how many pigeons do you need to race?

[chrisbonnie]

how`s it going lads

 

here`s the deal, my dad has gotten back into the pigeons recently, at the minute, he only has 12 ybs`, accumalated from friends in the pigeon game, now, he definetly does want to race come next year, as i think its safe to say, that this year is too early

 

as he only has 12 ybs`now, will he need to get more ybs this summer, hoping they`ll breed there own ybs come the new year, or would he better buying new ybs next year?

 

about how many birds would you need for your average season, accounting for losses and all

 

any help would be great lads

[Guest]

was going answer (how many do you need to race) just the one . but taking all in-to account depending on space ,i would look to get another 12 ybs and go from there. all the best .      andy.

[No 1]

Chris,

 

This answer will get a few moans & groans, if he wants to be very succesfull, I would recommend 120 ybs, only 10 % of these will be any good (thats being generous) 12 good pigeons, half the 12, 6 cocks, 6 hens, not many good pigeons to start back with is it !!!!

[chrisbonnie]

was going answer (how many do you need to race) just the one . but taking all in-to account depending on space ,i would look to get another 12 ybs and go from there. all the best .      andy.

 

12 ybs now, or in the new year, he`s getting a bigger loft this week, a 10x8, plus he has a 6x4 that i think will eventuall be a stock loft

[chrisbonnie]

No1

 

theres no chance of 120 birds in our back garden, its bloody tiny enough as it is unfortunetly

 

regarding the competitive part, its more of a hobby, with a little adrenaline as well  

[blaz]

if i had 12 yb,s now then i would race them all. as i cant see the point of breeding from birds that have not proved them selves racing.unless the birds are really well bred .only my opinion

[No 1]

Hi Chris,

 

Wish you and your Dad some luck.

 

Be Lucky.

[hotboy]

last year a started wae 60 ybs and finished wae 27 so a got 80ybs this year hope to end wae at least 40 after all yb races in lanarkshire fed

[chrisbonnie]

if i had 12 yb,s now then i would race them all. as i cant see the point of breeding from birds that have not proved them selves racing.unless the birds are really well bred .only my opinion

 

would you not be afraid of losing them? seeing as there's only 12 pigeons all together

 

[wilsric]

I'll be in a similar situation soon.   No birds yet, although some people at the local club have kindly offered to help out in that regard.  I'm converting a 6x4 shed at the mo, so I'll have 12 birds max at first.  I've never had anything to do with pigeons before, so I'm starting off small to 'dip my toe in' and so as not to scare the wife with an enormous lift in the back garden (that's for next year!).

 

Interested to hear if others think such a small team can be sustained.

[rasbull]

I was same situation last september. I decided to purchase 24 birds as young birds, the best I could afford. I have these in the stock shed and has bred 64 young birds this year ready to fly young birds this season.  I have 28 in training and the other 36 will be sent to the come back races, this should then guarantee I will have plenty to chose from come the end of the season. The one thing I dont want to do is be short of birds come the Old Birds next year and have to scrap through with 4-5 birds!! I think this way anything that races well you have the parents already and then you can start to develop a family straight from the off. I have also entered into the Europa Classic with youngsters I perceive to be my 'best', this way the results can be annalysed without any biase. Good luck whatever he choses to do though.

[kipper]

why not train them . send a couple to a race , if they return send a couple more the next race,

[Guest spin cycle]

i'm desperatly trying to cut down...the trouble with having a lot is 1/ a lot of work...so you spend more time cleaning/tending and so less training/preparing and 2/ even if you send a lot do you sometimes leave the winner behind because you just fill out the sheet rather than observe the birds individually.JMO but i wouldn't  race the 12 or get any more ( its a bit late)...train them and wait 'til may next year. by that time you'll have more ybs...more experience and finally.... enjoy starting up

[just ask me]

i breed an average from 35 to 45 i lost 5 maybe 6 last year they all had at least 14 races most flew youngbird program of 16 17 races

[kipper]

why not train them . send a couple to a race , if they return send a couple more the next race,

[chrisbonnie]

thanks for the replies lads, ill think we`ll just build the new loft as planned, transfer the 12 into it, then breed off of them, or possible even buy some stock only birds, sure ill play it by ear for the minute

 

as a matter of interest, in a 10x6 loft ,what kinda numbers would be ok?

[wilsric]

From what I gather (others will know better) if it's well ventilated it'll hold about 30 birds

[blaz]

 

would you not be afraid of losing them? seeing as there's only 12 pigeons all together

 

i am always afraid of loosing any of my birds  training or racing. but if you have 12 now and dont race them .next year you take 2 rounds that gives you 24yb,s next year. if the 12 you have now are no good then you have fed them bred them and a good chance you will lose most of what you breed. on the other hand if you train them properly and race all 12 and say 1 wins a race or even wins a prize card in your club you could stop him or her till next year knowing that it is not a bad pigeon . plus all 12 would have experience . just because a yb does not win any cards as a yb does not mean that it will not win as a yearling.as i have proved this time and again not just me most of the members will tell you the same .

[wilkins]

i think what ever you start with yb wise look to end up with a quarter at the end of raceing

but with a lower number you loses should not be so high i would train them in singles from the first training toss twice then 3rd time in 3 or 4's , them move on to the next toss and start again with singleup toss, this is where you have a advantage over big team fliers,

[Craig05]

if i had 12 yb,s now then i would race them all. as i cant see the point of breeding from birds that have not proved them selves racing.unless the birds are really well bred .only my opinion

 

couldnt agree more

 

 

[Craig05]

I am in a very simelar situation myself.  my first year of racing and have 24 YBS.  i have trained them up to 50 miles now and the first YB race is from 68 miles.  plan to send them to the first 3 races up to 100miles and then the last one back to 68 miles for the latebreds.  whatever i have left at the end of the season i will breed from, if i lose them all then they probably wern't worth breeding off anyway and will have to start again.  the basket has to sort them out in my opinion

[Guest youngzimmy]

I THINK AN AVERAGE OF SIXTY IS JUST ABOUT RIGHT WHAT WITH TRAINING  LOSES AND THE LIKE THAT IS WHAT I AIM FOR

[blaz]

I THINK AN AVERAGE OF SIXTY IS JUST ABOUT RIGHT WHAT WITH TRAINING  LOSES AND THE LIKE THAT IS WHAT I AIM FOR

 

i will be lucky to have half that and i will expect to have 15 to 20 for the last race.

[chrisbonnie]

 

i will be lucky to have half that and i will expect to have 15 to 20 for the last race.

 

so you race with 30 ybs?

 

how many in your stock loft?

 

im just trying to gauge how many stock birds ar eneeded, and how many ybs they`ll produce, space is an issue out my back garden, so i just want to know some loft sizes, amount of birds etc...