jimmy did you keep "stock pigeons" back then, what i remember from years gone by was that every bird in your loft flew out or raced for you. in my first loft i had an old bird section and a young bird section but no stock birds or prisoners. i never measured the feeding or calculated the protien content. birds were tossed wherever you could get them to ie.. north, south east and west. but i must admit i was never in the prizes back then but if i was waiting on some at nightfall i knew they would be there next morning now if they are not home within a couple of hours after your first you just dont see them again. i think birds bred from birds who have never flapped their wings in anger will never be any good, too many pedigrees going in the baskets week after week and when they dont come home we wonder why.
other factors which contribute to losses could be.........
1. mobile phone masts everywhere
2. peregrine numbers much higher than the rspb will admit and we all know the damage they can cause to a batch of youngsters.
3. libertaing birds in poor conditions................last weekend a fine example.!!!!!!
4. clashing with other organisations on a weekly basis
5. poor loft management................