4 back now

[Roland]

Well from that disaster y/b race where I lost them all ... 2 worked back within 2 weeks. Another last Saturday, and one today. 4 home now. That 25% lol. No! I never bothered to time them in lol.  ;D ;D ;D

Now with a few late breds... and letting out all the stock birds I have, which I hope some stay, I may yet have an old bird team next season and especially one the year after. This is where the 18 month old late breds  - if held come into their own and certainly earn their perch.

Yes some say I will lose these 4 straight of. Others will say 'Get Shot of' whilst others say y/b's are intitled to make a mistake.

All I know is the 'Blood' is supposedly there. very well bred birds, which will gives them, and me, another chance.

When settled a mite, I intend to rebuild my loft again via end of October, and give it another shot.

Also will race more authordox method.

Yes I do need to pick a few choice days upto Xmas or so to train and MAKE sure before breeding that they want to be here.

[Guest spin cycle]

good luck roland ....but what was the 'unorthodox method' ?

[Roland]

Well one was 'Feed Only'. Where they stayed in all the time except race days. Yes it was very good and cost effective. Had 8 in total of only 14 Fed day birds from a tough Thurso race. Some having their’ first race at 469 miles.

Would and should be my number one choice I suppose, but miss them on the garden and rooftops.  But the loft will still cater for any 'System' or racing and one that can at the drop of a hat be changed. It will mean also perches will be a lot darker - light wise - at the back of the loft to keep them resting and settled.

I will be setting the loft more inwards prone regards the compartments depths, to an more roomier compartments as opposed to a crowded one. Won't have enough birds to crowd them, so will lose a lot of natural incentives. Also means not then able to alter a system if needed quickly. Especially 'Jealousy' - the only essences of any motivation - would be harder to be done if so desired even on a natural system.

Will for the first time ever mate up early! Then race just hens or the cocks any given week to separate compartments. Not a ‘Round About’ as they will fly dry. An odd opposite sex for a short spell race nights before basketing sometimes if I feel they need a bit of zip, zest like.

Yes will try to race mostly cock birds on the easier races forecasted, and up to middle distance. Hens just lightly raced till hard forecasts, or distance races come up, as I certainly find them to be better then and a lot more genuine. On an even keel of upto 400 miles a widower cock is nigh on parr. So can afford - hopefully - to save the hens for races I like and matter to me. That may be two years now down the line, but I do have a few 2 - 3 y/o's so a small team trained hard when first becoming fit, then kept at 90% fit and hopefully getting them to peek when needed.