Roundabout

[Back garden fancier]

I'm thinking of trying roundabout next year, I only have a small set up and can't afford to waste hens. I understand the principal and I can see that like widowhood putting the sexes before a race can provide motivation but......

 

Why do you have to let the hens run through to the cocks compartment whilst they are out flying? And then let the cocks into the hens compartment to be fed?

 

Why can't you just let them in and out of their own section and feed them there as well? Like young bird sliding door system.

[Bluedoo]

I've never tried roundabout, but I would imagine its to do with the bond to their nestboxes.

[thunderboult]

i fly the roundabout, i have 3 sections were the cocks are kept with a corridor along the front leading to an avairy on the end were i keep the hens, when the cocks go out the sputniks are closed and the hens are let into the sections they are then locked in their section while the cocks fly, when the cocks come in they trap into the corridor and are ushered into the aviary, the hens then go out and the cocks are allowed back into their section, when the hens have had their fly they trap into the corridor and are moved back into the avairy.  on race days they all trap to their boxes and are allowed together for a while(no set time period)hens are fed in the avairy, cocks in their boxes, last year(my first full season with old birds) on this system my birds scored in the cards in every old bird race ,winning inland av.(upto 240mls)and r-up channel+combined av.(upto 422mls)

[thunderboult]

all the racers would have reared young in the racing shed , i suppose it's a bit like total w/hood exept you could be sending both of the pair to the race  

[Roland]

Why can't you just let them in and out of their own section and feed them there as well? Like young bird sliding door system.

Because they will be flying to the nest box ... I like the above trap all mine through the same Trap, also a corridor.

But they have always done that.

The sections most 'Round - about uses means that during their nest rearing period they would both be using the same Trap.

Now when the cock birds return from their outing they will trap back to where the hens are... and then the hns do the sam, otherwise you would have to break them into a new trap! That is nigh impossible in the same season that the have mated and reared  oung in, if it at all that season.

[BIGK]

I think its a good idea to start as early as possible on this system ie as youngbirds the earlier they learn the principle the better could help with the early races next year if theyve been doing it as youngsters.

Just a thought