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https://www.ukpigeonracing.co.uk/community/viewtopic.php?t=1392
April/May go all the wayAndy wrote: Fri Nov 08, 2024 8:10 amI do agree Neil and find the best youngsters for YB racing are those bred in April/May especially if raced natural. I will breed early but only because my young birds are bred from my Widowers and the only chance I get with my widowhood system is to breed early. They will still be kept on natural as I’m not interested in young bird racing or young bird results.NeilA wrote: Fri Nov 08, 2024 8:00 amI’m the same no point in early ybs unless you go on the dark or want to have themTrev wrote: Thu Nov 07, 2024 7:06 pm Mine are shut up now until February/March, I was letting them out at the weekends just while I clean them out, but having lost 2 in 2 weeks they are now locked in.
I'm planning on splitting them up this year but will probably leave that until I've had my vet inspection in December. They will be paired up mid to late February, I don't want youngsters flying out much before April to limit the risk of losses to the Sparrow Hawk, my old birds will start going out again once they are paired up. It does mean that they are unlikely to be fully fit for the early races but I'll use those races to get them fit for the longer ones, which are the ones I'm really interested in.
In answer to your other question Dave, if it wasn't for the bloody hawk they would be on an open loft all through the winter too, whatever the weather.
Sexually mature to race to the opposite sex
if you breed early here and don’t do the above you not really going to do much good your better off with late March / April hatched
Birds out on good days, mainly at weekends, locked up Feb, and March, as they are rearing, and it's the worst time.CHARLTON34 wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2024 9:23 am Morning all, do members fly pigeons out over the winter period or are they locked up until spring. BOP maybe an issue for some that don't want to risk letting them out. Has anyone noticed any difference with flying out over winter other than fitness, or the same with pigeons being locked up for a few months anything that crop's up possible wing lock.
Certainly doesn’t seem to be getting mentioned so much.MIke Lycett wrote: Fri Oct 31, 2025 5:49 am Is it my imagination or have we seen and heard less of wing-lock in the last couple of seasons?