Best nest position.

[Murray]

If we get back to the original question,
I would not be aiming to send cock birds on big youngsters and driving/laying again.
I think it is a big physical and mental drain on a pigeon.
I'd be aiming at sending them on 14 day to hatching eggs. If the babies are moving in the shell but they are not chipping, perfect.
If a cock has had races and sat and raised youngsters, he's done some work.
I'd be getting him on eggs and leaving him be, let him have his fly in the morning before he goes on the eggs. Rested up and keen for his eggs,

[Albert]

Brilliant Albert, can I ask if you remate them all at the same time or do you stagger it for different races.
Would you mind if I pm you with some more questions or shall I post them on here?

I mate them all within 10 days, because I like my hens to go 14 days to hatching, and I try to mate them to birds that are finished for the season. Don't worry if the hen is slow of laying, I have cocks that have done well on 2 day eggs and up, but 6 days is my target

[Diamond Dave]

Thank you Albert.
Would you expect yearling cocks to respond in the same way?
Is this system better than sending cocks "driving"?

[Albert]

Thank you Albert.
Would you expect yearling cocks to respond in the same way?
Is this system better than sending cocks "driving"?

I have never tried Y/L Cocks at over 500 miles, and I wouldn't send cocks driving. The Australians send, what to me are basically yearlings to 600 + miles, but I think it has been bred into them for years, and the birds I am sure are celibate.

[Diamond Dave]

Thank you Albert.
Would you expect yearling cocks to respond in the same way?
Is this system better than sending cocks "driving"?

I have never tried Y/L Cocks at over 500 miles, and I wouldn't send cocks driving. The Australians send, what to me are basically yearlings to 600 + miles, but I think it has been bred into them for years, and the birds I am sure are celibate.

Really helpful Albert, thank you. I wasn't planning to send the ylng cocks to 500 but just wondered whether
you would treat them the same and whether you would get the same response from them at 6 - 10 days sitting?.

[Albert]

Thank you Albert.
Would you expect yearling cocks to respond in the same way?
Is this system better than sending cocks "driving"?

I have never tried Y/L Cocks at over 500 miles, and I wouldn't send cocks driving. The Australians send, what to me are basically yearlings to 600 + miles, but I think it has been bred into them for years, and the birds I am sure are celibate.

Really helpful Albert, thank you. I wasn't planning to send the ylng cocks to 500 but just wondered whether
you would treat them the same and whether you would get the same response from them at 6 - 10 days sitting?.

I am more interested in getting experience into my yearlings, but it is always something to try if you were that way minded.

[Diamond Dave]

If we get back to the original question,
I would not be aiming to send cock birds on big youngsters and driving/laying again.
I think it is a big physical and mental drain on a pigeon.
I'd be aiming at sending them on 14 day to hatching eggs. If the babies are moving in the shell but they are not chipping, perfect.
If a cock has had races and sat and raised youngsters, he's done some work.
I'd be getting him on eggs and leaving him be, let him have his fly in the morning before he goes on the eggs. Rested up and keen for his eggs,

Cheers Murray, The reason I wanted to try that is that a good friend of mine was 2nd open NFC Pau with a cock bird in that nest position. I appreciate what you are saying but do you still think that having 1 youngster in the nest and just starting to look at his hen again (not driving) would be so taxing on a cock bird.?

[Andy]

Andy,
I wouldnt dream of questioning your advice but just want to make sure that I am understanding you correctly....
I agree, that 7 weeks would be enough time to get the hens race fit but would they really be ready to race 600 miles?
That would mean sending to at least one of the in between channel races of 350/450 miles. in about 3 -4 weeks time and they havent even had 1 chuck as yet.
Just asking if you guys would consider that as a viable option?

Have they been flying out Dave?
My Lerwick winner, 650 miles, had been a widowhood hen earlier in the season, so hadn’t been out the loft, before being paired up. She had one race at 168 miles the week before Berwick at 348miles. After this race the eggs were removed and she was allowed to go back down on eggs for Lerwick 3 weeks later.
It would depend what races you have available to you as preparation. A couple at 250 miles would be enough I would have thought. A couple of 6 hours on the wing.

[Andy]

If we get back to the original question,
I would not be aiming to send cock birds on big youngsters and driving/laying again.
I think it is a big physical and mental drain on a pigeon.
I'd be aiming at sending them on 14 day to hatching eggs. If the babies are moving in the shell but they are not chipping, perfect.
If a cock has had races and sat and raised youngsters, he's done some work.
I'd be getting him on eggs and leaving him be, let him have his fly in the morning before he goes on the eggs. Rested up and keen for his eggs,

Cheers Murray, The reason I wanted to try that is that a good friend of mine was 2nd open NFC Pau with a cock bird in that nest position. I appreciate what you are saying but do you still think that having 1 youngster in the nest and just starting to look at his hen again (not driving) would be so taxing on a cock bird.?

The Staddons in my club, very good national fliers, like cocks feeding big youngsters.

[Diamond Dave]

Andy,
I wouldnt dream of questioning your advice but just want to make sure that I am understanding you correctly....
I agree, that 7 weeks would be enough time to get the hens race fit but would they really be ready to race 600 miles?
That would mean sending to at least one of the in between channel races of 350/450 miles. in about 3 -4 weeks time and they havent even had 1 chuck as yet.
Just asking if you guys would

Have they been flying out Dave?
My Lerwick winner, 650 miles, had been a widowhood hen earlier in the season, so hadn’t been out the loft, before being paired up. She had one race at 168 miles the week before Berwick at 348miles. After this race the eggs were removed and she was allowed to go back down on eggs for Lerwick 3 weeks later.
It would depend what races you have available to you as preparation. A couple at 250 miles would be enough I would have thought. A couple of 6 hours on the wing.

Thanks Andy, thats reassuring.
No, the hens havent been flying out.
I think I will keep my focus on the cocks for Pau but after listening to yours and everyone elses opinions I will get my hens going for one of the other intermediate French races and if any of them come well, I will consider them for one of the other big distances when they would of been sitting for about 14 days.
That sounds like a plan to me but everything has to fall into place for that to work and that doesnt happen very often in my world.
Thanks everyone for your amazing help and advice and good luck to you all for your own best laid plans.