Mike Lycett

Does it affect the birds? Of course it has a physical impact on the pigeons. Agree entirely. Makes them moult their body far quicker than they would do otherwise, but its for the better. We're racing youngsters in September that are like yearlings & only cast one flight. Compare that to these that are bald around the head and on their 6th/7th flight & the non-darkness brigade cannot compete. Which is fairer & which is crueler? I'd say non darkness was more cruel myself. Others may disagree. We're imposing less stress on our birds by asking them to perform their work when they're in supreme health and condition. You ask about losses? What about losses? We started the 2005 season in March with 42 youngsters and finished it with 39 - all raced the programme. In 2004 we started with 43 and ended with 40 - all raced the programme. Darkness isn't the reason for losses. People overcrowd and keep pigeons of debatable quality with less than pristine health. These are the major reasons for poor losses. Do'nt get me wrong, anybody can have bad luck, get a smash or a fly-away & that's bad luck. What is it though when some lofts never lose a pigeon year in year out & others lose 'em all every season. Tha'ts not bad luck - that's management. As for performances, well you're talking about the capabilities of every individual loft there, how good their birds are, how good the management is, how much effort they put in to getting YBs to race well etc etc. I know full well that in our town I can't remember the last time a non-darkness pigeon won a race - but hey, that's what makes life go round. Boing Boing Mike

Hi speckled We just find the birds find their form better when rearing two. Just our experience UP THE BAGGIES !!! Mike

Think Super sprinter was winner of 37 x 1st prizes if memory serves me right www.louella.co.uk might be of help ? Mike

Guarantee no problems racing OBs after racing them on the dark as youngsters. Our Houdini has just won the West Midlands Region Sprint Champuion Award for 2005 (0-250 miles) as a yearling against 5,200 members - he won on the road as a baby on the dark in 2004. Also, my mate Chrissy Little has won 2 x 1st SNFC at 440 miles and about 240 miles - both were on the dark. He also won 1st SNRPC at 560 miles only bird on the day this year & she was on the dark too as a baby People look for an excuse for poor form - but darkness isn't it. Regards Mike

Hi All.. Just an apology to those people who have sent me private messages - some going back a few months. I've only just realised how to pick the messages up, and so all who have mailed me should have had a reply (I hope!). If anyone mail's again, I'll pick them up a lot sooner now ! Regards to all for 2006 Boing Boing Mike Lycett

Speckled Whatever age the cocks are I'd be 100% certain that they must rear. Preferably two youngsters in a nest too if possible

All ours are stamped with just our number on - not our name. Speight - just as an observation point. We've never ever ever got an NEHU rung pigeon in that has carried a wing stamp. Is it an NEHU rule for birds competing in races to carry a stamp/address ring? Mike

Agree with sbelbin and Jimmy White - let the pigeons rear first before racing.

We'll take same as always - maximum of 40 will be rung for ourselves. Doesn't mean 40 will get weaned across at 23 days of age though

Hi.. In our experience most of our good Old Birds have showed promise as babies. Not always of course, but i'd say 85% of what scored well as babies go on to score well as old birds Boing Boing Mike

Our OBs are never darkened & we are in front of the lofts all the time (small garden). The birds relax - they just get used to you. There are much bigger issues to sort out than realxing

Our YBS are parted end of March / beginning of April - straight on to the darkness. 09:00-17:00. Taken off on June 21st - though our 1st Fed YB race is about 4-5 weeks after that. This way you get the YBS on no more than their 2nd flight when the big races come around beginning of September - jobs a good 'un Mike

We always pair all racers / stock last week in Jan first week in Feb. Plenty of time to race YBs on the darkness & be in good form all season long. Why have YBs on the garden in February when April does the job just as well ?