UkPigeonRacing

Andy wrote: Tue Oct 13, 2026 5:58 pm

Tony-P- wrote: Tue Oct 13, 2026 4:31 pm Yes your right there mate, people talk about paper pigeons and then buy them and they are no better than what you have in your loft, for some or most people they can't keep going out and paying top money for paper pigeons to get no or very little results.
So my question is where do you start to look for these pigeons that will not cost the earth but will move you forward in a season or two mate.

Don’t expect results overnight. Keep going with the birds you have. By testing them at both racing and breeding you will soon find the ones that start to work for you. Then you can start to build around those, they may not be the ones you first thought were the best or even liked the most but you will soon start liking the ones that do best for you. It could take a few years to establish a base family. The worst thing you can do is keep getting in new birds and hoping. That’s the quickest way to stop enjoying the sport.

Tony-P- wrote: Tue Oct 13, 2026 7:23 pm

Andy wrote: Tue Oct 13, 2026 5:58 pm

Tony-P- wrote: Tue Oct 13, 2026 4:31 pm Yes your right there mate, people talk about paper pigeons and then buy them and they are no better than what you have in your loft, for some or most people they can't keep going out and paying top money for paper pigeons to get no or very little results.
So my question is where do you start to look for these pigeons that will not cost the earth but will move you forward in a season or two mate.

Don’t expect results overnight. Keep going with the birds you have. By testing them at both racing and breeding you will soon find the ones that start to work for you. Then you can start to build around those, they may not be the ones you first thought were the best or even liked the most but you will soon start liking the ones that do best for you. It could take a few years to establish a base family. The worst thing you can do is keep getting in new birds and hoping. That’s the quickest way to stop enjoying the sport.

Think your right there Andy, this will be my first breeding season with the birds I have 5 stock birds 3 Cocks 2 Hens, I have a pair of stock birds on the way to me this week and I have 13 late bred birds from this year hopefully they are old enough to breed by mid- January that's when I'm looking to pair up.
I have my eye on a couple of pairs from the late bred birds just hope the birds agree with my choice and pair up then will see how the get on with the race season and Y/B season later next year.
What would you say would be a good number to breed for a team of Y/Bs for next year.

Andy wrote: Tue Oct 13, 2026 7:37 pm

Tony-P- wrote: Tue Oct 13, 2026 7:23 pm

Andy wrote: Tue Oct 13, 2026 5:58 pm

Don’t expect results overnight. Keep going with the birds you have. By testing them at both racing and breeding you will soon find the ones that start to work for you. Then you can start to build around those, they may not be the ones you first thought were the best or even liked the most but you will soon start liking the ones that do best for you. It could take a few years to establish a base family. The worst thing you can do is keep getting in new birds and hoping. That’s the quickest way to stop enjoying the sport.

Think your right there Andy, this will be my first breeding season with the birds I have 5 stock birds 3 Cocks 2 Hens, I have a pair of stock birds on the way to me this week and I have 13 late bred birds from this year hopefully they are old enough to breed by mid- January that's when I'm looking to pair up.
I have my eye on a couple of pairs from the late bred birds just hope the birds agree with my choice and pair up then will see how the get on with the race season and Y/B season later next year.
What would you say would be a good number to breed for a team of Y/Bs for next year.

The number you breed depends partly on the amount of room you have. Ideally you really need to take 2 pairs of youngsters from your preferred pairings to prove them. 4 youngsters from a pair should give you some idea on whether they’re going to breed good birds or not. If at the end of the year, after racing you have 2 of them left you are on the right track. Even better if one of them has done particularly well.
You have plenty of pigeons, or will have, to test. I’m sure you’ll find a few decent ones. But don’t worry if you’re a bit behind each week, you and your birds are learning. Your aim should be a gradual improvement year on year. Far better than having a great first season with brought in birds and then find that you just go backwards after that. Seen it so many times where people spend a fortune on buying in birds having a good first season but then after a couple of years of not being able to reproduce them, getting rid of them and buying in another lot.

Devo1956 wrote: Tue Oct 13, 2026 7:45 pm Tony i started this topic to get other members views, because that is what the sport is all about. Or should be, if you want to to go to a good racing loft. I will take you mate. no problem.

Tony-P- wrote: Tue Oct 13, 2026 8:25 pm

Devo1956 wrote: Tue Oct 13, 2026 7:45 pm Tony i started this topic to get other members views, because that is what the sport is all about. Or should be, if you want to to go to a good racing loft. I will take you mate. no problem.

Can't knock that back Devo nice one for that offer mate top man, thanks for that

Devo1956 wrote: Tue Oct 13, 2026 8:39 pm

Tony-P- wrote: Tue Oct 13, 2026 8:25 pm

Devo1956 wrote: Tue Oct 13, 2026 7:45 pm Tony i started this topic to get other members views, because that is what the sport is all about. Or should be, if you want to to go to a good racing loft. I will take you mate. no problem.

Can't knock that back Devo nice one for that offer mate top man, thanks for that

No problem Tony, we will meet up and have a good chat mate.

Tony-P- wrote: Tue Oct 13, 2026 8:41 pm

Devo1956 wrote: Tue Oct 13, 2026 8:39 pm

Tony-P- wrote: Tue Oct 13, 2026 8:25 pm

Can't knock that back Devo nice one for that offer mate top man, thanks for that

No problem Tony, we will meet up and have a good chat mate.

Sound Devo look forward to it mate

Andy wrote: Tue Oct 13, 2026 5:58 pm

Tony-P- wrote: Tue Oct 13, 2026 4:31 pm Yes your right there mate, people talk about paper pigeons and then buy them and they are no better than what you have in your loft, for some or most people they can't keep going out and paying top money for paper pigeons to get no or very little results.
So my question is where do you start to look for these pigeons that will not cost the earth but will move you forward in a season or two mate.

Don’t expect results overnight. Keep going with the birds you have. By testing them at both racing and breeding you will soon find the ones that start to work for you. Then you can start to build around those, they may not be the ones you first thought were the best or even liked the most but you will soon start liking the ones that do best for you. It could take a few years to establish a base family. The worst thing you can do is keep getting in new birds and hoping. That’s the quickest way to stop enjoying the sport.