Andy wrote: ↑Mon Jan 27, 2025 8:08 am
I don’t have perches in my widowhood section so they have to perch in their nest boxes. When first paired I just let each pair out on their own for a couple of hours before shutting them back in and letting another pair out. Once the have all been out once I start letting the pairs out together that I know aren’t a problem. Within 4 days I had all the pairs out together.
I do have perches in the stock section but as these are new I have left them to get on with it. Just one of the seven pairs haven’t paired yet.
I don’t think Pete’s had claimed a box prior to pairing Andy so happy to move to another box and so on , not really got territory
It could end up with hens laying on the floor with no bowl
Yes I do think that is a problem for him. I like to leave the cocks in the sections with boxes during the winter. Half box shut in the widowhood boxes and fronts removed in the stock section. It is a problem if they haven’t selected their boxes in advance.
I have got a hen in the widowhood section who instead of laying in her box decided to lay in the pile of straw that I put on the floor for them to build their own nests
If birds decide that they prefer the floor I will generally put a bowl down on the floor for them.
I agree
My best cock the 3 times fed winner never took a box he took about 2 by 3 foot of floor I even made a box 6 inch off the floor for him that a bowl would go in but I don’t think he ever once used it
I lost him as a 2 year old when the cocks fell in from an easy Wetherby race only 160 miles. I imagine a wire or bop
Great loss to me he was
But totally agree I don’t think it matters as long as they have territory
Devo1956 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 27, 2025 7:00 am
A little video for you Pete we all have our own ways of how we breed and to me. The most thing I found to be the best trick was the Obesavation of your birds, checking all pairing up was going well. Also keeping stress levels down due to fighting. But each ti their own.
That’s alright unless you have a cock like your Hannibal Lecta Devo
Andy that bird kept me on my Toes, his son was just like him. Hannibal went too a very good loft, I did warn her about him. He was from the Gladiaror lines and he was some fighter.
Thanks everyone. Some really good input as always. I really appreciate it.
That video was very useful - particularly the 20 mins per day idea, so guess how I spent my day today!
I don’t have widowhood boxes, just the ones with the up and over fronts that you can set back a few inches into the box to create a perch up front.
As someone suggested, the birds might start to get a bit more ‘invested’ in a box once laying starts?
I’m honestly shocked at how time-consuming and involved mating is. Took me right by surprise as when I was a kid we just let the birds pair to which ever they liked and do the same with nesting. This time around as I’ve bought stock birds (that have never mated before) that need to be matched in a particular way I’m having to be far more precise.
But, so far so good. I’ve only got that one pair where the hen won’t have the cock at any price yet, the other 12 are getting on fine.
I have ended up with 3 more hens than cocks though so might have to enter the buying market for some cocks. No point in having prisoners with no mate! If anyone can recommend any good sprint / middle distance pigeons I’ll check them out.
Yep, get 3 more cocks. Do it soon. Mate that hen which won't pair up to a different cock and let that cock chose one of the spare hens. That way you should have them all laying and hatching not too far apart. I've got a pair that are two weeks out of synch, which is a nuisance. Their youngsters are too young to join the last round and too big to wait to go out with the next lot.
Greetings from the land down under.
Blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for verily, he shall not be disappointed.
PeteDerby wrote: ↑Mon Jan 27, 2025 11:57 pm
Thanks everyone. Some really good input as always. I really appreciate it.
That video was very useful - particularly the 20 mins per day idea, so guess how I spent my day today!
I don’t have widowhood boxes, just the ones with the up and over fronts that you can set back a few inches into the box to create a perch up front.
As someone suggested, the birds might start to get a bit more ‘invested’ in a box once laying starts?
I’m honestly shocked at how time-consuming and involved mating is. Took me right by surprise as when I was a kid we just let the birds pair to which ever they liked and do the same with nesting. This time around as I’ve bought stock birds (that have never mated before) that need to be matched in a particular way I’m having to be far more precise.
But, so far so good. I’ve only got that one pair where the hen won’t have the cock at any price yet, the other 12 are getting on fine.
I have ended up with 3 more hens than cocks though so might have to enter the buying market for some cocks. No point in having prisoners with no mate! If anyone can recommend any good sprint / middle distance pigeons I’ll check them out.
Thanks again everyone. Great forum.
Mike on here MIL will know where to look for sprint middle distance birds Pete
My friend had 6 from a recommendation from Mike as is very pleased with them even has youngsters weaned from them this year
