good luck all racing this weekend its gonna be a hot one
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2025 12:48 pm
best of luck all racing in the heatwave
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https://www.ukpigeonracing.co.uk/community/viewtopic.php?t=1758
I never basked trained a pigeon in my life. I also never had a stray in that couldn't find the water when put in a basket. Unless a fancier baskets birds and dips each birds head in the water HE has taught them NOTHING.Bowbroom wrote: Fri Jul 11, 2025 6:49 pm We used to basket train our youngsters every year, without fail, how many others do?, we bought drinkers at our old club and put them on two sides of the crates when race marking again how many do?
I agree that you can take a horse (or pigeon) to water but you can’t make it drink however by making sure that our YBs experienced nights in the basket and being fed and watered in them as well we felt that we had done the best we could for them. By the way who mentioned dipping them?king wrote: Fri Jul 11, 2025 10:37 pmI never basked trained a pigeon in my life. I also never had a stray in that couldn't find the water when put in a basket. Unless a fancier baskets birds and dips each birds head in the water HE has taught them NOTHING.Bowbroom wrote: Fri Jul 11, 2025 6:49 pm We used to basket train our youngsters every year, without fail, how many others do?, we bought drinkers at our old club and put them on two sides of the crates when race marking again how many do?
Pigeons find water by watching other birds and copying them. Whilst doing this before racing them in a basket at home won't do any harm, your kidding yourself if you think you are training them?
My losses in YB races were no greater than other fanciers despite not 'basket training' them. The first time my birds went in a basket was their first training toss.
I always believed if a pigeon can't find water itself, your asking a lot for it to find it's way home.
My local club always had drinkers on the race baskets, right up till they were loaded on the transporter. I always saw birds drinking from them.
As long as clubs don't put too many birds in the race baskets ALL birds should find the water and get a drink.
You not alone a fancier in my old club did this. You and him must have money to burn.Diamond Dave wrote: Sat Jul 12, 2025 6:12 pm Oh dear, judging by some of the comments I think I might go a bit far with my babies - I even give them several rides out in the car in the basket before I even give them a chuck.
IMO it's all about being stress free with all elements of rearing and training. If they learn that there is always gonna be water in the basket, it might just take away one of those "unsure" elements that helps them stay calm.