Preparation for 500miles+

[hotrod]

 

First Nantes SNFC winner

 

Capt. D Leslie of Gourock won the first race in 1932 with a velocity of 924 from a distance of 620 miles. He came close to pulling off the double when he won 2nd open SNFC Nantes in 1936 with ‘Le Ander’.

 

[face=Arial][face=Courier]Above taken from Joe Murphy article which was about the history of the great club.[/face][/face]

 

Cheers

Gareth

 

gareth i was talking about leslie davidson ,alec said he had won a national

 

 

[Novice]

Now novice! Don't tell me that most know about the above posts... Even the Scots lol. So was just joshing.

 

Roland---matter forgotten.

 

However I would put our pigeons on a par with our Olympic cyclists

 

 

[hotrod]

come on del+ gareth your just a few of the guys iv,e been talking about  in earlier post miles ahead of me in the 500 mile stakes

[Guest Gareth Rankin]

Although every years a different year thought I would have a go.

 

1. When do you pair these birds?

 

Usually National pigeons will be paired 1st weekend in March.

 

2. Do you allow them to rear youngsters, if so how many rounds?

 

Cocks to rear two rounds, first nest 1 or 2 in the nest, if have 2nd round there will be only 1 in the nest to rear. Hens perhaps they will rear in the first nest and occasionally will go on there first young bird to there selected channel race.

 

3. How many races prior to the big race, and what sort of distances are these races?

 

Varies greatly, experienced pigeons may only have 3 or 4 races up to 260-384, 2 year olds may have 5 to 6 races out to either 260 or 384.

 

4. What do you feed, and do you alter it, as the big race gets nearer?

 

Liege from versele laga and varioux mix from marimons. As the big races get closer extra maize is given along with peanuts etc.

 

5. What, nest condition for (a) hens, ( cocks?

 

Hens- due to chip or wee young bird. Cocks- varies greatly on observation.

 

6. What is your routine on the day of basketing?

 

Usually wake up with confidence but with a hint of nerves at the same time. For a short while will let pigeons out to enjoy the enviroment that surrounds them the rest of the day kept in loft for there safety and also to enjoy there environment of there home.

 

Cheers

Gareth

 

[hotrod]

liege mix is that the one with lots of different peas in it/marimans brill feeding i use this as well

[alec guinness]

gareth i was talking about leslie davidson ,alec said he had won a national

 

 

hotrod, maybe the use of the word "winning" was wrong,i know leslie davidson never won a national,maybe should have said scoring,afraid over the years i have used the word "winning" for all birds on a national result as i see this as the holy grail of racing!!!!!!!!!!! cheers AG.

 

[Guest Gareth Rankin]

liege mix is that the one with lots of different peas in it/marimans brill feeding i use this as well

 

Yes Hotrod goes under the continental name of luske ( spelling)

 

 

[Delboy]

I am a firm believer in studying the moult of my National candidates at this time of year.I wont go into it too much ,but  I think you can tell if a pigeon has a chance of scoring in Nationals the following year by the kind of moult it has had. I have been successful at picking one out of my own team, for several years now. 2008 was a ch.cock that ended up 16th Open Ypres. He had never been across channel before and had not even won a club prize before. He also won 2 x 2nd prizes in club last year. Food for thought  

[Roland]

[

However I would put our pigeons on a par with our Olympic cyclists

 

LOL  ;D ;D/ Still you can always rely on the Canny Scot for a laugh eh! ;D

 

 

[Novice]

[

However I would put our pigeons on a par with our Olympic cyclists

 

LOL  ;D ;D/ Still you can always rely on the Canny Scot for a laugh eh! ;D

 

 

It will be a sad day when we cannot laugh particularly at ourselves.

 

 

[pj1001]

This is what we do but like Rose says what works for one fancier and their birds may not for another.

 

Normally no birds are sent to distance races until they are at least 2 year old, raced to 300miles as yearlings. Birds only expected to fly one distance race from France in any one year.

 

 

1.     When do you pair these birds?

 

Normally mid Feb to early March but in some case early April depending on pigeon and its age and experience ( in these case pigeon raced celebrate early season).

 

2. Do you allow them to rear youngsters, if so how many rounds?

 

Generally each pair will rear one of two youngsters and be allowed to sit eggs for 10 days, then separated and flown celibate until re-mated for race in question. But in come cases birds have been sent and timed sitting their first eggs youngsters of the year.

 

3. How many races prior to the big race, and what sort of distances are these races?

 

Normally a minimum of 3-4 inland club races and possibly 2 Channel races to 300miles, normally 2-3 week rest with 2 training tosses to 50miles a week. Last week birds rested and let fly around home.

 

Have also jumped birds from 170 miles into 500miles and clocked them, so again depends a lot on type of pigeon and how easy they are to prepare and get race fit.

 

4. What do you feed, and do you alter it, as the big race gets nearer?

 

Light mix building up quantities of carbo, oils and protein gradually last 10-14 days prior to race marking with added safflower, sunflower and peanuts

 

A little lemon juice put on feed then yeast added 2-3 days of last week (but not day of basketing)

 

Honey or Fructose added to water last week for 2 days usually 5 days from race marking, 1 day cider vinegar and 1 day electrolyte, clean water day of basketing

 

5. What, nest condition for (a) hens, ( cocks?

 

Hens

Sitting eggs 14 days – chipping or small youngster (adding a few extra eggs so hen is sitting up to 4 eggs)

Also sitting first chipping eggs of year for 2-3 days without letting eggs come out

Haven’t really had much success with roundabout hens at distance (but that could just be due to type of pigeons we have)

 

Cocks

Sitting 6-10 days on eggs

Sitting 8-10 days on eggs then slipping 8-10 day youngster under cock morning of race marking for a few hours. Night before if race marking early next morning (make sure youngster has been fed in advance)

 

Have had some success with a few cocks given hen day and a half before being basketed, left in section on their own with tobacco stalks on floor. These cocks have been separated for a few weeks prior to race

 

6. What is your routine on the day of basketing?

Clean water as much food as birds want, as birds normally race marked early in morning before work. Bath given day prior to race marking.

[Guest IB]

 

sorry mate albert never won a national  or any where near it , it was 2 first feds the bird won i know he was my club mate cracking doo man though and his two brothers  the late billy and joe who comes in on a saturday to me to see the birds home as he doesn,t keep them any more what pigeon was it that you handled ? By the way joe had said to me a couple of times why,s that pied hen not away ,i,d just wink and say patience joe the time is coming soon.

 

Sorry, I've obviously picked it up wrong, I thought Sartilly was a National Race. I visited Jim Cameron, Uddingston in 2001, and one of the birds he handed me was a red chequer cock. He was a fairly big pigeon, but light as a feather. My last post actually rung a bell on that feeling of weightlessness because in 2007 my clubmates had been telling me that mine were like deadweights in the hand, so I was back out today 'handling for weight'.

 

There was also bit of a story about this cock during my visit, because Jim Cameron basically didn't know what the bird had done. Albert Oribine asked him later what he'd got off him and only then did Jim ask what the bird had done. Albert checked his records and seemed genuinely surprised that the cock had won twice from Sartilly. Jim hadn't taken anything from him before being told that.

[hotrod]

 

Sorry, I've obviously picked it up wrong, I thought Sartilly was a National Race. I visited Jim Cameron, Uddingston in 2001, and one of the birds he handed me was a red chequer cock. He was a fairly big pigeon, but light as a feather. My last post actually rung a bell on that feeling of weightlessness because in 2007 my clubmates had been telling me that mine were like deadweights in the hand, so I was back out today 'handling for weight'.

 

There was also bit of a story about this cock during my visit, because Jim Cameron basically didn't know what the bird had done. Albert Oribine asked him later what he'd got off him and only then did Jim ask what the bird had done. Albert checked his records and seemed genuinely surprised that the cock had won twice from Sartilly. Jim hadn't taken anything from him before being told that.

albert called him top gun cracking cock he flew most of his life on widowhood ,and yes he won 2 from france in club but were quite fast races 12 hrs in wing i think his breeding was j.charmicheal ecclefechan witha bit of tom .mcewan elphinstone the next snfc president ?

 

 

[me]

Mating ? depends on the main race for the the bird early in  or perhaps late in March.

 

Recipe for success? routine + routine - then change then - revert, motivates every time!! Best of of luck!! Hope you enjoy success from the distance in 2009!!