UkPigeonRacing

Personally I like it, it is all down to whether it can still breed

What iv found withe iv retired good racers there first few yrs breeding you get great racers from each round but once they get over 6 yrs old iv found first round are brilliant 2nd round OK 3rd round junk for racing iv hens here 12,13 yrs old still breeding winners but it's only 1 baby a season that can race so now I keep a late one for breeding because the last 2 seasons the late ones given to friends have been fantastic breeders n the funny thing is a ugly late bred I give a friend of best hen last season bred most he's yb winners,
Another thing for yrs iv not bred of racers but in 2022 I did I didn't keep any for my self but give a good friend 12 baby's these 12 baby's in 5 yb races n last Yr ob racing have won 16x1st for my Friend 5x1st sects 1st Pdf 1st nrcc yearling classic and landed with winners on other races, this was a massive wake up call to me and told me keep the stock loft young stop filling ya loft with baby's off oaps.

Age doesn't matter at all. For both cock or hens. There have been countless great pigeons bred from old pigeons. As one post has already been said longevity is a good thing, especially if staying fertile. Many don't ever get the chance to breed from older birds as many modern families of today are often infertile at 6 or 7, probably due too over use of medications.
Genetics has proven that the young from older stock are not diminished in any way due to age.

Andy wrote: Wed Apr 17, 2024 3:02 pm

king wrote: Wed Apr 17, 2024 1:33 pm Age doesn't matter at all. For both cock or hens. There have been countless great pigeons bred from old pigeons. As one post has already been said longevity is a good thing, especially if staying fertile. Many don't ever get the chance to breed from older birds as many modern families of today are often infertile at 6 or 7, probably due too over use of medications.
Genetics has proven that the young from older stock are not diminished in any way due to age.

I agree King. The genetics of a pigeon don’t deteriorate with age. The only thing that may change is the ability to rear them properly when getting older. Slipped under younger pigeons would solve that.

I think it's the quality going in the egg with age they still lay but iv definitely seen a difference as birds get older how there children ain't as good as racer as previous yrs,
Iv a red cheq hen every baby raced for 4 seasons won but not now with her iv retired a dtr and a absolutely brilliant grand dtr from race team I bet these breed how she did at there age.

Andy wrote: Wed Apr 17, 2024 3:37 pm Do you think that would apply more to hens than cocks Tony as it is them that determine the quality of the egg itself?

Yes pal I say so, I would only keep special pairs together others wise it would be younger paired to older

Trev wrote: Wed Apr 17, 2024 5:26 pm

Anthony webster wrote: Wed Apr 17, 2024 4:13 pm

Andy wrote: Wed Apr 17, 2024 3:37 pm Do you think that would apply more to hens than cocks Tony as it is them that determine the quality of the egg itself?

Yes pal I say so, I would only keep special pairs together others wise it would be younger paired to older

I would be the same, I wouldn't get rid of a good old faithful but if I still wanted to breed from it then I would definitely be looking for a younger partner, preferably a son or daughter. I know fanciers who won't keep a stock bird for more than two or three years and to be honest if your breeding is right, by this time you should have produced better birds than him/her anyway.

That's my weakness I'm hard task master very ruthless but if they make retirement here they stay here until they die, it's my weakness but all my old faithful winners are still here I look at them as if I owe it to em for what they done for me racing, two get to 3 or 4yr old here they must be rock solid n must be able to destroy results on cold east winds when most birds quit or just home in race day,
But I do find when I breed of these birds there's a inner confidence I have with there baby's that I know they can take cosh n liberties with.