Racing hens

[REDCHEQHEN]

Advice required on the following

 

In the past we have always been seriously short of hens and they have never been raced much - one or two races each year - except as young birds

 

one 3 year old has had about 6 races all told, 3 as a youngster, 1 as a yearling - 2 as a 2 year old - and been 1st or 2nd bird back each time with club and fed cards - but has never raced further than 130 miles

 

another 3 year old raced the full progamme as a youngster - was injured as a yearling and never been raced since

 

also have a few 2 year olds that had 3 races as yearlings - to 130 miles  

 

and a few more that didn't race at all

 

none of the hens have been to an old bird national race.

 

For the first time we have a glut of hens this year - 10 spare ones

 

We intend giving roundabout a go - but wondered about racing the older hens, my gut feeling is just to race those with the recent experience - ie the 2007 bred hens

 

What do YOU think?

 

The hens have always been trained each year - just odd ones raced

[rembrant2coo]

Advice required on the following

 

In the past we have always been seriously short of hens and they have never been raced much - one or two races each year - except as young birds

 

one 3 year old has had about 6 races all told, 3 as a youngster, 1 as a yearling - 2 as a 2 year old - and been 1st or 2nd bird back each time with club and fed cards - but has never raced further than 130 miles

 

another 3 year old raced the full progamme as a youngster - was injured as a yearling and never been raced since

 

also have a few 2 year olds that had 3 races as yearlings - to 130 miles  

 

and a few more that didn't race at all

 

none of the hens have been to an old bird national race.

 

For the first time we have a glut of hens this year - 10 spare ones

 

We intend giving roundabout a go - but wondered about racing the older hens, my gut feeling is just to race those with the recent experience - ie the 2007 bred hens

 

What do YOU think?

 

The hens have always been trained each year - just odd ones raced

 

my honest opinion susan is what a waste of good hens as for your threey.o get them to the coast and then into the channel and allthe yearlings as well you can,t keep everything and you would be surprised what they can domy best birds for the channel are hens but again i fly natural

[REDCHEQHEN]

I should have also said - we will also be racing 6 hens natural and 8 cocks (with 2 settled but non racing hens also in that section)

 

and yes I agree - about them being wasted, not racing them

 

but theres lots of potential in the yearling hens

[rembrant2coo]

I should have also said - we will also be racing 6 hens natural and 8 cocks (with 2 settled but non racing hens also in that section)

 

and yes I agree - about them being wasted, not racing them

 

but theres lots of potential in the yearling hens

 

your confusing me here in that sec you 6hens who are paired to the 8 cocks and also 2 hens inthe sect but not rac paired again to ,2racing cocks .       the three.o. hens would be my first priorty  they might take some stopping when it comes to racing them at the channel  ,i would do the same with the yearlings but i don,t no the mileage but it should not make a differance

[REDCHEQHEN]

I'll start again - we have 2 old bird sections - one with 16  boxes - where we're racing roundabout

 

the other section with 8 boxes where we're racing natural  

 

channel races are 317 miles, 391 miles, 545 miles, 450 miles and back to 317 miles

 

would you race the 3 year olds?

 

You answer implies that their lack of experience wouldn't matter - is that correct?

[rembrant2coo]

I'll start again - we have 2 old bird sections - one with 16  boxes - where we're racing roundabout

 

the other section with 8 boxes where we're racing natural  

 

channel races are 317 miles, 391 miles, 545 miles, 450 miles and back to 317 miles

 

would you race the 3 year olds?

 

You answer implies that their lack of experience wouldn't matter - is that correct?

 

can you tell me how else will they get the experience if your not going to send them  i,m going to p.m. you

[jimbobboy]

Jimbobboy says'  That is a waste of good flying hens!!!  As a 3-yr. old should be in the 400-500 mile races!!  Just my opion  Thats the way we fly em.

[Guest shadow]

I'll start again - we have 2 old bird sections - one with 16  boxes - where we're racing roundabout

 

the other section with 8 boxes where we're racing natural  

 

channel races are 317 miles, 391 miles, 545 miles, 450 miles and back to 317 miles

 

would you race the 3 year olds?

 

You answer implies that their lack of experience wouldn't matter - is that correct?

 

yes I would race the 3 yo give them 2 inland races up to 200 mls then put them over the pond

 

 

[Guest]

one 3 year old has had about 6 races all told, 3 as a youngster, 1 as a yearling - 2 as a 2 year old - and been 1st or 2nd bird back each time with club and fed cards - but has never raced further than 130 miles

 

another 3 year old raced the full progamme as a youngster - was injured as a yearling and never been raced since

 

also have a few 2 year olds that had 3 races as yearlings - to 130 miles  

 

and a few more that didn't race at all

 

none of the hens have been to an old bird national race.

 

The first one is obviously a good hen so no probs there, the injured one i would not bother if you already stopped, the others should still race, apart from the ones that have never raced (keep as subs for cocks!), they would just fall away.

 

Main thing is that they are fit, race fit, plenty of training and loft exercise and plenty of motivation!! Also best not to pair roundabout hens if poss, first nest when they over water or last race (500+).

 

Had 4 yr hen never raced for 2 yrs then 2 races, 95 miles then tuesday following went to bergerac (483 mls), won the race easy only 2 in race time in club (not many in fed either)!!! First nest of season.

 

 

[carlsberg]

racing hens for water races is probably the best thing cos you can moyivate a hen better than a cock as in barry mc'nicholas way with hens

[W.D.]

Hi Redcheqhen,quite a lot of people who have done the same as you are thinking of doing will have had to face the same problem no doubt?Suppose 1st of all it depends on how much time you will be able to give to the hens during the racing season?Are you still going to have a team of w/hood cocks or going r/bout with all?Plus there is the naturals and the y/bs too?

What I'm getting at is do you have the time to do all the exercise periods each needs in a day ?

But back to your qu.re-the older hens, some will adapt quicker than the others who may struggle, esp when the distance increases.If you have bred from them and have birds in the loft from them who might win this year,can you afford to lose the chance of a good breeding hen for the sake of a few races?If it was me I'd keep a close eye on them during the training and early races,and also if her cock is winning could you risk losing what he races home to?

Re- the yearlings,can't see any probs there as you said yourself.

Hope you get a lot of fun with them anyhow,if you get them right they will fly for hours at home and give w/hood cocks a run for their money short or long dist.