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The four pigeon i started with are doing well out flying.

I have let them out the same time every night and of they go for about an hour.

Took them about 500 yards from loft for some basket training last night,out they came and ,off in the same direction as usual,returned in an hour.Did not feed on their return last night.

Done the same to night and off they went once again returned in an hour.

Though at first i had done the wrong thing,maybe getting food somewhere,a lot of Hawkers around. However thery where still hungary apone there return.

Rest of birds just out today,seem fine still waiting on three to return,though they are around just on wrong roofs.

Think my problems may be hawker related

Any thoughts

Rab Smith

If you are taking them at the same time you would normally exercise them, then at 500 yds they probably think its their normal exercise time. 500 yards is nothing to a fit yb, they should be ranging much further than that. You also dont want them coming out of a basket then not getting their usual feed. Try them with some conditioner/red band on their return, they'll soon get the message.

Rab, let them excercise before training then when they are taken in the basket they will just want to home for food. Once you have got them 20+ miles down the road you won't need to excercise them 1st.

Phil

Thanks for this guys

When youngsters range, 60 - 80 mile radious is nowt I wager. Most tend to go and see the sea, no yoke that. Once mine have finished rangings that's it, I let the roof hop, and pick out all day till hearts content. This short flapping with necks arced and soaring about keeps them in fine fettle. Then about 10 days to  a week before their first race. 20 to 30 miles, three different directions. Then a trip to the coast - 70 miles - for the kids day out on the Wed / Thursday and ready for the fist race, Any lost  and reported are given a second chance...

ive sometimes sent ybs training at the early learning stage from further than that & they still go ranging untill they learnt what they suppose to do when leavind the basket

If I had only four birds, I would commence training, in the evening, before their main meal.  First toss 1-2 mile, single up.  Preferbly near a tall landmark. Give 5 minutes between each bird. Do this for five days, and try to put them up into passing trainers going further up (South road racing). Then three more days, (same pattern) from 10 miles. Then into the local transport trainer with everybody elses, from any distance! You will be amazed.