some experience and maybe do well in the Y/B races, then keep them on the Natural system. However, if you want to try and win a few of the LONGER Y/B races, then you will need to be on the Darkness system. Young birds brought up the Natural way, can do OK in the longer races, but they are at a BIG disadvantage when it comes to the later races, simply because of their body condition and the added stress that moulting puts on a pigeon.

If you have the room, why not try a few on Darkness and a few on Natural and compare the results. But remember, you cannot just compare the results from this year's young birds. You really need to see how they fly as Yearlings and beyond.

All the best in whatever you choose to do.

Phil (blueskylofts)

thanks for the replies chaps, some very good views there.........will be good to hear some more

blueskylofts wrote:

David wrote:

have members got their ybs on dark, or have some got them natural...? either way why have you decided this...?

Hi David

It really depends on what you want to do with your Y/B's this year and in the future.  Also what type of birds do you have - Late developers or birds that will develop well this year.

I have done very well with birds on the darkness system and I don't believe it does them any harm in the long term, to have been through the darkness system.  I have also done reasonably well with Non darkness birds.

If you want to give your young birds some experience and maybe do well in the Y/B races, then keep them on the Natural system.  However, if you want to try and win a few of the LONGER Y/B races, then you will need to be on the Darkness system.  Young birds brought up the Natural way, can do OK in the longer races, but they are at a BIG disadvantage when it comes to the later races, simply because of their body condition and the added stress that moulting puts on a pigeon.

If you have the room, why not try a few on Darkness and a few on Natural and compare the results.  But remember, you cannot just compare the results from this year's young birds.  You really need to see how they fly as Yearlings and beyond.

All the best in whatever you choose to do.

Phil (blueskylofts)