Help !! New loft, do I get OB's or YB's?

[Guest Denny]

Really, really need some help!  Getting a new loft at long last after many days/weeks mulling over what I could afford and give the best for the birds.  But how best to stock the loft - is it best to go for young birds and train them, or keep older birds prisoner, or go for a double/single widowhood system?  Help there are too many choices (I think),  but which is the best one to take?

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest blythy1]

i would say get a good team of young birds.

[pjc]

I agree with Martin, get a team of youngbirds. You won't pick up stock at this time of year as most are breeding now.

What size loft have you got etc?

[PATTY BHOY]

am in the same boat as you,going for a good team of young birds.

[Guest]

if your limited for room i would go with young birds as stock take up a section themselves

 

what size is your loft and how many sections has it

[fletch]

got to say just started up on my own i went for stock but i wish i would of gone for a good team of youngsters. so go for young birds

[OLDYELLOW]

i would personaly go for young birds as you'l learn as they go along

[Guest Grasshopper Lofts]

definatley young birds and try if u can to get them around the same time

[thunderboult]

when i started i got stock birds, if i was to start again tomoz i'd get stock birds again, if you've got the room it's better to bread your own i think, it's fun breeding,wondering what you'll get, watching em grow, and if you win something with a bird you bred yourself it will give you a lot of pride. the way young bird racing seems to go for a lot of people these day's you may not have any left to breed off and will be in the same position next year, but if you've got a couple of pairs of breeders, and lose most of your young you can raise a few latebreds yourself. it might work out cheaper for you in the long run as a stock bird could be with you for over 10 yrs.  

[cemetary]

If i was a new start like you are, i would go for birds from an entirence clearance sale, then breed yer own young birds, or someone in yer area who is winning and ask them for some latebreds, then take it from there mate, all the best in what decision you make.

 

There is a lot of other ideas on the forum.  

[les]

save your self at least 3 years ,get some late breds from a good flyer get a few nest  pairs  brake them to the loft and traine 1 from each pair ,breed of them next year and race the ones you trained  as old birds to find out if they suit your needs ,then you can race the young birds you bred as well ,and if you loose any that was performing you still got some of the blood to breed of again ,breed as many young birds you can and test them but dont over populate the loft ,ATB les.

[peterpau]

save your self at least 3 years ,get some late breds from a good flyer get a few nest  pairs  brake them to the loft and traine 1 from each pair ,breed of them next year and race the ones you trained  as old birds to find out if they suit your needs ,then you can race the young birds you bred as well ,and if you loose any that was performing you still got some of the blood to breed of again ,breed as many young birds you can and test them but dont over populate the loft ,ATB les.

 

May be an ideal start but she wants to start now.

 

Pair of young 'uns here in Rugby if you want 'em. They will be ready in a couple o' weeks they wont leave here unless they are good.

[stantheman]

You cant beat rearing your own youngbirds I would suggest you do a bit of both breed your own and bring some in as your just starting up you need to learn the basics and by breeding your own you will learn an awful lot about what the sport involves

[joe61]

i would say ybs dont cram them in the loft i would say 6 to 8 birds in a6x4 loft dont take everthing you are offerd from all and sundry dont race them this yeartake your time and learne about pigeons if you can put an avirey on the loft so they can bath and see their surrondings would be a great help to you and the birds but dont rush things

 

oh happy days

[wilkins]

i think in a 6 by 4 foot you couls house 18 ybs

one thing i would say is try to get them around the same age

[Roland]

Sorry, never have before... But would go for Old Birds and breed youngsters in their' Loft!

Always buy in a round of late breds in July / August to supplement or adjust.

Buy the 'Blood' for the distance that you wish to compete at in 2 years time.

Nothing more sould distory I'd say that keep buying in youngsters... Though know a couple of good class fanciers that do just to race them. Get shot of at season's end regardless as they have their' birds  / race team for the old bird race season for the races they want. But don't of course fly them as youngsters, even yearlings sometimes.

[hotrod]

i would suggest get a kit of 10 or whatever you can afford  from louella and watch out for clearance sales (for whatever distance you would like to fly) be it sprint or long distance and buy a proven breeder, or a pair of breeders maybe pricey but would be worth it in the long run, train your young well and race lightly maybe 100 miles or so , then you will have a few to race as oldbirds next year , so next year you will have a few to breed your own and maybe a pair or two proven breeders , then enjoy rearing your own and learn from them

[john@formula 1 lofts]

I would say the best way for you to go as a fresh starter would be to join a local club ASAP get talking to the members and i am sure they will sort you out a few y/b's to race with this year. and in the summer time work out what room you have and maybe if you have enough room buy 6 latebreds from two different lofts which are racing and breeding winners for others and you can let them out and settle them to your loft you can then bred from these the following season. This will give you a good solid start to the sport.

 

Remember to do your home work when buying birds in as all the glitters is not gold. The most important thing i look for is there are breeding winners for others not just there selfs.

 

Hope this helps

 

John

[Guest shadow]

If I was starting again I would go for young birds hated keeping prisoner stock birds

[greenlands]

i would say get a good team of young birds.

i totally agree,one thing i wouldn't do is keep prisoners they're a bloody nuisance .Lindsay

 

[Guest Denny]

Thanks for the input    I was let down last minute on my loft  :'( (was buying one second hand) as my interest in the loft sparked old interests of its owner!  Wished I'd kept my excitement about getting started to myself!  :X     So on the lookout for another (which hopefuly will be very soon as getting frustrated now as time is flying on and I want to get started!).

 

With young birds what is the recommended age?  How long do you have to keep them in, do I keep them from looking outside for a week or so ?  Is it the same timescale as with prisioners, or is it less because they are so young?