Darkness Youngsters Not Completing the Moult

[budgie]

Woud you put your darkness youngsters aside for one year that have not completed the moult.We have a mixture with 2,3,4 flights to go and who competed in the Young Bird National.Some are saying like greyhouds and horses the must shed their coat in the First year to be any good as yearlings.We certainly had 6 some 7 years ago all timed out of the Young Bird National and as yearlings when sent to the Inland National we thought that all we had to do was send them and to this day we have never seen a pigeon.

[CREBAG]

they should continue to moult budgie, my darkies also have 2 and 3 to go, they will finish in december.

[budgie]

they should continue to moult budgie, my darkies also have 2 and 3 to go, they will finish in december.

I think they me be strugling to complete and my question is if they dont would you set them aside and not race them next year.

 

 

[Delboy]

they should continue to moult budgie, my darkies also have 2 and 3 to go, they will finish in december.

 

correct, seen them cast last flight in  January/ february

[frank-123]

top flyer from blantyre told me it would do them no harm to race with old flights

my darkies have one or two flights left to go i was very worried a few weeks back when i thought they were going to slow added buttermilk in there water there flight's dropped very quickly

[kirky]

have you had them shut since racing finished, if so thay will moult out by december i still have the odd one with 3 to go

[Guest]

yes i will stop them early if they dont complete the moult but this is the first time ive seen it so bad at this time of year

[The Navigator]

I would not worry about it. I am sure they will cast. Plenty of baths.

[Guest]

i locked them up sept. thinking that would help no stress etc not so sure i now bieng letting the hens out every day and that seems to be helping them more

[Delboy]

top flyer from blantyre told me it would do them no harm to race with old flights

my darkies have one or two flights left to go i was very worried a few weeks back when i thought they were going to slow added buttermilk in there water there flight's dropped very quickly

 

Disagree Frank, when they carry nest flights sometimes they throw the first and last flight at same time. I would maybe only race them the first couple of races then stop them for year

[Taylorsloft]

top flyer from blantyre told me it would do them no harm to race with old flights

my darkies have one or two flights left to go i was very worried a few weeks back when i thought they were going to slow added buttermilk in there water there flight's dropped very quickly

buttermilk will do the trick   ;)

 

[Guest anto]

you must keep birds in if you were soar you wont go out

give baths in loft if you have 2 oil on food 1 or 2 days a

week butter milk in water they be done by xmas

[jimmy white]

Woud you put your darkness youngsters aside for one year that have not completed the moult.We have a mixture with 2,3,4 flights to go and who competed in the Young Bird National.Some are saying like greyhouds and horses the must shed their coat in the First year to be any good as yearlings.We certainly had 6 some 7 years ago all timed out of the Young Bird National and as yearlings when sent to the Inland National we thought that all we had to do was send them and to this day we have never seen a pigeon.

 

many are like this just now , buttermilk, baths  will help speed up the moult of the last few flights with lights on for an hour or so, but racing them whilst yearlings , when holding on to their last nest flight , i have found to my great disadvantage,,, not good , an exceptional yearling cock holding his last flight threw this last flight , same time as his second flight [back late , carrying 8 flights on each wing ] really unfair on this bird , in my experience it is better to have them fully moulted , if not very lightly raced till the end of may.

[THE FIFER]

it could be the weather, I have blackbirds building a nest in my garden already, been watching them for the last couple of days,

[Wiley]

 

Disagree Frank, when they carry nest flights sometimes they throw the first and last flight at same time. I would maybe only race them the first couple of races then stop them for year

 

sorry have to disagree had a few carry old flights, and as yearlings came out as good birds, even a yearling who went to stonehaven and scored in the top 20 of the lnrc, its a load of gobaldegook that if they dnt complete moult out the wing they wont turn out to be good racers. One hen in question took 12 cards in one season and she was carrying two flights from as a darkness youngster.

 

[Guest Freebird]

it could be the weather, I have blackbirds building a nest in my garden already, been watching them for the last couple of days,

 

That blacky's in for a shock tonight. Bitter ootside(wiseman)

[jimmy white]

 

sorry have to disagree had a few carry old flights, and as yearlings came out as good birds, even a yearling who went to stonehaven and scored in the top 20 of the lnrc, its a load of gobaldegook that if they dnt complete moult out the wing they wont turn out to be good racers. One hen in question took 12 cards in one season and she was carrying two flights from as a darkness youngster.

 

ryan , i dont dispute what you say , but not all birds will hold these flights, this pigeon  im talking about had won exceptionaly well up to 300 miles , was well pooled for the 350 miles , came home late throwing its second and last flight in each wing at the same time ,,, in the basket [3 days] homed  with 8 flights on either side , the bird that did come held its last flight but moulted its second flight , so its worth the watching , beleive me , [and my pocket ;D]

 

[Guest]

i agree if they dont go through the moult properly then lightly raced as yearlings only a yearling for a year old bird for the rest of there life

[steve d]

They wont suddenly stop because xmas has come, birds will still moult out in January. My darkies are either moulted or are on there master flight, If you put Cayeene Pepper into the search option and read about it I believe that is the reason for mine moulting so well. ;)

[Delboy]

 

sorry have to disagree had a few carry old flights, and as yearlings came out as good birds, even a yearling who went to stonehaven and scored in the top 20 of the lnrc, its a load of gobaldegook that if they dnt complete moult out the wing they wont turn out to be good racers. One hen in question took 12 cards in one season and she was carrying two flights from as a darkness youngster.

 

Very interesting Wiley, everyday is a school day.

Cheers

Derek Hay

[blaz]

buttermilk and xtra light 1or2 hours

[WulDon]

Had a look over darkies today, most have one to drop and some have cast there end flights.

 

Altho i have a cock that was out for about 4 wks, he still holding 4 flights... he will not race far next year.

 

If its any use to fanciers i have been using on the feed natravit 3 times week, aqeous twice week, brewers yeast with garlic oil & vit.e once per week all on feed.

 

in water once per week... mouting brew, moulting tonic & calci plus, cider vinegar

 

just now they look like oil paintings and slip thro yer fingers!

[Guest IB]

Don't do darkness but I am interested in the comments on the moult continuing into January.

 

Most of my natural YBs are on their last flight., with only late breds back about No7 and I expect them to stop moulting soon - I'd always thought theres some inner clock that says 'thats enough'.

 

The darkness yearling moult Jimmy White describes is no different from my yearling late bred moult, with 1 nest flight and 1 new flight dropped together in each wing, big gaps which stops mine going as trainers to YB races early August.

 

[Tony C]

This is all presumption on my part. Lets say a flight grows ¼ inch a day and the flight is 8’’ long this means it’ll take 32 days to fully grow. When this flight is 2/3rds of the way up it’ll throw its next, approx 22 days after the previous flight started to show through.  A pigeon that’s now say half way up on its 8th (2 to go) should throw its 9th flight within a week and its last flight 22 days after that........ I think :-/

[budgie]

The reason i raised the topic was we have a few experts in our club who put them by .Then the following year  go down like Snaw aff the Dyke. In our own loft we keep them going and they have scored as yearlings/2/3 and 4 year olds( with the sh-te going down 98%) and some of them never finished the moult as young birds and raced the full old bird programme to the coast.Very good and intereresting topics and i may just have a go if it is worthwhile and try the Buttermilk but not to keen on the extra hours of light.Thanks for your responses and let us all know how many pigeons that  after  been put of the road for a full year are left.

Good Luck to 2009

And remember the 98% rule and dont be conned into buying aged stock birds and other peoples SH-TE   ;) if so you would be as well racing Chinese Owls or Saxan Pouters at least you would know where they came from. ;)