Weighing race birds?

[Guest Hjaltland]

 

While I was in Ireland a year ago we visited a falconry centre and it was explained to us that monitoring weight was crucial in getting the hawks in the right state of mind - too light and the birds might not return on making a catch, too heavy and they would not be motivated enough to do anything.

 

I noticed from another thread Ian was talking about weighing pigeons. Is this normal practice in the fancy? how many of you go to the length of weighing?  I would think it makes sense to follow the condtion of your birds - and increasing or decreasing weight would be a very relevant factor.

 

[Guest IB]

Kenny, I picked up the idea after the those who fly birds of prey stated if the birds were too heavy, they don't fly. Mine seem to pick up an awful lot of injuries, so I wondered if they were too heavy. They are supposed to be between 300 and 600 grammes, 600 'feels' heavy..

[Guest Hjaltland]

A friend of mine flies his birds heavy... when you are basketing for a distance race they are certainly 'way more muscled than mine. He gets the returns as well, winning more than his share of over the water races!

 

When I think of distance birds I have handled though, they were smaller and much lighter than his.

[Merlin]

Wouls imagne hawks an dracing pigeon would have two different requirements,hawks being short sharp energy bursts,racing pigeons have to feed for, endurance and speed.

[Guest shadow]

have read about fanciers weighing pigeons but never met one that practised it

[jimmy white]

i knew a great fancier and his wife, this couple sadly deceased now, but could fairly win at 500 mile plus,,    the mrs, weighed each pigeon b4 and after the 500 mile plus  race   if the bird scored , it would be sent again the same weight , this was mr and mrs white [no relation but very good freinds of my late father and myself]      of  " the trellis" and  " the sprat " etc. etc. fame.  

[jimmy white]

While I was in Ireland a year ago we visited a falconry centre and it was explained to us that monitoring weight was crucial in getting the hawks in the right state of mind - too light and the birds might not return on making a catch, too heavy and they would not be motivated enough to do anything.

 

I noticed from another thread Ian was talking about weighing pigeons. Is this normal practice in the fancy? how many of you go to the length of weighing?  I would think it makes sense to follow the condtion of your birds - and increasing or decreasing weight would be a very relevant factor.

 

very good thinking hjaitland   i dont think this is normal practise to the fancy,but would agree with you, it does make sence i think we put too much into" remembering" how they handled etc when theve won, and guessing the weight [by mind]..........a very interesting post

[Guest Hjaltland]

I think we put too much into" remembering" how they handled etc when theve won, and guessing the weight [by mind].

 

I guess I'll just have to pinch alane o' the missus' baking scales!!    I can see trouble ahead...