To Fly or Not to fly

[Ronnie]

Ok guys heres my dilemma.

Ive paid for 7 birds to fly in this weeks national and i only have 17 birds in my loft(apart from youngsters).

Now its been my intention all along to fly hens in the national and cocks in the club on a modified roundabout system due to losses and accidents i only have 5 racing hens left wich in itself is not a problem as i can put two cocks in as well.Now my dilemma is i have a cock that has been in the clock every club race so far upto 165 miles and never been out of the top ten in the club (97-135 birds) he has took secong fed as well but he wont trap and i am losing a good two-five min's each race with him.Now should i jump him to the national this week 320 miles to me and hope he can do the distance and trap better ,or keep him inland and use him to build my team bear in mind this is my first real season and i only have a team of twelve cocks all yearlings bar one and 5 hens all yearlings bar 1.I have pigeons lined up for the other 6 entries .Its just this last one spot do i put my best pigeon so far or another bird.

[Novice]

I assume the cock is a yearling. Personally I would look at his breeding and above all his condition. If he looks as though he is in form I would send him to the National. We all need to compete at National level with our best. He should manage the jump.

For me there is little thrill in taking club positions I say go for the bigger challenge provided he is in form.

[Merlin]

Hard one,and its one only you can answer,my slant on it would be keep him at home,get him over his trapping problems,and you have a good land bird,try one of his so far slower companions in the National,whatever you choose I hope it turns out well. Good Luck.

[Ronnie]

yeah he is a yearling so his breeding is untested as of yet.This week was a hard slog and it was his slowest yet form wise he looks and feels like he did before the first race.I agree with the competing at national level that is my goal .And if i had a bigger team made up of older birds as well i dont think i would hesitate to put him in on a side note his nest mate is in excellent condition and she will be going no matter what .

[peterpau]

Forget where you're gonna send. Trapping is the problem. If your bird is as good as you say 350 mile is no bother......... What you gonna do if he does well in the National and sits out for two hours. You have a top pigeon, don't spoil him leave him in the pen till you sort your trapping. We moved house last year and until recently didn't have time to fit my stall trap to my new loft. 3 inland races no birds clocked. Stall trap fitted on the sunday birds went with the BICC on the thursday and trapped fine after one week.  With 12 birds home at night from 50 in Rugby club I must have something right as my third from my three that I sent  dropped after eight  and the other two were in the clock.  

[Guest MBpigeonguy]

take him a mile out and let him go, do this five-10 times and he should be great, but dont feed him only let him get water, till you did it your last time.