Breeding

[Winfort Lofts]

Been a bit of a funny one for me this time around!

Have half the birds go down on eggs around the same time, then about a week later one of the pairs split, and a new cock took over the box and broke a pair of eggs!

Lost a couple of hatches around 3 days old I believe due to the cold snap we have had here again!

Although having said that, I also believe I may have slipped up and was under feeding the breeders for a few weeks, so that could have contributed too!!

But ultimately can not wait for this wet damp weather to move on!

[Anthony webster]

Seems like it’s been shit winter damp every day ,grey heavy skies
Rather have the crisp blue cold mornings than this
Bit of sun will get you going Anthony

Sun's out hens are out for 4th time there still flying as I type this 30 mins so far enjoying the sun like me I guess ,,one good thing is weight is brilliant on all birds, the 2 days zero food only grit n salts mix in drinker was massive thing before exercise started.

would you go into this a bit more Anthony please is this something you've done for a few year's, so does it cleanse the pigeons out?. I've looked on alt your previous post Anthony thinks I've understood with the Epsom salts.

It just basically emptys them out pal they are totally empty but you see the dawn feathers really start moving again, the birds are hungry so your the boss so when u let them out one handful of barley and full team are in this keeps the chance of a hawk strike down by loads and because there light and cleaned out the birds want to fly and also there blood is good so stops most if not all of em getting winglock,,, the epsom salts ,table salt brown sugar bicarb soda helps massively.

[CHARLTON34]

Thanks Anthony cheers.

[PeteDerby]

How's members breeding going so far in 2026, hope you've all had a trouble free run with your stock pigeons.
Of the small amount of stock I have they've all gone down & laid, just had trouble with one dominant cock & his hen so they have been put in the other section, because this cock was a problem, 3 pairs I'd brought in couldn't hold a boxes due to the cock going in & out so they have settled to a box hopefully they will lay up in the next week now he's been removed.

Paired up Blackpool weekend. Been away in NZ since they started laying but all are chipped now I understand with most having 2 fertile eggs and only one fatality in the chipping process. Can’t wait to see what we’ve bred this year from my middle distance stock from last year, plus my new distance and marathon stock birds. It’s odd not seeing them hatch!

Pairing was the same nightmare as last year for the first week to 10 days with some cocks wanting 3 boxes, but once they were all sitting tight they behaved.

[Steve Howells]

Paired up a couple of weekends ago so all down on eggs now, no major disasters so far, the plan is to move stock eggs across to race birds this weekend split stock up for a week the re pair swapping partners.

[Steve Howells]

Not paired stock yet
Will just have some April hatched ybs there normally what I find easier to manage anyway
I may just train them and give them one race
Lost a lot of interest in competitive sprinting and that what I enjoyed
Never thought I would lose the get up and go but unfortunately way the feds gone I cant be bothered to put the effort in to race 600 pigeon in weighted fed and sprinting in another fed with big radius isn’t sprinting for me so south rd doesn’t interest me
Might even take a bit of time out after old birds
Not far off having a complete break

Chin up Neil, I think we all lose our pigeon Mojo from time to time and the way the sport is losing members doesn’t help. However it’s still a great sport and for me being with the birds takes me away from all of life’s stresses. I honestly believe the way some of you longer flyers performed in the NRCC last year it’s only a matter of time before it won down your way.

[Winfort Lofts]

Been a bit of a funny one for me this time around!

Have half the birds go down on eggs around the same time, then about a week later one of the pairs split, and a new cock took over the box and broke a pair of eggs!

Lost a couple of hatches around 3 days old I believe due to the cold snap we have had here again!

Although having said that, I also believe I may have slipped up and was under feeding the breeders for a few weeks, so that could have contributed too!!

But ultimately can not wait for this wet damp weather to move on!

How do you under feed breeding pigeons do you mean before pairing that you left it late to up the grub
Or since paired

I had under calculated how much food to give, proper rookie error!

Fortunately things are back on track now and birds are looking much brighter and happier!

[Winfort Lofts]

If feeding pre pairing include barley they won’t over eat
Once babies hatch feed what ever you want just leave peas or beans in a empty drinker or feeder 24/7
Can’t really muck it up that way

That's very much what I've switched to!

[Anthony webster]

Probably sounds basic when driving hens there on 50 percent barley and stay on this until baby's are 5 days old then it's peas ,beans ,linseed,,
I like gemthepax n strike in drinker when there rearing, plenty grit n minerals

[chrisroscoe]

i do miss breeding more then racing tbh lol