Same day racing for young birds.

[Anthony webster]

In the mid week club yrs ago we marked Tuesday night birds stayed at club over night locked in with drinkers on they were loaded around 9am I think and took to Poole about 90 to 120 miles to members, birds were leg go around 3,30pm so all the men could get home from work around 5ish and get ready for race ,strike of was 8pm was unbelievable racing n great training.

[Diamond Dave]

I think there could be a lot in that Murray.
Was there any indication whether the report was carried out on young birds or old or was it on a distance race or sprint - not that it matters too much as the losses are being experienced throughout.
Either way it is good to see that someone is looking into it.! You can bet your life that our useless governing body won't do rock-all about it!

[king]

I'm all for it.

In fact I have a sneaking suspicion that there's something in the way pigeons are transported that is contributing to the massive losses. The modern transporters are great, all new and shiny and modern, but put your arm in a hamper after it has been stationary for an hour or two. Sometimes it's like an oven.
I think the old baskets or wire hampers with 12 or 16 pigeons in them, on a lorry that had plenty of air whistling through, it was a bit old fashioned, but the birds came home.
I think in the newer transporters there should be fewer pigeons in each section, and if they can be hampered in the morning for a liberation the same day, it should be done.
I know it should be the opposite, the latest pigeon transporters should be even better. But for some reason losses are out of control. We need to swallow our pride and look at every possible solution.

This today from Ad Schaerlaeckens' blog.


I always felt deep pity when I heard fanciers, especially Belgians, complain about the placement of their pigeon baskets in the trucks.
A few weeks ago, Section 8 experienced yet another disastrous young bird race. They investigated
which clubs had the worst results and where the least. They then examined which baskets contained the pigeons and where those baskets were placed in the trucks.
They concluded that the position in the truck did indeed influence the race.
The study didn't focus on the speed at which the pigeons could depart, but on oxygen levels in warm weather, especially since it was a late release.
These findings again argue for spreading each fancier's pigeons across multiple baskets, certainly not putting them all in one. Even better would be to spread the club baskets as well. However, the latter would likely be practically impossible.
The research confirms once again that it's not the homeward journey, but the outward journey, that can break pigeons in very warm weather.

Don't agree with this. When my old club ran the central pick up, we had complaints about where the baskets were placed on the transporter as my old club always had the winner and best returns (it was the biggest club and sent the most birds) They then allowed this other club to CHOOSE the place they want their baskets put. They chose the top row. The result was just the same they were still beaten.

[Diamond Dave]

Brilliant King, so that would likely discount that one theory so now we can look at other possibilities - anyone got any other ideas for all the losses we are
experiencing........?

[Bowbroom]

Ill prepared birds bred from sub standard stock

[Bowbroom]

In the 60’s and 70’s most if not all didn’t have a stock loft they bred out of their proven race birds, some might have had a pair or two of retired successful racers at stock, however nowadays it seems some have more bought in stock than racers and this I believe is the root of the problem breeding from birds that are generations away from tried and tested stock just because they have the name of the current flavour of the month. I know people that have bought such pigeons for a lot of money and are surprised why their progeny are on the missing list, still each to their own

[king]

You raise some good points Bowbroom, I have always enjoyed looking at different pedigrees when looking to buy birds. Now some people will say it is all about the basket, well i would say the winners on the pedigree, have come out of the basket to win quality races. And they go down the lines of winner after winner. But that is just my view.

Winners on a pedigree mean nothing if you don't race the offspring. Studs buy Top pigeons, and sell the young for stupid money. Fanciers then buy sons/daughters (too expensive for many too race) and grandchildren (again too expensive to race), gg grandchildren and then the majority race the young. 3 generations later. Your probably get better results from prize winning birds raced EVERY generation.