What to do now ?

September 2, 2009

As some of you already know I had a nightmare training toss a few weeks ago loseing 20 birds in one hit, sorry 19 birds as I had one reported, went to fetch it only to find it had been hawked straight through its crop, at least it gave me a reason for the big loss, anway all was going ok with the 23 ybs I have left until Monday evening I took them 20mls as they had been beating me back from 10mls, let them go at 6.40pm thinking they had 1 1/2 hrs of light to get back, guess what ? only two birds back on the night,one at nearly 9 o clock in the pitch black,(felt like packing in there and then to be honest)

yesterday seen the return of 13 birds arriving from 6am up to 8pm last night, so im still 8 missing

question now is as I only hve 15 ybs left do I go again tonight to try and have em ready for first race at w/end or keep em in and at least have a few left for next year.

I am beging to understand why people are not comming in to the sport as in two seasons the only thing I have achieved is to spend thousands on loft and equipment, and spend most of my spare time scrapping sh*t and stressing about birds been missing . :'(

pjc · September 2, 2009

keeping training, i wouldn't worry about the race but educate them or you'll lose them next year!

try training in the morning etc or at a different time.

PIGEON_MAN · September 2, 2009

As some of you already know I had a nightmare training toss a few weeks ago loseing 20 birds in one hit, sorry 19 birds as I had one reported, went to fetch it only to find it had been hawked straight through its crop, at least it gave me a reason for the big loss, anway all was going ok with the 23 ybs I have left until Monday evening I took them 20mls as they had been beating me back from 10mls, let them go at 6.40pm thinking they had 1 1/2 hrs of light to get back, guess what ? only two birds back on the night,one at nearly 9 o clock in the pitch black,(felt like packing in there and then to be honest)
yesterday seen the return of 13 birds arriving from 6am up to 8pm last night, so im still 8 missing
question now is as I only hve 15 ybs left do I go again tonight to try and have em ready for first race at w/end or keep em in and at least have a few left for next year.

I am beging to understand why people are not comming in to the sport as in two seasons the only thing I have achieved is to spend thousands on loft and equipment, and spend most of my spare time scrapping sh*t and stressing about birds been missing . :'(

I certainly wouldnt go again tonight they need a day or two to get over their ordeal.Surely there cannot be many races left now how far is the one this weekend,if you are trying to get a team around you I would forget the racing this year and just keep them training on good days.

September 2, 2009

i know how it is...infact i took 8 strays today 30 mls away from my home...on return 5 were waiting for me...now if i did this with my own birds id lose some...makes you wonder why strays come back that far after only been here 3-4 days at most in a shed they cant see out of.

September 2, 2009

depends on your old bird season,i had it happened to me last year ,i had birds reported as far away as durham,it almost wiped me out,and i kept the rest for this year to race,sad thing is my mum died in feb,so i never got to race this year,which means next year i am going into action with some untried 2 year olds,which should be A,very good,

or B an other year on a demented breed and release program :o :o :o :B

September 2, 2009

Hi Chris

I would give them a day or two at home to calm, then pick a spot 15 -20 miles away and take them for a few times from the same place, if you do not race this will at least educate for OB season, if they are clearing immeadiatly and going a straight line for home you can give them some comback races I would have thought.

September 2, 2009

i would leave them out for tonight give them a few days before taking them again i no were you coming from with loosing birds ive had 4 killed by percy 4 get up and dissapear of the face of the earth and to put the boot in this morning had my birds out for there morning exercise half hour flying when a bloody massive group came over taking my birds with them seen my birds coming back over with alot more birds than i let out they finally dropped down on house roof and the pigeons that came down with them was strays no rings on them my birds got back up again with these birds got all but an delbar hen back she isnt even transfored as waiting for the form to arrive so gutted.

September 3, 2009

Thanks for the advice and all the pms lads, I will take your good advice and keep em were they are now till next year, just going to lightly train em on nice days, still got 8 missing, but this bl**dy rain and wind is not helping ! o well roll on next year

September 3, 2009

i would keep them in . but i think we some times forget that these are homing pigeons we keep and if they are flying an hour to two hours at a time rangeing well like young birds should be 10 to 20 miles is not far enough and you will take loses because they will join any other batch of pigeons flying in the area . id start them at 30 miles .

pigeonpete · September 3, 2009

Thanks for the advice and all the pms lads, I will take your good advice and keep em were they are now till next year, just going to lightly train em on nice days, still got 8 missing, but this bl**dy rain and wind is not helping ! o well roll on next year

Keep going mate, I know its dis-heartening at times, i had my worst year in 4 years of racing this year? but i will keep taking my tablets, and soldier on :-)

incidently, from experience, your y/b you had reported had most probably wired, as hawk strike injuries are mostly through the wings, back and feathers.