I pair the same time each season,so my young birds are always reared in March.They tend to do ok as y.birds as they are darkened,but as yearlings some don't fly to expectations.This is not always the case but they tend to be more consistant as 2year olds,so if I think they are not in the right frame of mind I will give what I know to be a decent pigeon an easier time rather than push on and may be lose it.This is only my opinion.atb.