UkPigeonRacing

When training at 40 Mile and over, I use the same spots and never lib anymore than 4 together, and start off at 8 minutes between groups, after about 3 chucks I cut it down to 2 mins, because they know the area and clear quick. But if I add new birds I always make sure I lib them last, because even if you add 1 new bird to a lot of 4 it slows them from clearing, and keeps them in the area ( maybe out of site) and in danger of a strike, and then then get mixed with the next lot you lib, increasing there chances of getting a strike on route.

NeilA wrote: Wed Apr 02, 2025 6:57 am What’s people’s thought on training in groups and possible strikes
I let 12 cocks go at 22 miles they were home in 25 mins in a head wind
The next 12 I kept back 7 min instead of my normal 1 min which I do to get them to chase the first lot , due to the head wind and obstacles on route i changed it I though let’s have a gap today

Both cleared and out of sight before I could count to 10 perfect line
Didn’t get a pigeon for 1 hour 10 min from the 2nd then 3 together
I got them spread out over 3 1/2 hours with 2 together at 7.12 last night
Still 2 short in the night
So I new it wasn’t wires as they ones that don’t hit wires just race home the same

So my question is and Goose would be someone with knowledge
Does training in groups with a gap alert the peregrine that thee are possibly more on the way compared to a larger group together
I go in two groups with the idea if they hit one team the other is ok but that could well be wrong and maybe one group getting through would be better

Only just reading this topic Neil. As with anything, everyone will have their own view and preference. Obviously up here the peregrine situation has long since curtailed what you'd call old style training, I'd say we're one of the last lofts who still train their young birds the old way, which is on our own out to around 40 miles(takes a long time to get 40 miles on a road up here). We know we're gonna get hit probably more than once on the way home but for what we want our pigeons to do they just have to get on with it. We've long since stopped letting them go in batches as there's that many peregrines you'd get a few of the batches hit. I've seen us about 10 years ago liberating in as small a groups as 3 at a time and I can remember my dad ringing me saying there were THREE peregrines chasing one of the groups of the 3. Our own view is just take a chance and get them away in a one we may get lucky and get the batch through, the more batches the more chances of getting them hit. We don't really train our old bird I'll be honest, the disadvantages far out weigh the advantages to us. They've had 3 tosses at 6 miles and all we do that for is just to switch them on to the basket again. Touch wood their exercising that well at home getting down and racing we certainly don't feel a 20/30 mile toss would benefit them any more. I know your sprint based Neil but do you think given the peregrine problem and how it basically ruined your season last year is all the training with the old birds necessary? Your a top man and what you do and I'd edge a bet a few tweaks to your management without the training you'd get the same results without the risk. However you decide to go about it hope it goes well

Good thread this with some good info.
I have always endeavoured to split my YB team but only half and half (12-15 in each basket) Ive never considered going down to 3 or 4, and I have to ask the question - what happened to the old saying which applies to most elements in nature - "there is safety in numbers"?

Diamond Dave wrote: Thu Apr 03, 2025 9:30 pm Good thread this with some good info.
I have always endeavoured to split my YB team but only half and half (12-15 in each basket) Ive never considered going down to 3 or 4, and I have to ask the question - what happened to the old saying which applies to most elements in nature - "there is safety in numbers"?

When you train in a training van there is safety in numbers, because it's just not only yours that is getting the hit. But when you are on your own, it's only your birds that are being hit, and if it gets one its yours, and the reason for the small numbers is not to attract the peregrine, and if you do get a hit chucking in fours, its only those four that are being disrupted. With young birds I wouldn't start them in fours, until they have had a few up to ten miles.

Diamond Dave wrote: Thu Apr 03, 2025 9:30 pm Good thread this with some good info.
I have always endeavoured to split my YB team but only half and half (12-15 in each basket) Ive never considered going down to 3 or 4, and I have to ask the question - what happened to the old saying which applies to most elements in nature - "there is safety in numbers"?

This is a myth. There is AWAYS a victim. If you let 50 birds go or 5, if ONE is taken you have still lost one. The purpose of smaller groups is it is UNLIKELY every group will be hit.
So if you let 50 go, one maybe taken and the 49 scared shitless. If 5 are let go, and one taken only 4 are left scared shitless.

All makes a lot of sense.
I also like to give my ybs at least 1 single up the week before the 1st race to see which ones have any savvy.
I suppose in the current climate that that would be the best way to train any where at at anytime then.?

I think that's the way forward released in small group's, make them think a bit, shall be doing this moving forward & possibly going a mile more each time for the next release, so if they don't clear from the first release & come back around they won't buch up with the others you've just let go from baskets & making a bigger target.
I can't see the sense in letting them go all up as from experience this year your just going to get hammered down this part of the country it's got that bad.

I am talking old birds here. If you single up you loss the pace, and get irregular homing. What I mean by that, is they won't come in the order of Lib, when in small groups they mostly home in the order of Lib, and you know how long they are flying.

Andy wrote: Fri Apr 04, 2025 7:17 pm

CHARLTON34 wrote: Fri Apr 04, 2025 4:19 pm I think that's the way forward released in small group's, make them think a bit, shall be doing this moving forward & possibly going a mile more each time for the next release, so if they don't clear from the first release & come back around they won't buch up with the others you've just let go from baskets & making a bigger target.
I can't see the sense in letting them go all up as from experience this year your just going to get hammered down this part of the country it's got that bad.

Not just hammered in training down this way Dave. My team of 12 widowhood cocks is down to 10. 2 cocks taken by peregrine this week from around the loft.

Sorry to see this mate

Hello Andy, oh that's not good before the season's started for you puts you & everyone else that's had to deal with these killing machines on the back foot.