UkPigeonRacing

So would like some feedback please, it's my intention to get my pigeons tested just to see if anything comes back with a general loft test.
Then from this if everything comes back ok with them I will pair up around end of November, they will be rung with old rings so however many ybs I have they will be trained in February weather dependent these will be integrated into my ob team.
I will start to race these whatevers left, possible May time when the weather better , so the last 6 or so races along with my obs
I'm not going to breed any ybs in 2026 .
If I don't try something different & change things up a bit, waiting for your replies, any constructive comments that have tried this approach or have any advice please.

When you got time Mike would you go into this a bit more please your thoughts on what I'm trying to do, I'm flying by the seat of my pants with this, would like some guidance.
I have feedback from Neil so that's a good start, just need to get it straight in my head, & if you would change anything up .

CHARLTON34 wrote: Sat Oct 11, 2025 4:20 pm So would like some feedback please, it's my intention to get my pigeons tested just to see if anything comes back with a general loft test.
Then from this if everything comes back ok with them I will pair up around end of November, they will be rung with old rings so however many ybs I have they will be trained in February weather dependent these will be integrated into my ob team.
I will start to race these whatevers left, possible May time when the weather better , so the last 6 or so races along with my obs
I'm not going to breed any ybs in 2026 .
If I don't try something different & change things up a bit, waiting for your replies, any constructive comments that have tried this approach or have any advice please.

This is well worth trying. You have nothing to lose. I wish you well trying something new. A friend of mine has done something similar, but his birds are in the nest now. He too has no intention racing the YB program wanting to finish his racing season in July to spend more time with his family.

MIke Lycett wrote: Sat Oct 11, 2025 11:04 pm

CHARLTON34 wrote: Sat Oct 11, 2025 4:20 pm So would like some feedback please, it's my intention to get my pigeons tested just to see if anything comes back with a general loft test.
Then from this if everything comes back ok with them I will pair up around end of November, they will be rung with old rings so however many ybs I have they will be trained in February weather dependent these will be integrated into my ob team.
I will start to race these whatevers left, possible May time when the weather better , so the last 6 or so races along with my obs
I'm not going to breed any ybs in 2026 .
If I don't try something different & change things up a bit, waiting for your replies, any constructive comments that have tried this approach or have any advice please.

What's driving this itch to change Dave ?

Morning Mike, I just thought about it a bit what I wanted to do, for one I wanted to just race the ob program in 2026, & then have the rest of the year to do other things, travel a bit, & more family time.
My hearts not been in flying yb or the work entailed with it, just done my head in. So I've come up with what I hope a plan & be able to enjoy it a bit more.

In 2023 I didn't race baby's bred a team in September they got about 12 tosses very young ,I trained them like baby's in spring I missed for 6,7 races because baby feathers can't handle the early cold east winds you drop them at 60 miles a old man told me but in July clock them from longest race I took he's advice n waited until late May, they had 7 races 5 times they come well 2 times they messed up they won fed once but out of possible 35 fed positions they won 26 fed prizes most in first 10 of fed ,this Yr they raced north rd different direction they won a few races but they seem solid i then turned them back south rd put them on training wagon 7 times and trained them each day with baby's and sent them mnfc they come well all home and 4th section there be back south rd next season,

NeilA wrote: Sun Oct 12, 2025 9:24 am Is that the Fens fed your going back to Anthony ?
Can I ask why change after 26 cards in the north rd fed

My north rd club races in Norfolk and Suffolk I had a row with Norfolk and Suffolk because the open race was Dunbar and they moved birds to Darlington 100 mile less held over until Sunday so the wind suited them ,so I payed £78 for 16 birds and pools for 255 mile race and they ended up 149 Miles on west wind ,the whole country raced that day except us ,,so I resigned from norfolk and Suffolk,,
But north rd racing here ain't like north rd in London is pixx poor here ,,the south rd is better racing the south will come back here more going back south each season and mnfc race days is different compared to other classic or national type clubs here the buzz is so different mnfc race day ,,the birdage is down on south but the best flyers except 2 race south in this area in my local south rd club there be 5 different lofts that have won mnfc and all send big teams until mnfc then birdage drops ,,but since 2021 here the racing north is strange you clock then they come like drips of blood this is 8 in every 10 races and not just me everyone says the same ,,I don't know the reason but its the worse type of racing iv ever seen most weeks a fed race is like a bad channel race ,,same birds south road sent 24 ,16 together then 19 sent 7 together all home 6 mins on north u get 3 together and take until 7pm to get them all home ,,I'm very happy iv gone back south but a good few have copied me now ,south rd will be back strong in this area next 2 seasons.

NeilA wrote: Sun Oct 12, 2025 10:02 am That’s a shame as I know North Road is in your heart but you got to do what’s best for you at the end of the day

North Rd in London is like South rd here birds race right two ya but north rd here is for some reason is just awful birds all ways split up from one race point I had 4 pigeons returned hawked my pal said he lost more birds at bubwith 70 miles to him than he did in 4 nrcc races.

NeilA wrote: Sun Oct 12, 2025 10:34 am I think there’s loads of peregrine around that area Grantham to Retford
There’s a web cam in a church at Grantham before a pair nested there they spotted 7 different peregrines one was tracked back to Devon
I was 1-2-4 fed last year one was a previous fed winner sent them to Grantham the next week never saw 2 of them again
I had 8 hawked at one point last year
I stopped racing I think week 6 as every time I sent I was getting hit I couldn’t work it out as my club mates were getting away with it and it always seemed my best birds
So I put 3 to stock and waited for ybs I only had 17 cocks 7 hens so 8 was a big hit plus the ones I lost
Now I have 22 pair which is way to many I only had one yb race this year so that’s the reason really
Although I may need them just to cover this issue and trying to send a bit further now and again will mean more losses I imagine

Think I was same week 6 or 7 my red hen that had come 8 times to win but beat on trap never returned from 90 miles ,I spewed it n had good think for few weeks n decided to go back south ,,went out garden 20 times a day looking for hen but never seen her since never nighted out once in her life ,glad I have her brother at stock now he's turning out gold at stock bred pdf fed winner nrcc yearling classic winner n 2 cocks to have over 10x1st ,but I love to see my red hen again ,
But more than happy iv gone back south the racing is so much more enjoyable.

Thank you all for the feedback about my plan later this year.
The timescale from Mike I will try to adhere to this as close as I can depending on the pigeons /weather etc, if I have to adjust the time a bit then I'll be a bit more flexible, but will definitely try to be as close to what has been posted.
Much appreciated regards Dave.