Pre season

[Anthony webster]

I very rarely ever breed of racers don't believe in bonding to boxes n all that stuff ,,
Reason I don't breed ,can't stand the mess in my loft n 2nd I would never breed a top dog or good horse until it was retired so very rare I take babys of racers but will if I get a absolute racing machine take late breds of it incase falcon kills it following season.

[Diamond Dave]

I very rarely ever breed of racers don't believe in bonding to boxes n all that stuff ,,
Reason I don't breed ,can't stand the mess in my loft n 2nd I would never breed a top dog or good horse until it was retired so very rare I take babys of racers but will if I get a absolute racing machine take late breds of it incase falcon kills it following season.

Know what ya mean about the mess Ant. I am cleaning out twice a day while they are breeding and fed up with all the big slugs everywhere. Cant wait to get them split.
I have 12 boxes with a few pairing in the corners.
Thats 28 parent birds n 26 squeakers in an 8 x 6 section.
I know its far too many but thats how its panned out. The birds are looking ok and flying quite well. considering and another reason why Im locking the parent birds out for 4/5 hours a day.
I've never kept so many obs over the winter. All this shite in one place when my YB section has remained empty. I certainly intend to re- think breeding next year.

[Anthony webster]

My best years racing baby's
They was weaned 16,18 days old tiny put on a bed of straw by the time they was 25 days old they were 2,3 weeks advance in there head over baby's kept with parents until feathered under wing ,,with in 24 hours u see them eating well all around ya feet so very tame iv got older n softer but look back n wonder was it a part of the reason they was so so good at racing .

[Diamond Dave]

Could you not take the ybs away with the hens so your cocks start getting in a routine Dave
Is the tbs are 18 days old they should be ok or take one and leave one with the cock that way you remove at least half from the section

Yes thanks Neil that would alleviate some of the problem but not all the babies are the same age so not sure if that would be any benefit.....?
I am used to taking the babies away as soon as I see them pickung up for themselves.
I am also intending to race Roundabout initially, so thought it would be better for the hens to bond to the box as well as the cocks, so was going to let them go down on another round before taking them away after about 5 days.
Dont know if that is all conventional but I am happy to put up with the shit for another couple of weeks as long as the birds stay healthy.
Might look to do something different next year tho to make the most of both sections but I guess that depends on how many I finish up with this year.

[Anthony webster]

Don't you think that all distances 50 to 500 miles thr birds must be well bred to start with ,then in condition for racing and then set up for that race for a performance Saturday.

[Diamond Dave]

Could you not take the ybs away with the hens so your cocks start getting in a routine Dave
Is the tbs are 18 days old they should be ok or take one and leave one with the cock that way you remove at least half from the section

Yes thanks Neil that would alleviate some of the problem but not all the babies are the same age so not sure if that would be any benefit.....?
I am used to taking the babies away as soon as I see them pickung up for themselves.
I am also intending to race Roundabout initially, so thought it would be better for the hens to bond to the box as well as the cocks, so was going to let them go down on another round before taking them away after about 5 days.
Dont know if that is all conventional but I am happy to put up with the shit for another couple of weeks as long as the birds stay healthy.
Might look to do something different next year tho to make the most of both sections but I guess that depends on how many I finish up with this year.

My best years the cocks just sat eggs for about 2 weeks that was enough to bond them
So yours will be bonded to the box now . i think as they get 18-20 days split them all the hens will feed all the babies as over crowding isn’t a good thing
health/ blood/ fitness is more important than motivation for the distances you want to fly I believe .
When I ask Mark Bulled what’s most important for 500 plus miles his answer is always Blood
The pigeons I got at Fraserburgh last year the hen hadn’t seen a cock since April as I lost him so zero motivation
The 2nd pigeon hadn’t had a hen all year
Mine are all celibacy this year
I need to try it to get it out of my head if fails I can park it as a bad idea

Ok Neil, thanks mate, I will do that but just one more question if I may.....
Many of the cocks are starting driving again, will it be detrimental to them taking the hens away at that point?
Also, as I want the hens ready for racing too - how long should I leave the hens with the babies before putting them in the roundabout hens section.