I'll give my tuppence worth but by no means am I the most qualified on here if qualified at all First of all I don't think your pigeons are racing they are homing. This can be helped with motivation and routine... As your pigeons are in the habit of not competing you need to brainwash them next year and treat them a bit like young birds. When training put the measured amount for all pigeons that are away training in the trough waiting for them on return....they should all be home together or within a few minutes of each other from a training van (if training on your own they should arrive together every time... Do not feed any pigeon that arrives late they need to burst their a.rse to get home they soon learn to fly the quickest possible route... Feeding I would not give them any protein after Sunday night Monday evening if it's been a hard race..... Do not let them out on a Sunday let them rest (all races) On return from Saturday's race give them something easy digestible then Saturday night fill the trough with beans and leave in until Sunday night or Monday if a tough race... One ounce of Gerry plus Mon to Wednesday Can break it into 2 feeds if you like If you did I'd give 2/3rds pm Thursday morning 1/3rd Gerry Thursday night feed them add lib of a high energy mix Friday morning again feed add lib...when I say morning I'm at the lofts for the sun coming up....they shouldn't eat too much....and leave alone until basketting Edited to add: Common sense must be used if it's a tough race give em more proteing If it's a blaw hame for 80 miles Saturday night would be more than enough Also if you don't get rid off the damp floor your farting against thunder