how far should i send my pigeons for race ?

hi guys,last year i start wid racing pigeons i bread abt 25 youngsters and only home fly them didnt race as young birds this year i train them up to 40 mile during traing i lost 5 then first race 55 mile i did ok and got al bak 2nd race 80 mile lost 3 ,tomaro again 80 mile hope i do ok but how far shel i send them please advice me thanks

hi dan, so have you got around 18 of them left ? to be honest i dont think they have done bad considering they never raced as ybs and only flew round home.....

as they are inexperienced i wouldnt send them too far, maybe 150 miles then hold them back to build your old bird team for next season.........this is just my thoughts on this and maybe someone more experienced can advise better.

i would send them the full race program, no point having pigeons un tested rather have half a dozen tested than a dozen untested just my opinion though

If they are Homing Pigeons and have been 80 miles--
They are good for a 300 mile race-----if you have them in SHAPE for a 300.

hi dan , race them down to the coast mate that will be about 200 miles to you in batley
if your racing and training every week make sure you feed them right the more they work
the more food they need , i used to live and fly pigeons in horbury near wakefield mate good luck .

Feed them grains that causes "FAT"--peanuts.
They burn the Fat for energy--which they need for raceing.
I feed them all the peanuts they want -leave it in front of them all day.--the day of shipping.

I'm a big peanut fan Don. One thing about feeding peanuts especially for the longer races, is that they never come back thirsty.

i also feed peanuts but i also like feeding sunflower hearts and as they get closer to the longer
racers i feed hemp or hemp oil on corn but make sure your peanuts are for human consupstion .

ive read the method of feeding rice to the pigeon before basketing, then when they have a drink of water or are syringed with water the rice retains the moisture/water for the race so they dont get dehydrated.........

any thoughts on this anyone .....?

I experimented for years feeding for races, but found the lighter stuff all they can eat in the afternoon and then peanuts are readily taken about an hour and half before basketing, I usually held back the water until after the peanuts.
It always worked a treat.

i would say race them out to about 200 mile if its their first season racing as you need to build a team but most will give a different answer to the next man atb anyway

I would say whatever you feel confident doing as nobody will know your birds like you. are they sprint, middle or long distance birds.
I don't think there are any right or wrong answers, what system are you using, widowhood, natural, roundabout.
are you racing cocks or hens or both, what system are you using to motivate them?
Like Darren said 200 miles is a good distance.

Gaz b wrote:

I would say whatever you feel confident doing as nobody will know your birds like you. are they sprint, middle or long distance birds.
I don't think there are any right or wrong answers, what system are you using, widowhood, natural, roundabout.
are you racing cocks or hens or both, what system are you using to motivate them?
Like Darren said 200 miles is a good distance.

I would second that Gary also mate

[quote="Don Webb"]

Gaz b wrote:

I would say whatever you feel confident doing as nobody will know your birds like you. are they sprint, middle or long distance birds.
I don't think there are any right or wrong answers, what system are you using, widowhood, natural, roundabout.
are you racing cocks or hens or both, what system are you using to motivate them?
Like Darren said 200 miles is a good distance.

thanks gaz,they r long distance and i m using natural system,and i race both cocks and hens ,for motivation i race them on eggs ,youngster in nest ,feeding youngs.

i woould race them to 300 miles (but iv only just started up again after 20 odd years) but this year train hard & race the youngsters as i think you loose more birds if there not raced as young birds i think training and racing as young birds stay in there brain then

Don't think you will have much trouble with them mate, get another couple of pairs down earlier so the younguns are bigger for the longer races.
My natural birds I used to put more eggs in the nest and switch the young for bigger ones for the longer races.
Best of luck Dan.

first make sure you pick out the healthy ones that is No 1 then train hard and give them all inland races i know of one club here who lets you train old hens in the YB races good luck george