Young bird losses?

I see nearly every week it being debated, where do our young birds go, we'll consider this as a reason.
My young birds were basket trained and trained well up to 50 miles beating me home every time after the first few tosses.

Then the first race came 75 miles, beautiful day, let up well early before it got hot.

I only got 4 home from 11 on the day.

On the following Wednesday I had a call from a local fancier that a member of the public had rung him and said their was a bird on their lawn so he went and picked it up for me.

When I went to get it from him he said be prepared.
I picked it up from the floor and no word of a lie, it must have only weighed a few ounces, it's keel was like a razor blade. When I sent that bird it was in top condition. It must have been flying solid for days to lose that much weight.

What I'm getting at is, if that pigeon hadn't landed in that ladies garden, and she hadn't reported it, it would have definately been had by a cat, fox or bird or bird of prey, and I would have been none the wiser.

He's picked up well now and is spinning on he's perch again. I've tested he's droppings at de weerd and my loft is all clear.

That pigeon made it back to within 2 miles of my house but was to weak to go on.

The time that I lost him it was very hot, he didn't learn to rough it.
However I had one work back from the same race 2 days ago and didn't look like it had been anywhere.

Boosey wrote:

I see nearly every week it being debated, where do our young birds go, we'll consider this as a reason.
My young birds were basket trained and trained well up to 50 miles beating me home every time after the first few tosses.

Then the first race came 75 miles, beautiful day, let up well early before it got hot.

I only got 4 home from 11 on the day.

On the following Wednesday I had a call from a local fancier that a member of the public had rung him and said their was a bird on their lawn so he went and picked it up for me.

When I went to get it from him he said be prepared.
I picked it up from the floor and no word of a lie, it must have only weighed a few ounces, it's keel was like a razor blade. When I sent that bird it was in top condition. It must have been flying solid for days to lose that much weight.

What I'm getting at is, if that pigeon hadn't landed in that ladies garden, and she hadn't reported it, it would have definately been had by a cat, fox or bird or bird of prey, and I would have been none the wiser.

He's picked up well now and is spinning on he's perch again. I've tested he's droppings at de weerd and my loft is all clear.

That pigeon made it back to within 2 miles of my house but was to weak to go on.

The time that I lost him it was very hot, he didn't learn to rough it.
However I had one work back from the same race 2 days ago and didn't look like it had been anywhere.

Boosey, i have read different things on what maybe causing so many losses, They say when the sun and the moon can be seen on a clear sunny day, there may be many losses. I do believe the change in the Jet stream, as had a great effect on racing pigeons, The Jet stream was higher up the country a few years ago. Over the last few years it as moved down country, bringing more unsettled weather. Then we move on to so many libs taking place, and no doubt causing too many clashes on race day, maybe the system can be updated, Bigger feds, leading to more combines. Or just employ someone from air traffic control. I think we need to look closer to home, we know all this is going on and that is without the Electric pylons and telephone masts. So like you say Preparation plays major part in racing pigeons, getting them fit for training, race fit, if they are not ready, you dont send. Those that dont prepare, be Prepared to fail. just my thoughts.

good to hear ya got the bird back and its on the up ...the k-index ,jet stream,clashing and illness also peregines and poor liberations can all be put into the pot for yb losses but personally feel that peregines are the main culprit for losses in training and racing but the others do contribute ...can you imagine how many strikes happen to a convoy of ybs over the race distance with the amount of numbers we have now...almost every city has them ...its just the luck of the draw on raceday whether your convoy gets hit

" getting them fit for training, race fit, if they are not ready, you dont send. Those that dont prepare, be Prepared to fail. just my thoughts."
So true!!!!

it should be a given that your birds are fit and healthy for the race in hand but one thing you cant teach is how to rough it (live off the land) like steves yb has

Some excellent old bird racers here do not race their young birds. Just train them well.

It would be good to know the % of birds lost on the north road, Compared to the south road.
Would there be much difference in losses.

ide say 90% of missing birds today are lost because of reperporiy complaints and to this add dehydraytion lack of basket training but ide say respo was the most common cause
think back to the 70/80 most lofts kept 20 to 25 y/b if they wasnt home on the saturday they be there next morning before most of us got up reason for todays losses i think is that we breed far to many ie most lofts hae 60 plus y/b ok i few have les but the majority have more
there reason is to compete and losses
well as i say keeping more amounts to more losses to many birds in cramped lofts lack of air space etc then the losses come and race days the ones that dont make it are to dehydrayted hence more losses ive had strays here that didnt have another yard in them so no way was they getting home alone

then theres the breeding side anyone who keeps there y/b that dont really win anything are still bred from hence moore weak birds for the next year if you sit and look whats happening you to will realise most is over crowed rubbish that wont make the end of the street

birdy2011 wrote:

ide say 90% of missing birds today are lost because of reperporiy complaints and to this add dehydraytion lack of basket training but ide say  respo was the most common cause
think back to the 70/80 most lofts kept 20 to 25 y/b if they wasnt home on the saturday they be there next morning before most of us got up reason for todays losses i think is that we breed far to many ie most lofts hae 60 plus y/b ok i few have les but the majority have more
there reason is to compete and losses
well as i say keeping more amounts to more losses to many birds in cramped lofts lack of air space etc then the losses come and race days  the ones that dont make it are to dehydrayted hence more losses ive had strays here that didnt have another yard in them so no way was they getting home  alone

then theres the breeding side anyone who keeps there y/b that dont really win anything are still bred from hence moore weak birds for the next year if you sit and look whats happening you to will realise most is over crowed rubbish that wont make the end of the street

Interesting read G . But for some one that know's nothing I get some what mystified when the over crowding issue is raised etc for where you are. As for me, I tend to think it's more of a weather issue that may be more of a concern there as such. In some ways I come from the land of 1 pigeon to 1 square foot in a loft & in all truth fullness my mind boggles when I read about the tails of wow that your lot seem to have with decease, compared to my local area.

back in the 70 / early 80 yuong birds were not libberate till mid day some had rulrs no birds to be in certain areas before 2pm ours was one of them the reason being working people
the heat in them days may june july was far hotter than of today so ile stick by what i say to many bred put on a system they would not select themselfs and far to many in a loft back in them days 25 was the norm most ended up with 20 unlike today its fact idf you go back and check also there wasnt the meds as there are today ile let you decide

birdy2011 wrote:

back in the 70 / early 80 yuong birds were not libberate till mid day some had rulrs no birds to be in certain areas before 2pm ours  was one of them the reason being working people
the heat in them days may june july was far hotter than of today so ile stick by what i say to many bred put on a system they would not select themselfs and far to many in a loft back in them days 25 was the norm most ended up with 20 unlike today its fact idf you go back and check also there wasnt the meds  as there are today ile let you decide

Spot on G

birdy2011 wrote:

ide say 90% of missing birds today are lost because of reperporiy complaints and to this add dehydraytion lack of basket training but ide say  respo was the most common cause
think back to the 70/80 most lofts kept 20 to 25 y/b if they wasnt home on the saturday they be there next morning before most of us got up reason for todays losses i think is that we breed far to many ie most lofts hae 60 plus y/b ok i few have les but the majority have more
there reason is to compete and losses
well as i say keeping more amounts to more losses to many birds in cramped lofts lack of air space etc then the losses come and race days  the ones that dont make it are to dehydrayted hence more losses ive had strays here that didnt have another yard in them so no way was they getting home  alone

then theres the breeding side anyone who keeps there y/b that dont really win anything are still bred from hence moore weak birds for the next year if you sit and look whats happening you to will realise most is over crowed rubbish that wont make the end of the street

Your right again G

But what about playing with nature plus trying to rush birds to mature faster and stressing them out

Plus there is too much money to fly for with youngsters and people will send them just for the sack of it Gold Rings, Breeder Buyer, Ring Specials ect

got to agree done so much at stake but its the way it is if youmonly want y/b and no future most top lofts have 2 to 3 teams a lot never see a basket as a y/b there kept to matyre like the olen days ie ya never seen many if any young cocks race in a young bird program avergae club send 400 hens and 40 cocks now is 400 of each ide estimate there will be 50 2015 birds for sale in blackpool this year for eery 2014 bird as for older birds this will be more good stock aint for sale even entire clearence sales have been sifted befor hand

I shipped 13 last night. Have 15 held back. One fellow had 40. Usually 70. Very many have been lost. Very unusual for me and another old fellow. Lot of YBs around. This morning fog at the release point (birds held back) and mostly cloudy all day so expect some more losses. 155 miles, 1st race for most of mine. All that is needed is a touch of sun. Oh well, what I keep them for. Survival of the fittest. Basket does the culling.

How is everyone doing for losses this year

Boosey wrote:

How is everyone doing for losses this year

I refuse to answer Boosey     on the grounds, many may suspect. I know nothing . Just got of the phone here talking to the little fat bloke who was out on the road tossing with his good mate etc & between us all we have 16 pigeons home out of 60 odd from yesterdays race here sadly. Did suggest when we were having a community chat there as he was driving along, we all take up canary's to save on the stress factor in the near future.  

Ha ha quality post Knackered, well funny.
Good idea about the canaries, I would probably find a way of losing them.

Boosey wrote:

Ha ha quality post Knackered, well funny.
Good idea about the canaries, I would probably find a way of losing them.

Loose them maybe Boosey . But the stress factor would be some what less than what our pigeons put us through at times I suspect, when things all go Belly up etc.

don't no about the stress they put us through what about the stress we put on them

whats the reasoning for old bird and ybs racing together oz and not a separate race programme for ybs ...is it down to cost or weather

don't no about yb losses ob just as bad a mate of mine who flyes a small plane told me about chem trails planes that leave trails behind them not vapor trails last summer one was flying over my work all day in a figuer 8 leaving this trail behind look it up on the inter net

155 miles for me. Sent 13. Cloudy and hot on the course. Very erratic returns. Mine came by themselves, one at a time. 6 Saturday, 6 Sunday am. 1 out. Did not clock off. Would have been 10th. For tenth place not worth an hours drive there then an hour back. Actually quite pleased, they should be good next year. Next week 200 miles.

halcanada wrote:

155 miles for me. Sent 13. Cloudy and hot on the course. Very erratic returns. Mine came by themselves, one at a time. 6 Saturday, 6 Sunday am. 1 out. Did not clock off. Would have been 10th. For tenth place not worth an hours drive there then an hour back. Actually quite pleased, they should be good next year. Next week 200 miles.

What age does to you Hal (hours drive etc) I have only half your distance & it's a big big battle for me to get to the club etc. I'm known as the Phantom hard to spot on race day, with a clock & Pete the clock man  keeps saying to me why do I bother to set your clock, as it rarely get's presented as such.

oldstrain wrote:

whats the reasoning for old bird and ybs racing together oz and not a separate race programme for ybs ...is it down to cost or weather

That's just our way of doing things O/S "All up together" nothing has changed in 100 odd years etc in that department. The average flyer here has no interest in flying a young bird programme now these days. Many years ago it was quite big here 5/6000 birds for a seperate young bird programme in the summer autumn period for 7/8 weeks. But those days are long gone now, as the blokes did not have the correct mindset     to get enthusiastic  over some pissy little 100 mile race as such as we tend to toss them that far most weekends here now as part of of our old bird programme in winter.

markevans wrote:

don't no about the stress they put us through what about the stress we put on them

MMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmm Maybe Mark But then I don't see too many grey/bald & haggard pigeons  flotting around the place on basket night etc.