Widowhood Cocks out with their Hens

[Diamond Dave]

Just wondering if anyone lets their w.hood cocks out with their hens when pairing up?

[Diamond Dave]

Well, I will be flying a form of roundabout/ widowhood to get the birds fit but I wont be having a clock set, then will be pairing up for the distance, so I am not technically concerned about widowhood flying, so do you think it will matter anyway.?
My main concern is getting the birds to bond to their new loft

[Diamond Dave]

Thank you gents.

[Diamond Dave]

Thanks Mike, I take it all on-board especially when it comes from stables such as your family. Can I ask if your ol dad flew all distances as I guess most did back then?
My main concern this year is to settle the pairs to their new environment, I think I have done that ok but both cocks and hens keep going back to the old shed and trying to get in -as though they are yearning for breeding.
I just thought it might make them happier with the new loft if I maybe let them out a pair out at a time....what would you say to that? (incidently, I still wont be pairing for a few weeks yet)

[goose1]

I don't believe the basic principles of racing change whether it be 60 or 600 miles. You have to have the pigeons motivated to break as soon as the flaps open on them baskets. If your just wanting to enjoy a few distance pigeons Homing then that's great and from some of the extreme distances, especially given today's difficulties in racing there is some achievement in that. But to me personally I'd always be trying to win the race with a racing velocity and to do this you need a motivated pigeon. My own personal preference for this would be a traditional widowhood cock (as Neil and Mike have explained) the only big difference being obviously the feeding would be different and the amount of weeks rest would differ. Or a hen sitting 8-11 day eggs(we are absolutely useless with pigeons feeding youngsters) I say a traditional widowhood because I'm not a fan of when on roundabout, yes you can not race a good cocks hen so she is obviously always at home but to be honest I've never been a fan of when on the roundabout moving the cocks into the hen section away from their section while the hens exercise i just feel its knocks the cocks maybe all in my head? To me i feel it should be in his box or in the sky. I haven't fully read all the topic so apologies that is a bit off topic