Pigeonbasics.com

im sending to my 1st 500mile race in 4weeks & would like advice of prepairing the birds for the race to give them the best chance they have especially feeding & training the 5 im sending are all yearlings and have been over the channel once 370 miles
many thanks

i have won second club with a yearling at 512 miles same cock won year after, but if i valued the birds i wouldnt send them. But hey your birds your call. cod liver oil on a good superwidowhood mix all week covered in brewers yeast, let him have there hen allday b4 basketing ( if on widowhood ).Fats are important i.e peanuts and hempseed and black rape. Please note this is how i prepare for a 500 mile race and others will have different methods and also achieve good results

Try to get your pigeons to eat hulled Sunflower seeds, you can buy these in health food shops. Peanuts are good but I find the pigeons will turn their noses up at others grains if fed in quantities.

AT THE FINAL TWO LONG ONES 450 AND 500. MATE THEM, ON THE EVE BEFORE BASKETING. THEY WILL HAVE BEEN PREPARED ON HEMP, DIAT, AND SUN FLOWER KERNALS, AND SHOULD BE TOPPED UP WITH PEANUTS, (BEFORE BASKETING)BY MID DAY.    

ON THE EVE BEFORE BASKETING, OPEN ALL NON UNOCCUPIED BOXES, AND GIVE THEM THEIR CHOICE, AND SPREAD SOME NEST MATERIALS ABOUT, BUT YOU CAN NEVER TURN YOUR BACK ON 'EM  DURING THIS "TURN ON TIME". SO BEWARE!  YOU ARE THE REF! THEY WILL ALL BE IN WITH A CHANCE, BECAUSE MOST OTHER GUYS HAVE NOT THE PATIENCE TO CARRY THE COCKS TO THE LIMIT, WITHOUT RACING THE HENS.      

does anyone still believe in feeding beens on the build up?

A yearling that has already done 370 miles has nothing to prove. I would think again but as the man said, your call. It took me a long time to realise when a bird should be put by for the season. I wish you success

Quoted from speedbird

does anyone still believe in feeding beens on the build up?

Yes hopper feed beans

I have never flown a channel race but I have won a slew of 500s ( it is one of my favorite races ) I feed a lot of peas and corn early in the week then for a friday load I start giving the fat on wednesday give them their normal feed with 20% hulled sunflower  on wednesday ( late in the day) then after they have fed give all the hemp they will eat then give peanuts  I do the same on thursday then on Friday I add to this mix about 30% peas but I dont give peanuts on friday I also add safflower on Fri I am also giving Peanut oil with brewers yeast and baby formula as well