Mating & Sitting of widowhood cocks

[Guest]

Last year I mated mid Feb and it was a little late for me to get my cocks going. It wasn't a real bother because they were aimed at the longer distance races. This yaer I'd like to have a go at 200 mile + as well as 400+. I have thought this year to mate the widowhood team  the same as last year or even two weeks later and only let them have one round of eggs and remove the eggs at 10 days. Has anyone done this?

I'm hesitating because I've been led to believe a bird does not come in to form until it casts its first flight and that normally occurs after the second round is laid? Any comments would be most welcome.

[Guest asha]

Hi Alan,

            From where i`m standing,if you are only flying widow cocks 2009,you could well be leaving potentual Pau section/nat winner in loft,looking at the class of some of your hens,i bet my bottom dollar they would walk over widow cocks,especially at the long end.

    You could take eggs away at 7 days,repair at right time to take your 1st3/ 4 races natural like,

1) Cocks looking for 1st egg

2) Cocks sitting 5/7 days

3) Cocks/hens sitting12/14 days

4)Perhaps pipping :-/

Then seperate again you will be into preperation for Pau-Tarbes or whatever,cocks will tighten up,hens will be fit and fresh,no problem with pairingtogether.

which leaves "-3 weeks widowed,and your decision weather to repair or continue double widow for the big races,or bergerac,saintes ect 2 weeks later,your birds should be still on the ball.

                Whatever who i am to tell a past National winner how to race, :Bbut just be careful,don`t throw those hens away

[Guest]

Well Asha your post is quite ironic. This time last year, I entered the yearling noms on Pigeon chat you can nominate 5. I nominated 5 hens, with the intention of flying widowhood hens only. In January I changed my mind and decided to fly widowhood cocks, Henry's words to me were what a waste of hens, there's some great hens there and he was right, but so was I. I wanted to fly Tarbes NFC and I identified 16 & 17 as class cocks above anything else that would do the distane, so I suppose I sacrificied racing some good hens for one race. Luckily it worked and 17 turned out to be a bit special (I think).

Natural is not an option for me, I have a lovely team of yearling cocks that look as good as my hens (last year not the case), so if I don't fly widowhood I will fly roundabout. Which I did in 2007 and my hens did whoop my cocks!

As to 1st section well let me be honest here Henry is a top racer and I have learnt a lot from him, I hit my targets this year which was Tarbes and Marmandes, next year it will be higher. I'm good at selection, there is no one other than Carney that will select better.

Coming back to mating whether cocks or roundabout. If they only sit 10 days on the first round will they come in to form by the 1st National race. can anyone answer or have experience of this please?

[Guest asha]

Do you relise how early some of the 1st nat races are this year?too early!,,and you could well hurt them if they hit cold n/easterlies early on

[Tony C]

A couple of snippets on dry widowhood

http://www.siegelpigeons.com/news/news-Aelbrecht.html

http://www.siegelpigeons.com/news/news-nationalwinners-part2.html

[Guest]

No haven't seen the program, however my distance birds will go with the club as last year in the club channel races, though I understand we may not have a proper channel program next year. It gets them fit and supports the club

[Guest]

A couple of snippets on dry widowhood

http://www.siegelpigeons.com/news/news-Aelbrecht.html

http://www.siegelpigeons.com/news/news-nationalwinners-part2.html

 

Thanks Tony

[wilkins]

i think it best to pair in late jan , then split afeter 10-12 days then pair for training and split again ,

[Guest]

i think it best to pair in late jan , then split afeter 10-12 days then pair for training and split again ,

 

And what is the advantage of that please?