total disaster yesterday

took my older young birds on an easy 30 mile toss yesterday. i released them a 9:00 am and gave the the younger ones a 5 mile toss. the younger ones got back in 20 min. i never saw a 30 mile bird till about 7pm then another at 8pm and 2 more this morning, 4 still haven't showed up, at total smash. i'm not sure what happened, when i cut them loose they took one circle and headed in the direction of home. i expected them to be home shortly after i got home, pretty disappointed since they doing so well.

sorry to hear that morb, that's how it seems to be lately ..........training and one race, and I`m done for the season, got 5 ybs which might be raced as yearlings next year

that's too bad david, i'm sorry to hear that, things sure seem different this year. last year my young birds would be gone for hours after i let them out, their 3rd toss was 100 miles and they made it home in good time with a cross wind. this years birds don't seem to want to range very far but they have been doing ok on training tosses.
the club i'm going to be racing with next year only races old birds so it's not all bad since i have some really good yearlings this year and old birds that will race next year

same here morb, ybs not wanting to exercise around home compared to last time I raced, I dare say the fault is me, something ive done differently maybe....plus ive found if you leave ybs to get lazy, and bad habits, its hard to change them.

That’s the strangest thing, our 1st round YBS were the same , wouldn’t range far, talking to other flyers local to me and theirs was the same, as was other fanciers further afield,just wouldn’t range, and as you can probably tell from reading this forum, losses have also been huge concerning youngsters in the uk.

David wrote:

same here morb, ybs not wanting to exercise around home compared to last time I raced, I dare say the fault is me, something ive done differently maybe....plus ive found if you leave ybs to get lazy, and bad habits, its hard to change them.

Nothing you’ve done David, re my post above

Lofty wrote:

That’s the strangest thing, our 1st round YBS were the same , wouldn’t range far, talking to other flyers local to me and theirs was the same, as was other fanciers further afield,just wouldn’t range, and as you can probably tell from reading this forum, losses have also been huge concerning youngsters in the uk.

that's very interesting, i thought it was just me, like david i was wondering what did differently this year but i can't really come up with anything.

I have heard of others who`s ybs were ranging/exercising for hours, so I`m at a loss........I did think it was due to being on the dark, as every time I have done darkness the ybs seem to stop exercising....

The weather this year has been trying for humans, and there is no reason to not believe that animals do not suffer the same.

To expect the weather to not affect the pigeons would be foolish.

If all fanciers are having problems using the same as previously regarding treatment, then there must be a reason for the difference in behavior.

WE do not know if the change in the weather affects matters the pigeons rely on but it is obvious that something is amiss and it cannot be all put down to raptors etc;

If pigeons do not fly at home it is because they do not want to under the existing conditions and flagging them will do more damage.

Better to miss a few races until the weather conditions return to normal than risk ruining a kit of youngsters.

Dehydration is one of the main problems at all times with the pigeons transportation and with the added hot weather can only be increased.

To carry on as normal will result in what you now get.

Regards.

ive certainly learned a few harsh lessons this season, I just hope I have an alternative method for next season..........I need to re think my feeding/food, training routine and exercising, maybe keep them natural and just breed earlier instead of darkness.

Thats the wonderful thing about our sport were all learning all the time, no 2 seasons are the same.
What works for one mans pigeons might not necessarily work for another, I wouldn’t swap it for anything.

not sure about the weather on your side of the pond but it is pretty normal around these parts, july and august are always hot and dry. i know if my birds are fat they won't exercise so i keep them a bit sharp during training with rest breaks and all they want to eat while on break.
i agree that there must something going on if everyone is having problems though.

Boosey wrote:

Thats the wonderful thing about our sport were all learning all the time, no 2 seasons are the same.
What works for one mans pigeons might not necessarily work for another, I wouldn’t swap it for anything.

i don't see a thumbs up emoji so thumbs up lol

Hi Morb and folks. We are in a 30 year cycle of weather. 8,000 hectares burning in Northern Ontario. Thunderstorms daily here in South Ontario. Tornado hit today few miles from here. Buckets of rain. Knew the forecast so trained anyway. 4th toss. 40 miles. Had them up in sunshine at 7.30 am. Thunderstorms and cloud moved in 2 hours later. All birds were back and in the loft in just over an hour. Correction. 6 birds came later. We have thunderstorms forecast all week. For me it is a do or do not regarding training. They will race next weekend regardless. Half of them. I must sound like I am bragging or similar. Not so. Young birds are coming as stated. I am surprised as any one. Expected losses. Assume will get many first race. But who can predict? No vaccines, no meds. Fortunately no raptors. Yet.
Trying the light system this year. From June 21st or before 16 hours light. Some birds ignore the light and moult anyway. But most are in good feather. Crucial moult time is about here for the Winter bred ones so will be interesting to see. Can ship 40 but need 12 for next year. Maximum. Thank goodness I do not have the problems you folk have!

sounds like you guys are having a rough time out east hal. i usually don't worry about the weather too much, if you wait for the right conditions around here you'd never let your birds out lol