When it's raining

[mattsmith]

Would you let your birds out to fly around the loft when it's raining?

[michelle]

i never do i find they sit on the roof an drink the gutter water

[Guest strapper]

Would you let your birds out to fly around the loft when it's raining?

 

i do to an extent...i will let them fly as much as they want too...then call them in when they start to land.

[Guest mick bowler]

Matt if i did'nt my birds would go out once a year! Mine even get trained in it.

 

Why would you keep them in, what if it rains when they racing? At some point in their lives they will experience it.

[mattsmith]

Matt if i did'nt my birds would go out once a year!

 

I suppose thats quite true for here as well! :-/

[Guest mick bowler]

 

I suppose thats quite true for here as well! :-/

 

There you go then, and if its like us (where we officially get only 12 days a year when it don't rain), they could lib the birds in good sunshine then 30 miles down the road from here it can be hissing it down all day!

 

 

[mattsmith]

I never really thought of it like that!  ;D

[Guest mick bowler]

Matt, first and foremost your birds have to fit in to its surroundings where it lives, otherwise its never going to home is it? They adjust believe me. we get it windy here too, even on a good day, and sometimes it blows the birds off the roof, but they adapt, mine drop in low behind the loft and they quickly run over the top to the trap!!

[Guest Owen]

I think it is quite natural for pigeons to fly in the rain. The problem is not with the pigeons, it is with the loft. The last thing you should have is a damp loft. The outside conditions will make the attmosphere damp, so if the birds come in wet they will complete the damage.

So, I see no point in sending them out to create damp or even wet conditions inside the loft. Besides, what do you gain by it? It is unlikely that they will put much effort into their flying and they may want to sit about bathing in it, and making themselves even wetter.

And do you really think they will learn anything by it? Finally, it is a fact that some diseases are more active in damp conditions. Cocci and e-coli are two of the worst.

[Shortcut Lofts]

We also put them out and while they are out we fill the bath - try it see what happens.

[Guest mick bowler]

I think it is quite natural for pigeons to fly in the rain. The problem is not with the pigeons, it is with the loft. The last thing you should have is a damp loft. The outside conditions will make the attmosphere damp, so if the birds come in wet they will complete the damage.

So, I see no point in sending them out to create damp or even wet conditions inside the loft. Besides, what do you gain by it? It is unlikely that they will put much effort into their flying and they may want to sit about bathing in it, and making themselves even wetter.

And do you really think they will learn anything by it? Finally, it is a fact that some diseases are more active in damp conditions. Cocci and e-coli are two of the worst.

 

Eh? do you live in an area that rains 353 days a year? Pigeons making a loft damper?

 

Only thing i agree with there is that diseases nore active, but your birds have to acclimatise, only the strongest survive, no antib junkies here just pure immunity!!

 

 

[Guest pigeon82]

the birds have to go out in the rain even if its only for half an hour carrying that dampness on their wings whilst flying is extra weight so it will strengthen their wings its like you carrying something on ur back when your running you do it to get fitter same for birds mine go out fly around then back in its gud exercise tho

[blackdog]

all depends how hard the rain and wind is, if only drizzle they go out but if raining on thursday & friday they stop in loft

[Guest mick bowler]

all depends how hard the rain and wind is, if only drizzle they go out but if raining on thursday & friday they stop in loft

 

Agree mate, the wind can have more affect than the rain. Would'nt let them out in rain day of basketing, never did.

 

 

[peterpau]

My pen is open nearly all the time, but if the rain is heavy, I will sometimes shut the pen.

[Guest pigeon82]

like they say above wind is factor more than rain but i like to see them in the wind another way of having a good test strengthens them in the wind mine have just come in now was drizzling up here and wind is above average ready for basketing tomorrows national now

[Guest pigeon82]

this is why i train and let the birds out in the rain this is how one of my birds returned on race day

[Peckedhen]

Mine go out in the rain and love it.  I don't put them out in strong wind, they end up hitting aerials and wires and get hurt.

[Guest]

like they say above wind is factor more than rain but i like to see them in the wind another way of having a good test strengthens them in the wind mine have just come in now was drizzling up here and wind is above average ready for basketing tomorrows national now

 

To much beanz,  Pat gets the same with guinness. ;D

[Guest pigeon82]

hey clockman pat is in disneyland right now as we speak lol hope the weather is better for him than it is for us over here it was him who helped choose my birds for national

[Guest mick bowler]

My pen is open nearly all the time, but if the rain is heavy, I will sometimes shut the pen.

 

 

Pigeons on a open loft are like barometers, you know when the heavy rain is coming they soon go in! My YBs have braved it couple of times, but learning fast lol

 

[just ask me]

with young ones   when i go training put them in almost anything i don't like them siting around in it  a quick shower is ok will put out the bath they love it i know what owen is saying about a damp loft and he is right but if its only a shower they will go for a quick fly after and dry off  only reason i do it is more to do with i think the pigeon liking it  also we cant wrap them up in cotton wool all of the time

[FoxesFan4Ever]

I have sent my birds out in adverse weather for the first time today. I was a bit worried at 1 point because the wind suddenly got a whole lot stronger after I had sent them up. But they are all are home again and so all is well. I also sent them in a totally different direction today just to make them think a bit.  

[Guest Owen]

You pays your money and takes your choice. I would rather keep my birds strong and healthy than risk them having underlying disease problems. And I certainly do not want them sitting about in a damp environment, especially late in the day.

All the opinions I've heard and all the books I've read have one thing in common.

Lofts must be dry.

But then there are some that think that if the birds are exposed diseases and challenging conditions it will make them stronger. For me it is diet and training, together with continual observation as to their physical condition. But then,all roads lead to Rome as they say.

[Guest pigeon82]

You pays your money and takes your choice. I would rather keep my birds strong and healthy than risk them having underlying disease problems. And I certainly do not want them sitting about in a damp environment, especially late in the day.

All the opinions I've heard and all the books I've read have one thing in common.

Lofts must be dry.

But then there are some that think that if the birds are exposed diseases and challenging conditions it will make them stronger. For me it is diet and training, together with continual observation as to their physical condition. But then,all roads lead to Rome as they say.

 

i can see where your coming from but at the end of the day sometimes the birds need to experience this different weather you cant molecule ur birds day in and day out because if that was the case you would never get a decent time you would always be stressful also what happens on race day when your birds come back on race day damp do you lock them out the shed till they dry because it cant be done in my opinion all birds were wild before they become homing pigeons and so on you cant keep them locked away for ever can you