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I,ve read plenty of advice on what is the best nest condition for sending iether a cock or hen 500miles plus, but I am contenplating sending a pair, yes, both the cock and hen to a 500mile race, what nest condition should I aim for? and what experience have forum members had trying this?

as with all racing different birds prefer different nest conditions but I would aim to have them sitting 12 to 14 days when basketing.

Phil

Rather than start a new thread, may I request some advice please.  I have several pairs presently who have just hatched young.  I would like to send them across the channel this week, but have heard it's not good to send birds feeding soft food.  Yhe youngsters will be about three days old at basketing.  Can someone advise please?

I would not send birds with soft food in the crop, wairt until theyt are feeding hard corn.

In hot conditions the soft food can go sour and they end up being sick in the baskets

Sapper I will PM

sitting 14 days or feeding a big young one

well i will be sending this week 400 + miles and they will be repaired tomorrow for basketing thursday.I will then leave them paired and race either the cock or hen the following two week's sitting and if all go's to plan the following two weeks the cocks will be sent again on chip outs.
This is my first proper year racing so dunno if its  good idea or bad just what i am going to try.

I never liked sending pairs on the natural. But a cock with a big yb and in betwen eggs or looking at his hen is ideal. A hen sitting 12-14 days was another peak conditioner. But you can't have your cake and eat it. Good luck! Whatever you decide on.

i sent a pair on the weekend to tarbes 613mls sitting on a 3 day old young un at basketing the cock i've had reported 24mls short(monday morning) the hen i have'nt seen yet the race closes 3-15 tomorrow. the hen flew palamos(753mls )last year sitting 8/9 days at basketing. i've had another cock back sitting a big young un and looking to nest again.

Quoted from Ronnie

well i will be sending this week 400 + miles and they will be repaired tomorrow for basketing thursday.I will then leave them paired and race either the cock or hen the following two week's sitting and if all go's to plan the following two weeks the cocks will be sent again on chip outs.
This is my first proper year racing so dunno if its  good idea or bad just what i am going to try.

Sorry its 370 miles not 400.
But the same tactics will still be used

ive found [mind you different for different birds]  an old cock sitting 8 days still feeding a big young one [really its feeding itself]  a good position for extreme distance i,e, found a,  w, hood cock ideal in certain conditions [weather wise] but safest way is either of them  sitting 10 days on eggs

I like to put a freshly hatched baby ( a few hours if avaible )  under a cock sitting pot eggs  a couple of hours before basketing this really brings them on in fast

if they love you and were they live they will come back fast even with its hen/cock but somtimes they dont lol

Jimmy I too have had some success with big babys and eggs

Sapper I foster babys out to other pairs and fly both parents often I won both races one week with a pair ( 400 ) I like freshly hatched or just a few days old I dont belive the milk thing I know another flyer who adds more babys to the nest a few hours before basketing I have seen him do this with as many as 5 babys he will also take the birds off of a nest full early in the day and put them in another loft by themselves ( seperated so the cock dosen't take it out on the hen ) usally he does this for shorter races