UkPigeonRacing

That will do me
Start them on a line with some west in it rather than the amount of East we have had these last few years

Going to inject the cocks then take them training about 12 o’clock just once it’s warmed up
It looks good all week so the 7 hens can train tomorrow then cocks every night Tuesday to Sunday with luck

Albert wrote: ↑Sat Mar 29, 2025 10:02 am

Trev wrote: ↑Sat Mar 29, 2025 9:10 am At last I've had the birds out without a hit, I've only been letting them out just before evening feed, about half 5. The first evening very few came out, those that did were very nervous and didn't go far, last night quite a few more came out, they are starting to look more confident and actually flew for a bit. I'll give them longer today and tomorrow, all being well they'll be back on an open loft Monday.

Too early for an open loft Trev, keep them restricted for a bit longer.

Thanks Albert
Historically I've been ok once April is here but am still very wary as I did lose one to her in April last year.
Unfortunately as our first race is only two weeks away, after 4 months of being shut in, I need to get them flying. I might just try mornings and evenings for a few days, I'll see how it goes.

NeilA wrote: ↑Sun Mar 30, 2025 8:10 am Going to inject the cocks then take them training about 12 o’clock just once it’s warmed up
It looks good all week so the 7 hens can train tomorrow then cocks every night Tuesday to Sunday with luck

Well done Neil, good to see that your preparations are going well.
I hope you have a successful, but most of all enjoyable, season mate.

MIL wrote: ↑Sat Mar 29, 2025 4:19 pm

king wrote: ↑Sat Mar 29, 2025 3:52 pm
Agree, mine have an open loft for a few hours, but not till the start of May when the female sparrowhawk starts to sit her eggs.

But with respect King you aren't racing so you can afford to not run any risks

It's the open loft aspect of it, I am not saying don't exercise the birds, but do it with as much care as possible. I race my birds, but I don't use open loft until May, so as to cut down the exposure to the hawks,

Albert wrote: ↑Sun Mar 30, 2025 9:28 am

MIL wrote: ↑Sat Mar 29, 2025 4:19 pm

king wrote: ↑Sat Mar 29, 2025 3:52 pm
Agree, mine have an open loft for a few hours, but not till the start of May when the female sparrowhawk starts to sit her eggs.

But with respect King you aren't racing so you can afford to not run any risks

It's the open loft aspect of it, I am not saying don't exercise the birds, but do it with as much care as possible. I race my birds, but I don't use open loft until May, so as to cut down the exposure to the hawks,

Thanks Albert

Trev wrote: ↑Sun Mar 30, 2025 9:20 am

NeilA wrote: ↑Sun Mar 30, 2025 8:10 am Going to inject the cocks then take them training about 12 o’clock just once it’s warmed up
It looks good all week so the 7 hens can train tomorrow then cocks every night Tuesday to Sunday with luck

Well done Neil, good to see that your preparations are going well.
I hope you have a successful, but most of all enjoyable, season mate.

Cheers Trev
If I’m honest I have no confidence with pretty much starting again there are 22 yearlings 2 old cocks I do regret giving so many pigeons away last year but I never new if my loft was able to stay put or not so I just thought keep the yb team
I have tried my best for them to my limited knowledge and feel I have done my part not once have they trained under 14 degrees so I haven’t been reckless with them
I have been so lucky that the sparrow hawks haven’t attacked me for once
Although a peregrine hit the hens training so my plan of 12 miles south each morning for the 7 hens I will race has gone and they will have to train north like the cocks which adds to the work
I hope your attacks are at a end

NeilA wrote: ↑Sun Mar 30, 2025 8:10 am
If I’m honest I have no confidence with pretty much starting again there are 22 yearlings 2 old cocks I do regret giving so many pigeons away last year but I never new if my loft was able to stay put or not so I just thought keep the yb team
I have tried my best for them to my limited knowledge and feel I have done my part not once have they trained under 14 degrees so I haven’t been reckless with them
I have been so lucky that the sparrow hawks haven’t attacked me for once
Although a peregrine hit the hens training so my plan of 12 miles south each morning for the 7 hens I will race has gone and they will have to train north like the cocks which adds to the work
I hope your attacks are at a end

Exciting times though Neil

You've got all these yearlings, and 2 weeks from now they'll have had their 1st race as OB

I'm really excited for you

What they may or may not have achieved as YB now means Jack Schitt - they all start as equals

I'm interested to see how many are crap, how many are good, and how many are really really good

Will certainly be trying Mike
Medication is done , test kit goes off Tuesday
supplements you suggested are 90 per cent there just the post race one to use yet so there all getting in there system
Slightly new feeding system in place which is a bit of a risk as it wasn’t to bad before but the new plan went really well in ybs
They handle light and they are starting to fly rather than just go around on a string

Best of luck with them Neil, get the first race out the way then you can gauge what you have moving forward, fingers crossed you get a good one to build confidence.