Opinions on training?

pigeonpete · August 5, 2009

Want some opinions on yb training please. Last night was a very stong south wind here, And after my o.b's disaster when i got a lot of them back wired! (my own stupid fault) I thought it takes me 15 mins to basket them 30 mins to drive the 18 miles where i take them, and 30 mins back. So last night me in my wisdom, thought there either gonna do it in less than 20 mins (pointless exercise) or im goin to get them in the wires again :-(. so i took them 8 miles north, Thinking head wind, equivalent to 16 mile toss??. Well they did it o.k, all come together, but took them 25 mins. and came back out of the south? Now i know this is o.k for o.bs, But has it done my y.bs any good? have never taken them north before, Was told a while ago if you want to win sprint races you must train on line of flight? And why did it take them 25 mins? and they come back out of the south? Any views good or bad appreciated. :-)

BLACK W F · August 5, 2009

pete as i do not drive i depend on family and friends my birds are trained south but once they have had 3-4 tosses i lke to get them north east and west 10 mls a couple of times then straight down the line of flight makes them think then once they really going will train in any weather as long as not pishing down lose a few but the ones left know what its all a bout only 2 types ones that score ones that breed the rest lust eat an crap

Tony C · August 5, 2009

For sprint racing I train them on the line of flight from the same spot, they become familiar with it and leave the basket and strike for home without even half a circle. I train only on fair days as I want to instill confidence into them. If the youngsters were going to be trained with distance racing in mind they'd be trained from all around the compass.

Roland · August 5, 2009

For sprint racing I train them on the line of flight from the same spot, they become familiar with it and leave the basket and strike for home without even half a circle. I train only on fair days as I want to instill confidence into them. If the youngsters were going to be trained with distance racing in mind they'd be trained from all around the compass.

Good comments there.

Our convoyer says that as we sent to Farham every week, whilst othe feds circled etc. our birds just cleared.

Think this is 'Habit' forming really. Obviously doesn't do any harm.

For me training is more a 'Fitness / conditioning of birds and like to send them the opposite direction last chuck before the next race. Feel this may awaken / sharpen the homing a mite.

Probably just another fanciers fettish, but we all have them.

Simple fact is, only healthy birds win.

Ronnie · August 5, 2009

it wont hurt them mate the probably came from the south because of swinmging around in the wind.

On another note in my wisdom i left mine round the loft yesterday they've had 3 races and are fit enough so why take chance's?

stevebelbin · August 5, 2009

Age old question, I dont think it makes a difference, as long as they are in tip top condition, they will home from anywhere! Much prefer letting them up in twos so they have to think rather than follow ;-)!

pigeonpete · August 5, 2009

Just thought it would help with there fitness flying into head wind, as the strong tail wind last night would not have benifited them for fitness. but im a bit concerned it will effect them for sprint racing?

and another quick 1 would you train old hens with ybs?

August 5, 2009

Folk do train for different reasons. I think it is good to give YBs experience of coming home in different wind conditions, and when they are more experienced, in different weather conditions & from different directions. Depends on transport too.

Agree pretty pointless training in a tail wind if they've had that before, though I'm always mindful that in fast races in a tail wind they could go over, so knowing northern parts would at least help them work back.