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Finding that bit extra
Posted: Mon May 11, 2026 11:51 am
by Harry's Loft
Hi all
Hope everyone had a good weekend's racing
We ended up racing Saturday and the returns were great with 20/24 in 15 mins and the last 4 all back by the end of the day
I just wanted to see what you all would do to get an extra 30 seconds to 1 minute improvement out of the birds
I won a couple of weeks ago but I'm consistently 10-15 yards off the pace
Other than moving lofts lol are there any little tips or tricks that anyone uses just to get that extra bit onto the birds
I feed similar to Neil on here and weigh my corn
The birds are kept on a celibate/chaos type system where they see each other on a Saturday and occasionally a Friday night
I'm just wanting to get an extra 5 yards but I know it's a hard one to answer
Thanks
Re: Finding that bit extra
Posted: Mon May 11, 2026 12:49 pm
by Harry's Loft
NeilA wrote: Mon May 11, 2026 12:07 pm
Could you train 3 days from about 10 miles let them go in 4/5’s giving just enough time for them to chase say 30 secs after you see each batch go out of sight
Cheers mate
It's something I could definitely try
They were loft flying twice a day but we are 4 races in so I'm reducing that to once
Weather depending I might give that a go
Re: Finding that bit extra
Posted: Tue May 12, 2026 7:00 pm
by Harry's Loft
MIL wrote: Mon May 11, 2026 10:15 pm
Hi Harry
Are you content that the health is as good as it can be?
No-one performs at their best if they're slightly under the weather.
I'm happy with their healthy especially the hens they fly very well and have been very consistent
I tend to treat pre racing and then a preventative treatment that I alternate during the season each week to keep ailments to a minimum
Another issue I have is my loft location isn't great as I'm the first drop in the fed and to the east of the racing line but that's still no excuse
I'm going to let them see each other now we are further down the road
Maybe before our combine race allow them to stay together until the Monday the weekend before to give them some bonding
Re: Finding that bit extra
Posted: Tue May 12, 2026 8:19 pm
by Harry's Loft
MIL wrote: Tue May 12, 2026 7:22 pm
There's nowhere I'd rather be than 1st dropper in the Fed
That's interesting Mike
May I ask why?
Re: Finding that bit extra
Posted: Tue May 12, 2026 9:21 pm
by Diamond Dave
And on the East Side Mike? It is predominantly a West wind during summer months and maybe a few Easterlys during the earlier races.But who knows these days.
I'm sure you'll come good though mate good luck
Re: Finding that bit extra
Posted: Wed May 13, 2026 5:20 am
by Harry's Loft
Some brilliant replies lads
Completely understand what you are saying Neil
I had the one of best flyers in the club comment on how light my pigeons were
Again some may think too light but I've been weighing the corn and checking the birds in the hand
You can't fight the position that you are in but equally it's no excuse we just use it as an easy one
The first drop what is interesting and I like the saying about being in the loft rather than in the air
It's good to hear different opinions on things and pick up some little tips
Cheers lads for the insight
Re: Finding that bit extra
Posted: Wed May 13, 2026 9:29 am
by Harry's Loft
NeilA wrote: Wed May 13, 2026 5:25 am
When’s last time you treated for respiratory
That can go unseen and cost you a minute easily
They had a preventative 2 day treatment 2 weeks ago
Then they had a single day of amoxicillin on Monday
Re: Finding that bit extra
Posted: Wed May 13, 2026 9:32 am
by Harry's Loft
MIL wrote: Wed May 13, 2026 5:35 am
There's different forms of "light" Harry, and I wonder which applies to yours
They should feel
strong, powerful, packed full of muscle, yet light - a bit like an empty crisp packet that you blow air into to make it expand to its maximum.
It's a very good question and I like to think they aren't too far away from what you've discribed
I think maybe slightly fuller would help them but equally I don't want to over feed them
So I feed around 35g each per day up to Thursday
Then Thursday and Friday effectively 70g each but over 3 feedings
Re: Finding that bit extra
Posted: Wed May 13, 2026 10:51 am
by Harry's Loft
NeilA wrote: Wed May 13, 2026 9:34 am
Did the instructions say 1-2 days
I know loads do these treatments
I tend to like one as instructions but not saying your wrong as loads do it that way
What was the reason behind the one day amoxicillin
Most antibiotics really are a minimum of a 5 day treatment but I worry about doing more damage than go if treating like this every week
Short doses are just to lower the counts of bacteria in healthy birds or I like to think so at least
Re: Finding that bit extra
Posted: Wed May 13, 2026 10:54 am
by Harry's Loft
NeilA wrote: Wed May 13, 2026 9:44 am
Harry's Loft wrote: Wed May 13, 2026 9:32 am
MIL wrote: Wed May 13, 2026 5:35 am
There's different forms of "light" Harry, and I wonder which applies to yours
They should feel
strong, powerful, packed full of muscle, yet light - a bit like an empty crisp packet that you blow air into to make it expand to its maximum.
It's a very good question and I like to think they aren't too far away from what you've discribed
I think maybe slightly fuller would help them but equally I don't want to over feed them
So I feed around 35g each per day up to Thursday
Then Thursday and Friday effectively 70g each but over 3 feedings
I think 35g is plenty for sprinting
I take it you try to get 55 in Thursday 15 in Friday ?
On a short race you could try feeding them up Thursday to bursting then leave a couple of handfuls of barley or dupurative down for first light and remove about 7am
Then there have there needs and be looking for home but not been starved
When I was flying cocks I fed about 10-12g Thursday am 35pm
10-12 Friday am
On this new idea I’m am filling them Thursday then leaving something they don’t like down for Friday first light
I never fed past 7 am Friday normally 630 as I am away to work by 7
I think you need them looking for home but either way the energy is stored
Once you get to a 2 hour fly then add some fats so they don’t run out of steam but do this Wednesday and maybe Thursday morning not Thursday night
That's right Neil
I like to have them barely eating Friday just picking at what's in the trough really
I feed at 5.30 and take the feeder out about 6.30-7 on a Friday
So this weekend we are at 130 miles in what looks like a light west wind
Would you introduce fats tonight and tomorrow?
If so how much would you add?