Time of the year

[NeilA]

No got anything straight in my head yet Devo
Normally I know by now
Do I racr hens / do I have a go at 250/500 miles with them
Or do I race 20 cocks only
Loads of things
Even thinking of putting my ybs in the stock loft and having one section not 2 as it’s larger
Stock to yb section as I moved on a lot of birds this last month

[PeteDerby]

Loft build starts in a couple of weeks so, after my aforementioned 45 year absence, I’m trying to get my head around literally everything!

I know it’s a big ask, but would anyone fancy doing me a month by month year key events overview for a new fancier - really basic stuff like when to order rings, when to pair, wean, inoculate, start training / darkness, when the moult starts - either that or point me in the direction of a good book that covers it all.

[NeilA]

Loft build starts in a couple of weeks so, after my aforementioned 45 year absence, I’m trying to get my head around literally everything!

I know it’s a big ask, but would anyone fancy doing me a month by month year key events overview for a new fancier - really basic stuff like when to order rings, when to pair, wean, inoculate, start training / darkness, when the moult starts - either that or point me in the direction of a good book that covers it all.

I’m sure we all can help a bit mate
But maybe we will confuse things

Is it your first year back breeding from stock ?
Are you looking for the ybs to win in sprints from day 1 or building a distance team

[PeteDerby]

Loft build starts in a couple of weeks so, after my aforementioned 45 year absence, I’m trying to get my head around literally everything!

I know it’s a big ask, but would anyone fancy doing me a month by month year key events overview for a new fancier - really basic stuff like when to order rings, when to pair, wean, inoculate, start training / darkness, when the moult starts - either that or point me in the direction of a good book that covers it all.

I’m sure we all can help a bit mate
But maybe we will confuse things

Is it your first year back breeding from stock ?
Are you looking for the ybs to win in sprints from day 1 or building a distance team

That’s great thanks guys.

Yeah, bit of a ‘how long is a piece of string’ question I asked there!

So I should perhaps mention that my ADHD means the kind of stuff you guys can work out in your sleep is a real struggle for me, meaning anything with lots of detail I have to write down and give myself a million reminders for. Not particularly handy for getting back into pigeons, I know, but-please bear with me if I ask ‘dumb’ questions. Trying to coordinate builders to get the loft built with daughter’s wedding coming and forward-planning the pigeon is a bit of a handful.

But anyway, the lose plan is starting right from scratch, getting a foundation stock together in 2025 that comprises a sprint to middle distance team and also a smaller long distance team. The plan is a small number of stock birds, plus perhaps 36 youngsters split 75/35 middle and long. I’m thinking race the YB season as much as I can, but just a few races with the distance birds to give them some experience.

I’m sorted on the foundation birds for sprint to middle distance pigeons and just putting feelers out on long distance stock I can afford.

Breaking down the questions running through my head right now, it seems I’ll be getting young birds towards the end of January, so I’m trying to get my head around the timing of ‘what happens next and when’ in terms of a calendar for rest of the year?

[NeilA]

As you sourced your sprint type birds would it not be easier to just get a system for them before looking at distance
Feeding etc would be a bit different
So maybe get one thing right to start with
I only fly to 285 currently but thinking of sending some to 425 next year probably the hens if I race them so I can feed a bit different

I am lucky to have Mike on here , mark bulled who was kind enough to explain in detail his feeding system
Plus Jimmy bamling told me the exact food he used to help me and it’s very different to my type of corn and amount
All three advised very similar methods to me

I want to see if my current pigeons can do that before I look to add pigeons but unfortunately all my selection is based on sprint I gave the pigeon away that was 4th combine when I sent to 360 miles as he was to slow for the other 10 races so been daft there

I do think to do well against full time fanciers you can cut yourself to thin and it may be worth doing one thing 100 per cent to start with

[MIL]

Agreed

Personally I'd rather be exceptional at one discipline than w^nk in them all

[PeteDerby]

As you sourced your sprint type birds would it not be easier to just get a system for them before looking at distance
Feeding etc would be a bit different
So maybe get one thing right to start with
I only fly to 285 currently but thinking of sending some to 425 next year probably the hens if I race them so I can feed a bit different

I am lucky to have Mike on here , mark bulled who was kind enough to explain in detail his feeding system
Plus Jimmy bamling told me the exact food he used to help me and it’s very different to my type of corn and amount
All three advised very similar methods to me

I want to see if my current pigeons can do that before I look to add pigeons but unfortunately all my selection is based on sprint I gave the pigeon away that was 4th combine when I sent to 360 miles as he was to slow for the other 10 races so been daft there

I do think to do well against full time fanciers you can cut yourself to thin and it may be worth doing one thing 100 per cent to start with

A lot of sense in what you say there. I will have a separate section for LD birds so the feeding and exercising in different ways might not be too much of a trouble, but I’ve certainly taken on board what you say.

[NeilA]

Best of luck mate

[MIL]

I just feel there is so much to do and think about, well it is for the members still racing birds. I always looked forward to the breeding side of the sport, it kept me busy and i always paired up on Boxing day.
You have a lot to think about Neil, but i am sure you will get it right. Good luck mate.

There's always stuff to think and and dcisions to be made

At Phil's loft we've already decided what OB are being carried forward to 2025

How many YB are kept is irrelevant at this point. The OB have either earned their box on merit or they've not

I daresay more decisions are to be made yet too because a YB that flies the programme isn't necessarily going forward to 2025

Wheels are turning also in regard to new recruits

I judge this a bit like a football team. A successful team/fancier should be looking for the odd top quality introduction to strengthen the team

Those who are not successful need to analyse why they aren't successful and do something about it (if they want to change anyway)

Change doesn't happen without change being made

[PeteDerby]

As you sourced your sprint type birds would it not be easier to just get a system for them before looking at distance
Feeding etc would be a bit different
So maybe get one thing right to start with
I only fly to 285 currently but thinking of sending some to 425 next year probably the hens if I race them so I can feed a bit different

I am lucky to have Mike on here , mark bulled who was kind enough to explain in detail his feeding system
Plus Jimmy bamling told me the exact food he used to help me and it’s very different to my type of corn and amount
All three advised very similar methods to me

I want to see if my current pigeons can do that before I look to add pigeons but unfortunately all my selection is based on sprint I gave the pigeon away that was 4th combine when I sent to 360 miles as he was to slow for the other 10 races so been daft there

I do think to do well against full time fanciers you can cut yourself to thin and it may be worth doing one thing 100 per cent to start with

A lot of sense in what you say there. I will have a separate section for LD birds so the feeding and exercising in different ways might not be too much of a trouble, but I’ve certainly taken on board what you say.

It sounds like you are getting some good advice Pete, I hope all goes well for you and I look forward to hearing how things progress in the future. Keep posting and we will help where we can, all the best.

Thanks Trev and everyone. I really appreciate the advice and encouragement from you all. Someone pointed me towards the aluminium aviary traps at Universal this week and the price versus my budget versus the long-term benefit is messing with my head. I hadn’t budgeted for anything like those but will I regret it when the wooden ones I’ve been planning on degrade.