darkness?

[chrisbonnie]

what does it mean putting the bird on darkness?

[DAVIDL]

 

 

  simulating the hours of daylight in winter.....

[chrisbonnie]

 

  simulating the hours of daylight in winter.....

 

and what does that do?

[DAVIDL]

 

 

makes them moult very quickly so that they are not dropping to bits when racing...

[butcher]

darken down young birds for 13 hours per day for 13 weeks

[Tony C]

The y/birds will body moult but hold back the throwing of flights during this darkening period whereas y/birds left on natural daylight will moult and throw flights throughout the y/bird season.

[chrisbonnie]

The y/birds will body moult but hold back the throwing of flights during this darkening period whereas y/birds left on natural daylight will moult and throw flights throughout the y/bird season.

 

im sorry for sounding like a complete and utter moron,

 

i only got pigeons last week for my first time ever, so you`ll have to break down for me  :-/

[DAVIDL]

are you going to race them this season? if not you dont need darkness, just enjoy them and learn about them....if you are going to race youll get some good advise from this site...

[just ask me]

 

im sorry for sounding like a complete and utter moron,

 

i only got pigeons last week for my first time ever, so you`ll have to break down for me  :-/

 

my advice would be mate to enjoy them this year and there loads of reading on here about the darkness a search would throw up lots on here :-/ maybe a few loft vists to over the winter and u will see and read enough  

[Tony C]

 

my advice would be mate to enjoy them this year and there loads of reading on here about the darkness a search would throw up lots on here :-/ maybe a few loft vists to over the winter and u will see and read enough  

 

Thats the way to go chrisbonnie.

[tskyes]

darken down young birds for 13 hours per day for 13 weeks

 

13 HOURS INT LONG ENOUGH TRY 15 HOURS

[blackdog]

 

my advice would be mate to enjoy them this year and there loads of reading on here about the darkness a search would throw up lots on here :-/ maybe a few loft vists to over the winter and u will see and read enough  

 

sound advice that mate, dont bother with darkness this year,get youself a team built up for next year give your young birds maybe 3 or 4 races, stop what you like and race the rest for fun, next year put young on darkness it will give you more time to learn about the system.

 

 

[Guest]

 

my advice would be mate to enjoy them this year and there loads of reading on here about the darkness a search would throw up lots on here :-/ maybe a few loft vists to over the winter and u will see and read enough  

 

got to aggree dont try and run before you crawl

[chrisbonnie]

that was the plan all actually, try and get my head around them this year, then see what happens next year,

 

cheers for the advice lads

[flyingteessider]

this is my1st young bird season also would you give your young birds a full race program

[just ask me]

this is my1st young bird season also would you give your young birds a full race program

 

depends on how many u have and the plans for your old birds  i would say 4 or 5 races at least then if u feel the losses are not to bad carry on if ure racing widow hood cocks u could stop them after 3 4 races and keep a few hens for cocks and race the the other hens though out the season as in the off season u may be able to pick up a few hens on the cheap for widowhood really it would all depend on what your plans are for the old bird team

[flyingteessider]

this is my1st young bird season also would you give your young birds a full race program

[Tony C]

In the fed I race in there’s no doubt that youngsters benefit from being given 4-5 races, if you were in my fed I'd advise you to stop them after same.

If your racing your youngsters on the so called natural system (not darkness) be careful not to send them whilst bald around the head also when they’re losing the cover feathers on their wings.

[jimmy white]

that was the plan all actually, try and get my head around them this year, then see what happens next year,

 

cheers for the advice lads

 

all the very best  ,, one thing for  sure is , when on natural,, their usualy healthier ,,,and they can still win , with good training , just watch the ones that are very heavy in the moult,,,,and the weather ,,good luck , hope you enjoy it

[greenfingerz]

hi there iv got 12 yb on the darkness but some have dropped 1 flite. wot can i do to stop them from droping the overs??any one

[Guest]

 

all the very best  ,, one thing for  sure is , when on natural,, their usualy healthier ,,,and they can still win , with good training , just watch the ones that are very heavy in the moult,,,,and the weather ,,good luck , hope you enjoy it

:-/When on natural,,there usualy healthier,What bull

 

 

[T_T]

In my opinion, if at all possible, youngsters should be given the full yb programme to put them in good stead as old birds.  Darkness youngsters will do this for you, those that are kept natural will struggle because of feather condition, fallng heavily into the moult.

[Guest Owen]

I agree with jimmy white, but I would add the rider; as far as is possible send your birds to as many races as you can. That is providing they are healthy and not too bad in the moult. If you do this you have a much better chance of having really good birds for next year.

When I first started, I got into the habit of saving birds because they were well bred or that they would be better as yearlings. I soon found the error of my ways. My best pigeons have always been the ones that were given the work as young birds. As yearlings I am careful not to send them to the really long races, but they still have plenty of work. Then you will breed from birds that are capable and you should gradually improve until you can compete with the best.

[blackdog]

In my opinion, if at all possible, youngsters should be given the full yb programme to put them in good stead as old birds.  Darkness youngsters will do this for you, those that are kept natural will struggle because of feather condition, fallng heavily into the moult.

 

 

not if you breed them early enough.  

 

[Ronnie]

 

 

not if you breed them early enough.  

 

early bred youngsters will race the programme no trouble at all.

so many systems and so much advice i would take this year to get to know your birds and start in earnest next year .This years birds are next years breeders so unless you plan on buying birds every year use these birds to build your team.If you plan on racing them as old birds they need race's and training this year how much and how many is upto the individual.