do thay realy realy need it

lordcornwallis · August 6, 2007

hi do pigeons realy need to be road traind between races or made to exercise round the loft twice a day for an hour? i remember reading an article by john harwood about winning 1st 2nd 3rd in a 200mile plus race .he said that after his birds returned the previous saturday thay never seen outside of the loft except once for a bath till the race the next saturday and he went on to say that good pigeons kept themselves fit .what do you all think thanks lc

Roland · August 6, 2007

hi do pigeons realy need to be road traind between races or made to exercise round the loft twice a day for an hour? i remember reading an article by john harwood about winning 1st 2nd 3rd in a 200mile plus race .he said that after his birds returned the previous saturday thay never seen outside of the loft except once for a bath till the race the next saturday and he went on to say that good pigeons kept themselves fit .what do you all think thanks lc

It is caled racing via 'Feed' only. And yes it is a very sucessful system.

Rick Mardis did very well on that system apparently.... besides others of course.

lordcornwallis · August 6, 2007

please can you explain this system to me or give me a link yours lc

jimmy white · August 7, 2007

in my opinion yb,s are better for being rd trained and obs have to fly to be fit

August 7, 2007

John's articles made it pretty clear that he was bothered by sparrowhawk attacks, birds were safer kept in loft.

Don't believe in forcing the birds to fly round the loft - reckon they should want to do that themselves or there is maybe something wrong with them, not necessarily health, for example noticed the moult has an effect on their keeness to exercise.

And I dont want them just going round in endless circles just above the chimney pots - I want them high in the sky and disappearing from sight for a while.

Ronnie · August 7, 2007

Agree with you there Roland healthy pigeons want to fly.

Roland · August 7, 2007

Basically you just start Feeding after the race. A litle linseed and Barley, 3 or 4 peanuts top. Maples / Tic... or protien to mend torn, tired muscles. Mix Monday. Tuesday with a feed that gives thm any thing you feel they need or are lacking with oats, groats, etc with a little Canary Mix... Wednesday 50 / 50 mix with high Carbs. Thursday pure High Carbs... Friday mornng, high Carbs / Hemp etc. Depending on distance and forecast. Obviously as they would have had only a 'Wing Opener' the previous Saturday BEFORE a distance race yo start the Carbs a day or two or three early. Pigeons fly on Fat, then reserves, lastly on they burn the muscles and this is time for barley etc. as a good blood purifyer. Burned out Muscles, or protein over done gives birds toxin and blood poisoning.

Clear Blood, and air tubes and carbs to fly on! Yes that is the essence and basic of a fit healthy bird, which then adds all the other things it self to become conditioned. That is that basis. Hope it has given you food for thought.

lordcornwallis · August 7, 2007

thanks roland. also one more thing if a pigeon goes racing on saturday say 80ml, and is say just let out ad-lib 1hours + each day and fed twice a day normal with no road training and then sent 120ml the next weekend could it hold its own . lc

Roland · August 8, 2007

Yes, of course, I had the only birds on the day from Thurso last season doing just that. I found cleaning out was easier that way, but of course contained in their pboxes would probably be just as good.