WIDOWHOOD

[Guest dogeon]

hi this will be my second yr racing i raced my yb's on darkness and now want to race them widowhood, i have 20 yb's left and i want to have 8 widowhood cock and 8 widowhood hens. can someone give me advise on how to start them on widowhood

[OLDYELLOW]

buy dave allens a widowhood year , pair them up allowing 8 weeks to rear and 3 weeks to train  once reared split sexes remove hens and one yb and leave cock one , id start traing hens as they dont mind the cold as much and send hens to first 3 races then after first race start cocks training but entirely up to you

[OLDYELLOW]

heres a few motivation tips

http://forum.pigeonbasics.com/m-1225124899/s-12/#num12

[Wiley]

hi this will be my second yr racing i raced my yb's on darkness and now want to race them widowhood, i have 20 yb's left and i want to have 8 widowhood cock and 8 widowhood hens. can someone give me advise on how to start them on widowhood

 

I agree dave allens book is second to none in learning about the widowhood system, if anything the only downfall of the book is the feeding method. But alot are forgetting this book was written 15yrs plus. Just look at the results in london Of Paul Elliot, in club and federation, racing a maxium of 7 Pigeons, but the results were exceptional. Just racing widowhood cocks mind you. There is lots of different followings of the widowhood system, some can be simple and others can be damn hard with alot of work. I personally believe the 91 days before the first race of Dave Allens to be a good book, and if your interested in racing hens you should contact the RP and purchase the racing Hens book. i wish you all the best

 

[Guest dogeon]

 

I agree dave allens book is second to none in learning about the widowhood system, if anything the only downfall of the book is the feeding method. But alot are forgetting this book was written 15yrs plus. Just look at the results in london Of Paul Elliot, in club and federation, racing a maxium of 7 Pigeons, but the results were exceptional. Just racing widowhood cocks mind you. There is lots of different followings of the widowhood system, some can be simple and others can be damn hard with alot of work. I personally believe the 91 days before the first race of Dave Allens to be a good book, and if your interested in racing hens you should contact the RP and purchase the racing Hens book. i wish you all the best

thanks i think i need it

 

 

[Wiley]

thanks i think i need it

 

 

Widowhood is simple really, however in my personal opinion the best way to understand widowhood or any system is going to a loft and being shown the ins and outs, if anywhere near london in winter months id be happy to show you

[Guest Paulo]

WIDOWHOOD and its methods.

Questions and answers

 

It seems to us the best way, to inform you of widowhood methods, in the form of questions and answers which will give a complete and detailed study about this subject. It will consequently become a dialogue between a novice and an expert who is prepared to instruct and pass on knowledge obtained by long experience.

1. Do you believe that widowhood is the only method to obtain success ?

 

I don't believe that widowhood is the only method to bring success. Nowadays many fanciers, who remain true to the natural method distinguish themselves. Why should we not succeed where others obtain good results ?

2. Which of those two methods do you prefer ?

 

The widowhood method gives by far greater certainty, no matter what some fanciers say, it is also the easiest and the least time consuming method.

 

A well managed team of widowers come easy into form which allows the owner to be more or less content, while a small item can be enough to handicap pigeons that are flown to the nest method. To succeed with the natural method, one must be a greater artist and spend more time with the birds. A fancier with a small team can still distinguish himself with this old method, provided he follows certain methods that were unknown in the past. Nowadays, one cannot keep a big team of pigeons in the right condition when one does not race them on widowhood. Our advice to those fanciers that are in a position to do it is, to try the two methods at the same time.

 

One can race the old cocks on widowhood, while in another loft you can race the hens, paired to young cocks, on the natural method. In this manner you learn to know your hens and you can keep the best ones for stock. At the same time this method offers the possibility to withdraw the best hens from an unnatural and weakening state.

 

 

3. Does one require a special loft for the widowhood method ?

 

It is a strict requirement. We have, for a short while, succeeded with widowers which were kept in a loft which also housed other pigeons, but if you want to stay successful, you must give the widowhood cocks the rest they need. This can only be achieved if they are parted from all other pigeons. There must be also special nest boxes, well known to every widowhood fancier. When we started widowhood for the first time, we did not have the proper nest boxes at our disposal. This gave us some difficulties and unnecessary complications. One is well advised to start in the right way, even if one has to show some patience.

 

Luxuriousness is completely unnecessary, but every fancier must have at his disposal, at least two or better still, three lofts. One loft for widowhood, a second one for the stock-birds and a third one, for the youngsters. After a while, when a fancier is better equipped, the enjoyment and ease will improve.

4. At what date does one starts widowhood racing ?

 

There is no fixed date. It all depends in what condition the birds are in and especially the races you are striving for. In principle it is possible to keep a team of widowers for a period of two to three months in condition. A durable and lasting condition starts when the temperature is more settled. A fancier that has sufficient lofts and pigeons, could fly widowhood with success from the end of March until the beginning of August. He could start in March or the beginning of April with widowers that have not been paired up and have seen their hens only two or three times after they returned from a training flight.

In the middle of the racing season, he can race the ones that were paired up between March and the end of April and were afterwards put on widowhood and at the end of the racing season, race the cocks that were kept unpaired, after a sitting period of about ten days to retard the moult as much as possible, on widowhood.

 

But these are exceptions which are only used by some specialists. The usual period of widowhood is between 15 April and the end of July. Real specialists who have at there disposal birds with staying power will be able to keep them active during this period.

Nevertheless it is nowadays, above all things, necessary to send your birds to the starting point in a fresher state than the ones of your opponents.It can also be said in this case : PATIENCE IS GOLDEN.

5. Does one need more pigeons for the widowhood than for the natural method ?

 

Sometimes one needs a few more but it is not a strict requirement. It is true that in the widowhood game the cocks are raced, but the lesser number of pigeons that are available is compensated by the fact that the widowers can be flown more often in short and middle distance races than cocks and hens that are raced on the natural method.

 

A fancier who possesses an average team of 30 pigeons of which 12 pairs are put on widowhood, will have every Sunday (Saturday in the U.K.) the same number of cocks in a good condition as an opponent who possesses the same number of pigeons and flies them on the natural method.

 

From what has proceeded, one must not conclude that widowers are always in good condition, but the advantage is, they always have the same urge to come home as quick as possible, which is not so regular by pigeons that are flown on the natural method. A fancier with 30 pigeons must put at least 3 cocks into the stock-loft for the continuation of his strain. When we find in our team one or two good racing hens, we put them together with the tree pairs we kept for stock into the stock-loft and provided we don't breed too much out of them, we could race them on the natural game.

 

 

 

 

6. Are there any real dangers when birds, are flown on widowhood ?

 

In most cases, the risks to widowhood cocks are not different to mated cocks in training. Well managed and well trained widowers run the same risks as those trained for the nest game.

If on this point any difference should occur, it will turn out to be to the advantage of the widowers.

 

In 1937, we started to fly regularly on widowhood and we have only lost seven pigeons, among them were five late-breds, which one could expect to lose. We could not have said the same thing when we had flown them, for the same duration, on the nest game. The real danger is the shortage of youngsters as we have very often noticed, on our visits to small team fanciers. Those careless fanciers put all their cocks and hens on widowhood. After two or three years of success those neglected hens insufficient cared for and kept in bad loft installations are no good to give any satisfaction as breeding hens. This danger never occurs by big team flyers because they always have a loft especially kept for stock-birds. That is why we must, no matter how many we have at our disposal, withdraw every year a few pairs from widowhood and keep them for stock. He that does not follow this advice will regret it sooner or later.

 

7. Is it preferable to allow the widowers to rear a youngster before the racing season?

 

There is no proof that no breeding would be any better than breeding. A few years ago, we did some investigations in several big lofts in Belgium. Those investigations did not give us the pros and cons of breeding out of future widowers. If there are no sure advantage of not breeding from future widowers, there is, on the contrary, a certain advantage for them that are breeding before the racing season, namely they will have some extra youngsters.

Of the twenty National winners we have consulted, and who obtained some good results in previous years, more than 60 % had allowed their widowers to rear one or two youngsters before they were put on widowhood.

 

 

Among those 60% were all great champions from Flanders and Antwerp, while the other 40% consisted mainly of champions from Liege which did not like the idea of breeding before they put their birds on widowhood. It is not unknown to us that some sceptic fanciers did not believe the sincerity of the obtained answers.

We beg them to observe that they are wrong to think that those great champions were dishonest and would lie about their methods. To tell the truth, we have been in their loft when they were in the meridian of their glory and have seen with our own eyes, in all nests of the racing birds, one or two youngsters.

If one believes what some authors have written on this subject, namely that breeding before the racing season diminishes the strength and reserves of the future racing birds, we must also believe that the pigeons of the greatest champions of Flanders that are rearing two youngsters and would be handicapped through this to win races, which they do, must be of a more superior class in relation to those of their opponents which are not breeding before the start of the racing season.

 

Let us come to this conclusion : If we need youngsters, we must breed out of our future widowers and when we have a bad season let us be honest and look for our failure somewhere else.

 

 

8. What is the most suitable time, after the breeding period, for putting the cocks on widowhood ?

 

Our advice is, to take the hens away after they have been sitting on eggs for ten or twelve days for the second time. To have the whole team on eggs at the same time, one must give the hens, that are slow in laying, an egg. They will most probably lay two or three days after this, but the cock will always take to this egg and this will stop its nest driving.

 

 

9. For what reason are you against future widowers sitting longer on their second round of eggs ?

 

The ten or twelve days are more than enough to give them sufficient rest after the rearing of youngsters and tiring nest driving. At this moment the appetite will increase because of the forming of the soft food and for that reason they will show a healthy appetite during the first days on widowhood.

 

This is very important. Indeed failure mostly occurs after two or three weeks, because the widowers would not eat enough. One mostly will spoil them through enticing them to eat more by giving them small seeds which makes it worse instead of better. They lose their racing weight and the only solution remains, to pair them up again in the middle of the racing season.

 

10.Can one start flying the birds on widowhood before the hens have laid their second round of eggs ?

 

Certainly. Many fanciers that pair up late make up for the lost time by starting the widowhood game on a big youngster. To make this system work, one must prevent the cocks from nest driving for the second time. Therefore one must take the hen away as soon as the youngsters are eight or ten days old. During the exercising flights one must bring the hens again into the loft so that during the absence of the cocks can feed the youngsters.

Some cocks have their best performances on a youngster. Pigeons that are resigned to this system, moult their first flight a little bit later than the ones that were allowed to lay eggs again and sit on them for about ten days. But this has its advantages at the end of the season.

 

 

 

 

11. How does one set about with pigeons, that have not reared any youngsters, before one puts them on widowhood ?

 

As we have mentioned before, one must take the hens away after they have been on eggs for about 10 to 12 days. In such cases it is important not to pair up too early, so that you can put them on widowhood the second half of April. Otherwise, nothing will stop you letting them sit two consecutive rounds on pot eggs ; the first time 15 days and the second time 10 days. We are opponents of taking the hens away for a week, between two breeding periods.

The condition of the, in this way, treated pigeon is carried to a too high level between the two breeding periods. It is absolutely premature and too great a loss for the form that must follow. If one trains the pigeons when they are sitting their second round of eggs, one can arrange it in such a way that one can race them the Sunday proceeding the time that one takes the hens away, which is 10 days after they have laid their eggs. This way one can obtain some good results.

12. Is it a requirement that widowers must have moulted their first flight feather before they can distinguish themselves in races. ?

 

Absolutely not. It all depends on the manner the birds are trained. As well by widowers as by pigeons raced on the nest game, the moult must progress normally. That is all.

 

We have known pigeons, widowers well as others, that flew better before than after the moult of the first flight. All what matters is, that once the moult has started is must progress regularly. By a normal moult we understand, that a pigeon that was paired up after 15 February and reared one youngster, must moult out its first flight during its second breeding period or shortly after it was put on widowhood. Widowers that have not reared any youngsters have a strikingly later moult, at least concerning the first flight.

 

 

 

 

13. What does one have to do on the fixed date for widowhood ?

 

Unless one is dealing with no other pigeons than those that were raced on widowhood, the previous year, it is good advice to start their training before one takes the hens away, which is either on eggs or on a youngster. Those pigeons are therefore already more or less in action. Personally, we have done well with the following method :-

 

The first Sunday, they were raced on eggs from eight to ten days. We proceeded as follows : As soon as the cocks were away, we took the eggs away, so that the hens would know that they did not have a nest any more. The Sunday morning, before the arrival of the widowers, the hens were taken away and were placed in the aviary or any other places were they could be locked up. The eggs were placed into the nest pans again.

On their arrival on the Sunday, the cocks will resume the sitting. In the evening, of the same day, one egg was taken away and on the Monday morning, during the exercising flight, the second egg was taken away. The nest pans were the following night either taken away or turned upside down.

 

14. Can they be raced on the following Sunday on widowhood?

 

Certainly. When they are well looked after, the first after, the first Sunday would not be the worst Sunday of the season. The most important thing is: The bird must be ardent.

During the first week, the hens are fed daily in the morning, in the aviary, on a small seeds. Their condition plays an important roll in the success of the first Sunday.

 

 

 

15. What preparation has one to make for this first week?

 

Starting on the Tuesday. All widowers are, in the morning and evening let out for an exercising flight. This exercise can be free or forced. The duration differs from one half to one hour and when they come into the loft, they have to go straight to their nest-boxes. To teach them this habit one must give them, as soon as they come into the loft, some small seeds in their nest-boxes.

This reward, on arrival from a flight must be kept up the whole season. Obstinate birds are give nothing until their next meal. On their arrival, one must leave them alone for about ten minutes before one feeds them. The feeding may be done either on the floor or in the nest-boxes. Personally, we have always kept to the first method for reason of the emulation that is created. On the Friday, instead of their normal morning flight, they are sent for liberation from a distance of two to three Km.

They depart without the hen being shown to them. On arrival, they will find only some small seeds in their nest-boxes. They are fed their meal, at the earliest, one half hour after they come into the loft. One repeats this on the Saturday morning but on their arrival they will find the hens in her reserved part of the nest-box. The cock is allowed to see her through the bars for about 5 minutes, after that time the hens are taken away and put back in the aviary. When it is only a one day race, they are given in the morning a light meal.

At the last moment, before basketing, one brings the hens back into the loft. One places each hen into her own compartment and immediately thereafter one must take the cock and put him into the basket. It is sufficient that the cock is left enough time to see that its hen is in the nest-box. Once again, one must send the cock for a short toss, as we mentioned before but this time one must liberate them in small groups of four up to six birds, depending on the size of the group that is to be liberated.

 

 

 

From this last toss they will come back like rockets. At that moment the manager or owner must be in the loft at the time of their return. He must open two or three nest-boxes together so that the cocks can fly straight to their hens. When the pair is squatted down in the nest-bowl, one must take the cock away and put it into the basket for the journey to the club house. This all can be done in 5 to 6 minutes.

16. Do you allow the cock to tread its hen, before its departure to a race?

 

In principle: No. A widower will never race when it has had its reward before it is sent away. It can be different for a temperamental and youthful element and treading may sometimes be necessary. We have had many a young cock that won, in such circumstances, top prizes.

17. Is there any danger that the cocks will return late from this last toss?

 

Not at all, provided one has followed the given instructions. One must, as soon as possible instil into the widower, that every time it is basketed it will find, on its return, the hen in the nest-box. The older ones, which are conversant with this method come immediately into action. When dealing with a whole team that has never flown on widowhood one must take more precautions.

It is essential that the cocks have several tosses in the first week, and that each time, on their return to the nest-box, their hens are there waiting to greet them, if only just for a minute. To help with this lesson, release them for their toss from the same place. The one object of this is to instil into them that the hen is waiting at the end of the flight. It is the first stipulation to success.

 

 

 

 

 

18.Must one repeat those tosses during the following weeks ?

 

Yes, at the least during the first 2-3 weeks if it concerns a new team and especially when they are intended for the speed races. But for all other birds it is sufficient, except for the first week, to toss them on the Saturday, immediately before basketing. As the training takes effect and your confidence grows, replace those tosses with a short exercise flight. This is how one sets about it : One places a hen of one of the cocks into the loft. When the cocks become ardent, at sight of this hen, one takes her away and the widowers are let out for a flight. When they are out of sight, one must close the entrance of the loft and bring, as quickly as possible, all the hens into the loft and place them in their nest-boxes and one can let the birds come into the loft.

19. Is there any advantage in showing the hens to the cocks, when they are exercised during the first week ?

 

We don't believe there is any advantage in this action which will only give satisfaction for a short period. Once the education is over, the widowers must be kept as quiet as possible. This is the great advantage of the widowhood method over all other racing methods. One cannot burn the candle at both ends. It is most important that they rest and recover during the week. Regarding exercising, the morning and evening flight are sufficient. For the rest, they must have a complete rest until the Saturday, just before the basketing.

20. Is it desirable to let the hens out of the loft for exercise while the cocks are away for a race ?

 

By all means. It is a good thing to make a habit of this. It is the only way to keep them in trim. The right time to do this is, immediately after the cocks are away from the race, because one can be sure that they will not stay too long. One must let them out with the entrance door closed. Once they are inside one must, by all means, not let them out again, because as soon they have noticed that the cocks are away the desire to return to the loft is gone. But never give the widowhood hens their liberty on the Sunday morning.

 

 

21. How does one prepare the hens on the arrival of the widowers?

 

When the cocks are away from the loft for several days, one must bring the hens after basketing or after the last toss, of which we have talked about, back to the aviary. When it concerns short distance birds one can leave the hen locked up in the nestbox. One must give them enough to eat, so that they are not hungry when the cock returns. After the ordinary meal, one must give them some small seeds to make sure that they have enough. After a good meal, the hens will be more ardent and because they have had enough to eat, they will have nothing else to do than show up to their returning cocks. Unnecessarily to add to this, that the hens must have the opportunity to have a drink in the loft.

22. And what about the cocks. Are they allowed to eat and drink their fill on arrival from a race?

 

We know several champions who work on different lines. This shows, that also on this point there is no strict line of action. In our loft we have in each nestbox a small pot filled with water. But the water is never cold. We place it in the nestbox so that it is, on arrival of the bird, at loft temperature. On arrival there is never any corn in their nest boxes, except a small amount of small seeds which is always there, even when they come back from a training flight, and it is always in the same place. A half hour after the removal of the hens they are given a light meal.

23. How long is a widower allowed to stay with its hen after returning from a race?

 

Here also there is no hard and fast rule. We have known fanciers who had good results and followed complete opposite methods.

Generally, the question must be looked at this way : The principle of the widowhood method is, to deny the cock to have any sexual contact with its hen during the week, it is only allowed, as a reward, on the Sunday after it has accomplished its task. After the widower has arrived and been clocked, it is allowed to drink and eat the small amount of seeds which is placed in its nest box and after it has had some rest it is allowed to stay with its hen. Once they are together one can leave them alone.

The time they are allowed to stay together depends on the following circumstances : When it has been an easy race and the widower does not show any signs of tiredness and is very ardent, the time will be short. In principle, frequent pairings must be avoided, especially if the widower is sent to a race the following week. If the cock is sent to a race in the middle of the same week, no pairings at all are allowed. In general, one leaves the birds together when it concerns short distance flyers which are raced again the following Sunday.

 

24. What about the other birds?

 

The time given, for amorous love-making depends on the flown distance and the state the bird is in when it returns from the race. When it is overtired it is kept locked up in the nest-box from a half to one hour before it is allowed to go to its hen. In the given circumstances, there is hardly any danger of too frequent pairings. Nevertheless remember that when the bird is overtired, it must be a last given, a fortnight rest, before it is send to another race.

25. Are there any fanciers, who during the whole racing season stop the least amorous advances?

 

Since the widowhood method is practised, all kind of possible proceedings are tried out. Some widowhood flyers who have denied their cocks, during the whole racing season, the least of satisfaction, have obtained good results. Some fanciers even use especial fabricated nest-boxes. (A board can be lowered down, if required, so that height of the nest-box is reduced to the height of a pigeon).

 

In our opinion, such a system must dishearten pigeons that are subjected to it. In any case, it falls outside the principles of the widowhood game, we mentioned.

Our preference, at least what concerns the long distance races, leans rather more towards integral widowhood. In other words : No hen at all, so that the cocks flies, simply and solely for the love its loft and nest-box.

 

26. Must one take away or turn upside down the nest bowls at the same time as the hens are taken away?

 

When using earthenware bowls, our advice is to take them away rather than turning them upside down, unless one takes the precaution to lay some warm material on the bottom of the bowl. One can also replace the bowls with a block of wood which can be used as a resting place. The ideal in this case is, to use bowls made of cork or flax-fibre. To prevent stopping the ardency of the cock too suddenly our advice is; to let them have the bowl for the whole Sunday. One can take it away on the Monday morning during their first meal or turn it upside down.

27. Is there any special care to be taken when the widowers return from a race?

 

The most important precaution one has to take is : that on the Sunday, especially when the race turned out a long and hard one, not to give them their ordinary mixture but instead of that a light mixture consisting of toasted bread, rape-seed, rice, dari and some wheat on a basis of 15 to 20 gram per bird and one can add to the drinking water, a teaspoon of honey on every litre of water.

28. Are you a supporter of a purgative?

 

Yes we are, but as it is used by some fanciers, that is by giving it every Sunday. This procedure is, with well looked after and well fed widowers, absolutely unnecessary. It is only necessary when the owner or manager uses harmful concoctions, to clean and discharge the organism or when they are given an excessive amount of constipating grains. Instead of a purgative, one can give them full cream but not boiled milk. This, for pigeons, is an excellent laxative.

 

 

 

 

29. How can one put pigeon that flew since April on the natural method, on widowhood in the middle of the racing season?

 

The most important thing is, that when you put them on widowhood, they must be in top condition. You cannot race pigeons on the widowhood method that are overtired and too far advanced in the moult. When you intend to sent some pigeons to the widowhood races in the middle of the flying season, you must breed from them very sparingly and timely. Breeding and racing at the same time will even ruin the strongest pigeon in a short time.

30. Are you against breeding from those pigeons?

 

With this end in view, we don't advice any breeding from them. Nevertheless breeding is not harmful to them when they are in a good condition and are given the opportunity to recover themselves, by letting them sit on pot eggs for a certain time before they are put on widowhood.

 

The advantage of the widowhood method is, that one can send pigeons to a race that have, at their disposal, all their physical abilities.

31. Do you advice breeding at the beginning of January?

 

It is much better on one condition, it must be a mild winter. But suppose it becomes very cold, which is always possible, it could be a big handicap for our future race birds. In any case, this early breeding will advance the moult, so that all racing comes to a stop long before the end of the season. When it concerns really good racing birds on which one counts to race the whole season, firstly on the natural and afterwards on the widowhood method, repeated breeding is not advisable.

 

 

 

 

32. What would you do in such case?

 

We would pair up early and regulate it in such a way, that we have them on eggs a few days before racing starts. Through locking up the hens in her reserved part of the nest-box, we would prevent the wasting of strength of the cock which nest driving brings along. After a few days on eggs, the cock will regain its strength and weight. We would race the cocks three consecutive Sundays on eggs. After they are on eggs for 4 or 5 days, we would reduce their corn and keep them a little hungry and especially at the end of the breeding period because there is nothing worse than to feed pigeons that are sitting eggs and are not allowed to rear youngsters, too heavy.

We would try to race it a fourth Sunday before it forsakes its eggs. As soon as the cock is away, for this last race, we would take the eggs away. On its return it will find its hen without a nest. One hour after its arrival, the hen is placed in her nest-box. On the Sunday evening, all hens are taken away. If one races the following Sunday, the hen must be brought back one hour before the cock is put in the basket for the race. It is allowed to move about freely with the cock but treading must be prevented.

 

This first race will give you valuable indications about the adaptation possibilities of your birds to the widowhood method.

33. Is widowhood continued after this?

 

Yes, if you like to do this. One should continue, as we explained above, but only as preparatory measures. The short flights, before basketing, are also not necessary because it concerns sufficiently trained pigeons.

 

We are of the opinion, that for a fancier that likes to race his birds for a long time and often, the system, requires the least physically exertions and is one of the most necessary requirements for a long continuous season.

 

We will add to this, that when a fancier is very patient, he may, rest assured, wait until his pigeons are on their second round of eggs, before he puts them on widowhood, so that he can start the widowhood game at the beginning of June.

34. What do you think about forced exercise flights?

 

Regularly practised and well managed, they are excellent, but the opinions and proceedings differ a long away. Well know fanciers, such as the Cattrysse Bros in Moere (Belgium), remain true to them, while others are satisfied with free exercise flights.

 

Out of this, we may conclude that they are far from essential. If we could be home regularly, as we were in a past, we would start them again, even when it was only for the quick arrivals we had and we don't have any more.

 

Lack of time has forced us to leave them alone. Our helper, entrusted with the management of our birds, is apprehensive of them.

 

All our pre-war results were obtained by practising those forced flights. They had to fly, morning and evening, one full hour. Even the pigeons which we flew on the nest game, had to undergo these forced flights.

35. For what reason does one fancier try to convince the others that he is an opponent of forced flights?

 

Everybody makes his bed the way he wants to sleep. Nevertheless, everybody is of the same opinion that exercise is compelled for every athlete as a forerunner for the proper training. We don't have the time to deal with all objections that are put forward.

 

A few words will be sufficient to point out that, whereas training is necessary, training flights are best used to increase the exercise gradually.

 

He who is afraid to over-train his pigeons can always wait till the last moment to start them and can stop them when the birds have reached the 200 to 300 Km. stage, and replace them with voluntary flights.

 

The main point is, that widowers that are not raced have a complete rest. This can only be obtained when one works skilfully and takes all necessary precautions. The same problem will occur when some of the race birds, are flown on different distances and are housed in the same loft and one has to basket some birds every few days.

 

36 - Don't you think that it is better to take the widowers that are not raced, away from the loft ?

 

We don't believe that this method is advisable. Supposing we take them away from the loft when we basket the widowers which are leaving on the Friday, one would be compelled to keep the resting birds in the basket from Friday to Sunday till after the hens are taken away again.

Unless one likes to take them away on three different occasions : the first time, when the birds that have to race are prepared, the second time, when the hens are shown to the birds that are leaving on the Saturday for the race and the third time on the Sunday when the calmness in the loft is restored.

One can be assured, that widowers, treated in this way, will be as ardent as widowers that are sent to a race and as they do not waste any strength, will eat less. In such cases, rest will have not much meaning.

 

37 - In other words, one can keep them in the loft while the hens are shown to those that are leaving for a race ?

 

The principle one has to observe in this case is the following : To make sure that they have rest, as much as possible, without disturbance. Widowers that stay in the loft, are allowed to hear but not to see anything. Placing the nest-boxes a certain way and some small material arrangements, can easily be made.

These will also limit the disturbance to the resting widowers to a minimum. It is best to have the nest-boxes in one line on one side of the loft so that they can see no other nest-boxes. Beside this, the nest-boxes must be fitted up in such a way, that they can be darkened, if required.

 

The best method is, to use a plywood board hinged to the top which can, when necessary, be lowered down to the front of the nest-box so that no daylight can come in. If this is not fitted, you can use a piece of cardboard and place that between the dowels of the nest-box front, which will give the same result.

 

It is evidently better when the widowers are, in some degree, conversant with those proceedings, because alterations made in their absence would upset them.

 

38 - So, one must keep the resting widowers in darkness ?

 

Yes, during the time the hens are shown to those that are sent to the race and also on the Sunday until all hens are taken away.

You must wait until the calmness is somewhat restored to raise the board or take the cardboard away.

 

You can ease those difficulties by not showing the hens to widowers that are flown in races for which they are kept in the panniers for two or three days. One can prepare them by giving them their nestpan back or by turning it over a half hour before they are basketed for the race.

 

We will add to this, that the widowers that are used for this method, will always remember that on their return they will find their hen in the nest-box waiting for them. They will be much calmer in the race pannier and their output will be none the less.

 

39 - Is it not necessary to show the hens on the Sunday to the widowers that have not raced that day ?

 

By no means, only when they have been rested for three or more weeks. Than you must give them their hens on the Sunday on arrival of the other widowers, but only for a quarter of an hour. This is also done when some of the birds have not been raced for at least a fortnight, to keep up their form and to prevent apathy.

When a cock has not seen his hen for a long time, it is better to show the hen before it is sent to a race, more so when it concerns a long distance race. These are, only general rules. A skilful fancier makes a profound study of each of his favourites and always acts with knowledge.

In some cases you may show the hen one or two days before for five minutes in the evening immediately before it gets dark. The preparation system can, as one can see, differ from one bird to the other. Personally, we pick up new experiences and are therefore qualified to confirm that also on this point as in many other fields in the pigeon sport, there are no hard and fast rules.

 

40 - Do you think it is better to rest the whole team on the same day ?

 

This is one of those things that in winter one is determined to do but either through lack of persistence or timing of the race program, is not carried out. When one has at his disposal two lofts of widowers it can easily be done. When it concerns races below three or four hundred Km., one can easily race them four or five consecutive Sundays and can rest them all on the same Sunday.

One can use that Sunday to purge them after which one can put them on a diet for two days. The results that follow will surely be influenced by this.

 

 

41 - What kind of purge do you advice ?

 

A single purge, in the middle of the season, as we suggest, can be rather strong. We personally, are not afraid to give them a small soup-spoon of Carlsbadsalt or sodasulphate added to two litres of water. The two days following they are given a very light meal, 20 grammes per pigeon per day, consisting of : 25 % toasted bread, 25 % barley, 25 % wheat, 15 % dari and 10 % linseed. They must also be given some greens. One can also purge them with full cream milk, as explained before.

 

42 - Is there any danger that resting widowers lose some of their appetite ?

 

This will never happen after the two diet days that we mentioned before and after the complete cleaning out they have had through the purge. For the rest, the fancier must proceed very skilfully. It is needless to expect that widowers will show their full appetite during fourteen whole days.

 

Resting widowers must be treated on equal terms as those that have been raced on the Sunday, for example : Those that are flying the short distances, don't get any feed on the Saturday and only small seeds on the Sunday morning.

One must impose the same restrictions to those that are kept home, but must not lose sight of the following basketing. For example : When it concerns Angouleme, when the birds go into the basket on a Wednesday, one should give them their diet half way between the arrival of the proceeding race and the appointed date of the following race. In this way, the birds are normally fed for the last 5 or 6 days they spend in the loft.

 

 

43 - Can one exercise the birds that are kept home, while the other birds are away for a race ?

 

There is nothing to stop you doing this, but it is not at all necessary. They have been exercised enough and keeping them in for a few days will not harm them. One must, nevertheless remember that when a pigeon is exercised regularly, its appetite is better and more steady.

 

44 - What does one do when the widowers return from a race ?

 

First we will give the classic system, as practised by most widowhood flyers and which we have followed for many years. Afterwards we will give the reason why we brought in some variations.

 

The hens are in their reserved part of the nest-box, in which, they, as we' mentioned before, have had their corn and water. Immediately, after the widowers are clocked, the partition in the nest-box is opened and the pair can stay together. The duration differs according to the effort of the accomplished task and of the time between the past and the following race.

 

 

 

 

45 - Can you go into the subject more thoroughly ?

 

What we mean is that a short distance cock, which is less tired and more spirited when it returns from a race, must be allowed less time with its hen than one that returns overtired. So much more because a short distance widower is nearly always sent to a race again the following Friday or Saturday, while a long distance widower needs at least a fortnights rest before it sent to a race again.

 

When the home coming cocks are too spirited, it is better to prevent frequent treading. If necessary, one must not allow the cock to go to its hen immediately after its arrival. The cock will find its drinking and feeding pot with some small seeds in its usual place. It will be less spirited if it has to wait for its meal till its hen is taken away.

 

For short distance birds the duration of this being together after their return may vary from a quarter to one hour.

 

When one wishes to prolong the form, one must be very strict on this point, especial during the racing season. Birds that are in the middle distance races and which are basketed the following Friday are treated in the same way. When it concerns long distance birds, cocks and hens can stay together until the evening without any supervision or restrictions.

 

 

 

46 - When and how are the widowers fed on their arrival from a race ?

 

Here is what we do, after they have been home for one hour : We place a small pot containing small seeds in their reserved part of the nest-box and as soon as the cock starts to eat, we take its hen away. In opposition to the other days, we keep the cocks locked up on the Sunday until they are given their evening meal.

 

 

Shortly, after the hens are taken away, they receive in their nest-box, 10 grammes of a light mixture consisting of : bread, wheat, dari, barley and a small amount of linseed. After four hours we open the nest-boxes and feed them a small amount of barley on the floor of the loft. While they are eating, we turn the nest bowls upside down.

 

47- The widowers are therefore not given as much as they can eat on the Sunday ?

 

No they are not, and it is also best not to give them too much on the Monday. They are not let out on the Monday and on that day 20 % of barley is added to their normal mixture. To make sure that they eat all the grains of the mixture one must give them a hand full at a time. The other days they have their normal mixture.

If you have followed up the advice we have given you for the Sunday and Monday, one does not have to be afraid that the widowers will lose their appetite before they are basketed for the following race. One must always try to keep the birds, whose digestive organs may have been upset, to some extent, in a good condition. And remember that not all that is taken in becomes nutriment but only that which has been digested.

 

48 - You mentioned earlier something about a new system and what is the reason you like to alter this ?

 

Firstly, because we like to experiment and pass on the results to our readers. Next, because we have repeatedly noticed in the past seasons that, after four or five Sundays of ardency, the form comes to a standstill. We are trying therefore to find a remedy to preserve the established initial ardour of our widowers for as long as possible.

 

[OLDYELLOW]

good post PAULO sure will help quite a few  

[Guest Paulo]

source is Jules Gallez?

 

I've been reading it myself as next year will be my first time trying widowhood and it seems simple good basic info only thing I don't agree with is purging the birds

[OLDYELLOW]

I quite often give oil to purge my birds in run up to channel races gets them in a1 condition i believe  

[Guest]

I quite often give oil to purge my birds in run up to channel races gets them in a1 condition i believe  

 

Interesting oldyellow, I use cod liver oil to coat pro biotics on feed, never thought of it as a purgative?

[Guest dogeon]

WIDOWHOOD and its methods.

Questions and answers

 

It seems to us the best way, to inform you of widowhood methods, in the form of questions and answers which will give a complete and detailed study about this subject. It will consequently become a dialogue between a novice and an expert who is prepared to instruct and pass on knowledge obtained by long experience.

1. Do you believe that widowhood is the only method to obtain success ?

 

I don't believe that widowhood is the only method to bring success. Nowadays many fanciers, who remain true to the natural method distinguish themselves. Why should we not succeed where others obtain good results ?

2. Which of those two methods do you prefer ?

 

The widowhood method gives by far greater certainty, no matter what some fanciers say, it is also the easiest and the least time consuming method.

 

A well managed team of widowers come easy into form which allows the owner to be more or less content, while a small item can be enough to handicap pigeons that are flown to the nest method. To succeed with the natural method, one must be a greater artist and spend more time with the birds. A fancier with a small team can still distinguish himself with this old method, provided he follows certain methods that were unknown in the past. Nowadays, one cannot keep a big team of pigeons in the right condition when one does not race them on widowhood. Our advice to those fanciers that are in a position to do it is, to try the two methods at the same time.

 

One can race the old cocks on widowhood, while in another loft you can race the hens, paired to young cocks, on the natural method. In this manner you learn to know your hens and you can keep the best ones for stock. At the same time this method offers the possibility to withdraw the best hens from an unnatural and weakening state.

 

 

3. Does one require a special loft for the widowhood method ?

 

It is a strict requirement. We have, for a short while, succeeded with widowers which were kept in a loft which also housed other pigeons, but if you want to stay successful, you must give the widowhood cocks the rest they need. This can only be achieved if they are parted from all other pigeons. There must be also special nest boxes, well known to every widowhood fancier. When we started widowhood for the first time, we did not have the proper nest boxes at our disposal. This gave us some difficulties and unnecessary complications. One is well advised to start in the right way, even if one has to show some patience.

 

Luxuriousness is completely unnecessary, but every fancier must have at his disposal, at least two or better still, three lofts. One loft for widowhood, a second one for the stock-birds and a third one, for the youngsters. After a while, when a fancier is better equipped, the enjoyment and ease will improve.

4. At what date does one starts widowhood racing ?

 

There is no fixed date. It all depends in what condition the birds are in and especially the races you are striving for. In principle it is possible to keep a team of widowers for a period of two to three months in condition. A durable and lasting condition starts when the temperature is more settled. A fancier that has sufficient lofts and pigeons, could fly widowhood with success from the end of March until the beginning of August. He could start in March or the beginning of April with widowers that have not been paired up and have seen their hens only two or three times after they returned from a training flight.

In the middle of the racing season, he can race the ones that were paired up between March and the end of April and were afterwards put on widowhood and at the end of the racing season, race the cocks that were kept unpaired, after a sitting period of about ten days to retard the moult as much as possible, on widowhood.

 

But these are exceptions which are only used by some specialists. The usual period of widowhood is between 15 April and the end of July. Real specialists who have at there disposal birds with staying power will be able to keep them active during this period.

Nevertheless it is nowadays, above all things, necessary to send your birds to the starting point in a fresher state than the ones of your opponents.It can also be said in this case : PATIENCE IS GOLDEN.

5. Does one need more pigeons for the widowhood than for the natural method ?

 

Sometimes one needs a few more but it is not a strict requirement. It is true that in the widowhood game the cocks are raced, but the lesser number of pigeons that are available is compensated by the fact that the widowers can be flown more often in short and middle distance races than cocks and hens that are raced on the natural method.

 

A fancier who possesses an average team of 30 pigeons of which 12 pairs are put on widowhood, will have every Sunday (Saturday in the U.K.) the same number of cocks in a good condition as an opponent who possesses the same number of pigeons and flies them on the natural method.

 

From what has proceeded, one must not conclude that widowers are always in good condition, but the advantage is, they always have the same urge to come home as quick as possible, which is not so regular by pigeons that are flown on the natural method. A fancier with 30 pigeons must put at least 3 cocks into the stock-loft for the continuation of his strain. When we find in our team one or two good racing hens, we put them together with the tree pairs we kept for stock into the stock-loft and provided we don't breed too much out of them, we could race them on the natural game.

 

 

 

 

6. Are there any real dangers when birds, are flown on widowhood ?

 

In most cases, the risks to widowhood cocks are not different to mated cocks in training. Well managed and well trained widowers run the same risks as those trained for the nest game.

If on this point any difference should occur, it will turn out to be to the advantage of the widowers.

 

In 1937, we started to fly regularly on widowhood and we have only lost seven pigeons, among them were five late-breds, which one could expect to lose. We could not have said the same thing when we had flown them, for the same duration, on the nest game. The real danger is the shortage of youngsters as we have very often noticed, on our visits to small team fanciers. Those careless fanciers put all their cocks and hens on widowhood. After two or three years of success those neglected hens insufficient cared for and kept in bad loft installations are no good to give any satisfaction as breeding hens. This danger never occurs by big team flyers because they always have a loft especially kept for stock-birds. That is why we must, no matter how many we have at our disposal, withdraw every year a few pairs from widowhood and keep them for stock. He that does not follow this advice will regret it sooner or later.

 

7. Is it preferable to allow the widowers to rear a youngster before the racing season?

 

There is no proof that no breeding would be any better than breeding. A few years ago, we did some investigations in several big lofts in Belgium. Those investigations did not give us the pros and cons of breeding out of future widowers. If there are no sure advantage of not breeding from future widowers, there is, on the contrary, a certain advantage for them that are breeding before the racing season, namely they will have some extra youngsters.

Of the twenty National winners we have consulted, and who obtained some good results in previous years, more than 60 % had allowed their widowers to rear one or two youngsters before they were put on widowhood.

 

 

Among those 60% were all great champions from Flanders and Antwerp, while the other 40% consisted mainly of champions from Liege which did not like the idea of breeding before they put their birds on widowhood. It is not unknown to us that some sceptic fanciers did not believe the sincerity of the obtained answers.

We beg them to observe that they are wrong to think that those great champions were dishonest and would lie about their methods. To tell the truth, we have been in their loft when they were in the meridian of their glory and have seen with our own eyes, in all nests of the racing birds, one or two youngsters.

If one believes what some authors have written on this subject, namely that breeding before the racing season diminishes the strength and reserves of the future racing birds, we must also believe that the pigeons of the greatest champions of Flanders that are rearing two youngsters and would be handicapped through this to win races, which they do, must be of a more superior class in relation to those of their opponents which are not breeding before the start of the racing season.

 

Let us come to this conclusion : If we need youngsters, we must breed out of our future widowers and when we have a bad season let us be honest and look for our failure somewhere else.

 

 

8. What is the most suitable time, after the breeding period, for putting the cocks on widowhood ?

 

Our advice is, to take the hens away after they have been sitting on eggs for ten or twelve days for the second time. To have the whole team on eggs at the same time, one must give the hens, that are slow in laying, an egg. They will most probably lay two or three days after this, but the cock will always take to this egg and this will stop its nest driving.

 

 

9. For what reason are you against future widowers sitting longer on their second round of eggs ?

 

The ten or twelve days are more than enough to give them sufficient rest after the rearing of youngsters and tiring nest driving. At this moment the appetite will increase because of the forming of the soft food and for that reason they will show a healthy appetite during the first days on widowhood.

 

This is very important. Indeed failure mostly occurs after two or three weeks, because the widowers would not eat enough. One mostly will spoil them through enticing them to eat more by giving them small seeds which makes it worse instead of better. They lose their racing weight and the only solution remains, to pair them up again in the middle of the racing season.

 

10.Can one start flying the birds on widowhood before the hens have laid their second round of eggs ?

 

Certainly. Many fanciers that pair up late make up for the lost time by starting the widowhood game on a big youngster. To make this system work, one must prevent the cocks from nest driving for the second time. Therefore one must take the hen away as soon as the youngsters are eight or ten days old. During the exercising flights one must bring the hens again into the loft so that during the absence of the cocks can feed the youngsters.

Some cocks have their best performances on a youngster. Pigeons that are resigned to this system, moult their first flight a little bit later than the ones that were allowed to lay eggs again and sit on them for about ten days. But this has its advantages at the end of the season.

 

 

 

 

11. How does one set about with pigeons, that have not reared any youngsters, before one puts them on widowhood ?

 

As we have mentioned before, one must take the hens away after they have been on eggs for about 10 to 12 days. In such cases it is important not to pair up too early, so that you can put them on widowhood the second half of April. Otherwise, nothing will stop you letting them sit two consecutive rounds on pot eggs ; the first time 15 days and the second time 10 days. We are opponents of taking the hens away for a week, between two breeding periods.

The condition of the, in this way, treated pigeon is carried to a too high level between the two breeding periods. It is absolutely premature and too great a loss for the form that must follow. If one trains the pigeons when they are sitting their second round of eggs, one can arrange it in such a way that one can race them the Sunday proceeding the time that one takes the hens away, which is 10 days after they have laid their eggs. This way one can obtain some good results.

12. Is it a requirement that widowers must have moulted their first flight feather before they can distinguish themselves in races. ?

 

Absolutely not. It all depends on the manner the birds are trained. As well by widowers as by pigeons raced on the nest game, the moult must progress normally. That is all.

 

We have known pigeons, widowers well as others, that flew better before than after the moult of the first flight. All what matters is, that once the moult has started is must progress regularly. By a normal moult we understand, that a pigeon that was paired up after 15 February and reared one youngster, must moult out its first flight during its second breeding period or shortly after it was put on widowhood. Widowers that have not reared any youngsters have a strikingly later moult, at least concerning the first flight.

 

 

 

 

13. What does one have to do on the fixed date for widowhood ?

 

Unless one is dealing with no other pigeons than those that were raced on widowhood, the previous year, it is good advice to start their training before one takes the hens away, which is either on eggs or on a youngster. Those pigeons are therefore already more or less in action. Personally, we have done well with the following method :-

 

The first Sunday, they were raced on eggs from eight to ten days. We proceeded as follows : As soon as the cocks were away, we took the eggs away, so that the hens would know that they did not have a nest any more. The Sunday morning, before the arrival of the widowers, the hens were taken away and were placed in the aviary or any other places were they could be locked up. The eggs were placed into the nest pans again.

On their arrival on the Sunday, the cocks will resume the sitting. In the evening, of the same day, one egg was taken away and on the Monday morning, during the exercising flight, the second egg was taken away. The nest pans were the following night either taken away or turned upside down.

 

14. Can they be raced on the following Sunday on widowhood?

 

Certainly. When they are well looked after, the first after, the first Sunday would not be the worst Sunday of the season. The most important thing is: The bird must be ardent.

During the first week, the hens are fed daily in the morning, in the aviary, on a small seeds. Their condition plays an important roll in the success of the first Sunday.

 

 

 

15. What preparation has one to make for this first week?

 

Starting on the Tuesday. All widowers are, in the morning and evening let out for an exercising flight. This exercise can be free or forced. The duration differs from one half to one hour and when they come into the loft, they have to go straight to their nest-boxes. To teach them this habit one must give them, as soon as they come into the loft, some small seeds in their nest-boxes.

This reward, on arrival from a flight must be kept up the whole season. Obstinate birds are give nothing until their next meal. On their arrival, one must leave them alone for about ten minutes before one feeds them. The feeding may be done either on the floor or in the nest-boxes. Personally, we have always kept to the first method for reason of the emulation that is created. On the Friday, instead of their normal morning flight, they are sent for liberation from a distance of two to three Km.

They depart without the hen being shown to them. On arrival, they will find only some small seeds in their nest-boxes. They are fed their meal, at the earliest, one half hour after they come into the loft. One repeats this on the Saturday morning but on their arrival they will find the hens in her reserved part of the nest-box. The cock is allowed to see her through the bars for about 5 minutes, after that time the hens are taken away and put back in the aviary. When it is only a one day race, they are given in the morning a light meal.

At the last moment, before basketing, one brings the hens back into the loft. One places each hen into her own compartment and immediately thereafter one must take the cock and put him into the basket. It is sufficient that the cock is left enough time to see that its hen is in the nest-box. Once again, one must send the cock for a short toss, as we mentioned before but this time one must liberate them in small groups of four up to six birds, depending on the size of the group that is to be liberated.

 

 

 

From this last toss they will come back like rockets. At that moment the manager or owner must be in the loft at the time of their return. He must open two or three nest-boxes together so that the cocks can fly straight to their hens. When the pair is squatted down in the nest-bowl, one must take the cock away and put it into the basket for the journey to the club house. This all can be done in 5 to 6 minutes.

16. Do you allow the cock to tread its hen, before its departure to a race?

 

In principle: No. A widower will never race when it has had its reward before it is sent away. It can be different for a temperamental and youthful element and treading may sometimes be necessary. We have had many a young cock that won, in such circumstances, top prizes.

17. Is there any danger that the cocks will return late from this last toss?

 

Not at all, provided one has followed the given instructions. One must, as soon as possible instil into the widower, that every time it is basketed it will find, on its return, the hen in the nest-box. The older ones, which are conversant with this method come immediately into action. When dealing with a whole team that has never flown on widowhood one must take more precautions.

It is essential that the cocks have several tosses in the first week, and that each time, on their return to the nest-box, their hens are there waiting to greet them, if only just for a minute. To help with this lesson, release them for their toss from the same place. The one object of this is to instil into them that the hen is waiting at the end of the flight. It is the first stipulation to success.

 

 

 

 

 

18.Must one repeat those tosses during the following weeks ?

 

Yes, at the least during the first 2-3 weeks if it concerns a new team and especially when they are intended for the speed races. But for all other birds it is sufficient, except for the first week, to toss them on the Saturday, immediately before basketing. As the training takes effect and your confidence grows, replace those tosses with a short exercise flight. This is how one sets about it : One places a hen of one of the cocks into the loft. When the cocks become ardent, at sight of this hen, one takes her away and the widowers are let out for a flight. When they are out of sight, one must close the entrance of the loft and bring, as quickly as possible, all the hens into the loft and place them in their nest-boxes and one can let the birds come into the loft.

19. Is there any advantage in showing the hens to the cocks, when they are exercised during the first week ?

 

We don't believe there is any advantage in this action which will only give satisfaction for a short period. Once the education is over, the widowers must be kept as quiet as possible. This is the great advantage of the widowhood method over all other racing methods. One cannot burn the candle at both ends. It is most important that they rest and recover during the week. Regarding exercising, the morning and evening flight are sufficient. For the rest, they must have a complete rest until the Saturday, just before the basketing.

20. Is it desirable to let the hens out of the loft for exercise while the cocks are away for a race ?

 

By all means. It is a good thing to make a habit of this. It is the only way to keep them in trim. The right time to do this is, immediately after the cocks are away from the race, because one can be sure that they will not stay too long. One must let them out with the entrance door closed. Once they are inside one must, by all means, not let them out again, because as soon they have noticed that the cocks are away the desire to return to the loft is gone. But never give the widowhood hens their liberty on the Sunday morning.

 

 

21. How does one prepare the hens on the arrival of the widowers?

 

When the cocks are away from the loft for several days, one must bring the hens after basketing or after the last toss, of which we have talked about, back to the aviary. When it concerns short distance birds one can leave the hen locked up in the nestbox. One must give them enough to eat, so that they are not hungry when the cock returns. After the ordinary meal, one must give them some small seeds to make sure that they have enough. After a good meal, the hens will be more ardent and because they have had enough to eat, they will have nothing else to do than show up to their returning cocks. Unnecessarily to add to this, that the hens must have the opportunity to have a drink in the loft.

22. And what about the cocks. Are they allowed to eat and drink their fill on arrival from a race?

 

We know several champions who work on different lines. This shows, that also on this point there is no strict line of action. In our loft we have in each nestbox a small pot filled with water. But the water is never cold. We place it in the nestbox so that it is, on arrival of the bird, at loft temperature. On arrival there is never any corn in their nest boxes, except a small amount of small seeds which is always there, even when they come back from a training flight, and it is always in the same place. A half hour after the removal of the hens they are given a light meal.

23. How long is a widower allowed to stay with its hen after returning from a race?

 

Here also there is no hard and fast rule. We have known fanciers who had good results and followed complete opposite methods.

Generally, the question must be looked at this way : The principle of the widowhood method is, to deny the cock to have any sexual contact with its hen during the week, it is only allowed, as a reward, on the Sunday after it has accomplished its task. After the widower has arrived and been clocked, it is allowed to drink and eat the small amount of seeds which is placed in its nest box and after it has had some rest it is allowed to stay with its hen. Once they are together one can leave them alone.

The time they are allowed to stay together depends on the following circumstances : When it has been an easy race and the widower does not show any signs of tiredness and is very ardent, the time will be short. In principle, frequent pairings must be avoided, especially if the widower is sent to a race the following week. If the cock is sent to a race in the middle of the same week, no pairings at all are allowed. In general, one leaves the birds together when it concerns short distance flyers which are raced again the following Sunday.

 

24. What about the other birds?

 

The time given, for amorous love-making depends on the flown distance and the state the bird is in when it returns from the race. When it is overtired it is kept locked up in the nest-box from a half to one hour before it is allowed to go to its hen. In the given circumstances, there is hardly any danger of too frequent pairings. Nevertheless remember that when the bird is overtired, it must be a last given, a fortnight rest, before it is send to another race.

25. Are there any fanciers, who during the whole racing season stop the least amorous advances?

 

Since the widowhood method is practised, all kind of possible proceedings are tried out. Some widowhood flyers who have denied their cocks, during the whole racing season, the least of satisfaction, have obtained good results. Some fanciers even use especial fabricated nest-boxes. (A board can be lowered down, if required, so that height of the nest-box is reduced to the height of a pigeon).

 

In our opinion, such a system must dishearten pigeons that are subjected to it. In any case, it falls outside the principles of the widowhood game, we mentioned.

Our preference, at least what concerns the long distance races, leans rather more towards integral widowhood. In other words : No hen at all, so that the cocks flies, simply and solely for the love its loft and nest-box.

 

26. Must one take away or turn upside down the nest bowls at the same time as the hens are taken away?

 

When using earthenware bowls, our advice is to take them away rather than turning them upside down, unless one takes the precaution to lay some warm material on the bottom of the bowl. One can also replace the bowls with a block of wood which can be used as a resting place. The ideal in this case is, to use bowls made of cork or flax-fibre. To prevent stopping the ardency of the cock too suddenly our advice is; to let them have the bowl for the whole Sunday. One can take it away on the Monday morning during their first meal or turn it upside down.

27. Is there any special care to be taken when the widowers return from a race?

 

The most important precaution one has to take is : that on the Sunday, especially when the race turned out a long and hard one, not to give them their ordinary mixture but instead of that a light mixture consisting of toasted bread, rape-seed, rice, dari and some wheat on a basis of 15 to 20 gram per bird and one can add to the drinking water, a teaspoon of honey on every litre of water.

28. Are you a supporter of a purgative?

 

Yes we are, but as it is used by some fanciers, that is by giving it every Sunday. This procedure is, with well looked after and well fed widowers, absolutely unnecessary. It is only necessary when the owner or manager uses harmful concoctions, to clean and discharge the organism or when they are given an excessive amount of constipating grains. Instead of a purgative, one can give them full cream but not boiled milk. This, for pigeons, is an excellent laxative.

 

 

 

 

29. How can one put pigeon that flew since April on the natural method, on widowhood in the middle of the racing season?

 

The most important thing is, that when you put them on widowhood, they must be in top condition. You cannot race pigeons on the widowhood method that are overtired and too far advanced in the moult. When you intend to sent some pigeons to the widowhood races in the middle of the flying season, you must breed from them very sparingly and timely. Breeding and racing at the same time will even ruin the strongest pigeon in a short time.

30. Are you against breeding from those pigeons?

 

With this end in view, we don't advice any breeding from them. Nevertheless breeding is not harmful to them when they are in a good condition and are given the opportunity to recover themselves, by letting them sit on pot eggs for a certain time before they are put on widowhood.

 

The advantage of the widowhood method is, that one can send pigeons to a race that have, at their disposal, all their physical abilities.

31. Do you advice breeding at the beginning of January?

 

It is much better on one condition, it must be a mild winter. But suppose it becomes very cold, which is always possible, it could be a big handicap for our future race birds. In any case, this early breeding will advance the moult, so that all racing comes to a stop long before the end of the season. When it concerns really good racing birds on which one counts to race the whole season, firstly on the natural and afterwards on the widowhood method, repeated breeding is not advisable.

 

 

 

 

32. What would you do in such case?

 

We would pair up early and regulate it in such a way, that we have them on eggs a few days before racing starts. Through locking up the hens in her reserved part of the nest-box, we would prevent the wasting of strength of the cock which nest driving brings along. After a few days on eggs, the cock will regain its strength and weight. We would race the cocks three consecutive Sundays on eggs. After they are on eggs for 4 or 5 days, we would reduce their corn and keep them a little hungry and especially at the end of the breeding period because there is nothing worse than to feed pigeons that are sitting eggs and are not allowed to rear youngsters, too heavy.

We would try to race it a fourth Sunday before it forsakes its eggs. As soon as the cock is away, for this last race, we would take the eggs away. On its return it will find its hen without a nest. One hour after its arrival, the hen is placed in her nest-box. On the Sunday evening, all hens are taken away. If one races the following Sunday, the hen must be brought back one hour before the cock is put in the basket for the race. It is allowed to move about freely with the cock but treading must be prevented.

 

This first race will give you valuable indications about the adaptation possibilities of your birds to the widowhood method.

33. Is widowhood continued after this?

 

Yes, if you like to do this. One should continue, as we explained above, but only as preparatory measures. The short flights, before basketing, are also not necessary because it concerns sufficiently trained pigeons.

 

We are of the opinion, that for a fancier that likes to race his birds for a long time and often, the system, requires the least physically exertions and is one of the most necessary requirements for a long continuous season.

 

We will add to this, that when a fancier is very patient, he may, rest assured, wait until his pigeons are on their second round of eggs, before he puts them on widowhood, so that he can start the widowhood game at the beginning of June.

34. What do you think about forced exercise flights?

 

Regularly practised and well managed, they are excellent, but the opinions and proceedings differ a long away. Well know fanciers, such as the Cattrysse Bros in Moere (Belgium), remain true to them, while others are satisfied with free exercise flights.

 

Out of this, we may conclude that they are far from essential. If we could be home regularly, as we were in a past, we would start them again, even when it was only for the quick arrivals we had and we don't have any more.

 

Lack of time has forced us to leave them alone. Our helper, entrusted with the management of our birds, is apprehensive of them.

 

All our pre-war results were obtained by practising those forced flights. They had to fly, morning and evening, one full hour. Even the pigeons which we flew on the nest game, had to undergo these forced flights.

35. For what reason does one fancier try to convince the others that he is an opponent of forced flights?

 

Everybody makes his bed the way he wants to sleep. Nevertheless, everybody is of the same opinion that exercise is compelled for every athlete as a forerunner for the proper training. We don't have the time to deal with all objections that are put forward.

 

A few words will be sufficient to point out that, whereas training is necessary, training flights are best used to increase the exercise gradually.

 

He who is afraid to over-train his pigeons can always wait till the last moment to start them and can stop them when the birds have reached the 200 to 300 Km. stage, and replace them with voluntary flights.

 

The main point is, that widowers that are not raced have a complete rest. This can only be obtained when one works skilfully and takes all necessary precautions. The same problem will occur when some of the race birds, are flown on different distances and are housed in the same loft and one has to basket some birds every few days.

 

36 - Don't you think that it is better to take the widowers that are not raced, away from the loft ?

 

We don't believe that this method is advisable. Supposing we take them away from the loft when we basket the widowers which are leaving on the Friday, one would be compelled to keep the resting birds in the basket from Friday to Sunday till after the hens are taken away again.

Unless one likes to take them away on three different occasions : the first time, when the birds that have to race are prepared, the second time, when the hens are shown to the birds that are leaving on the Saturday for the race and the third time on the Sunday when the calmness in the loft is restored.

One can be assured, that widowers, treated in this way, will be as ardent as widowers that are sent to a race and as they do not waste any strength, will eat less. In such cases, rest will have not much meaning.

 

37 - In other words, one can keep them in the loft while the hens are shown to those that are leaving for a race ?

 

The principle one has to observe in this case is the following : To make sure that they have rest, as much as possible, without disturbance. Widowers that stay in the loft, are allowed to hear but not to see anything. Placing the nest-boxes a certain way and some small material arrangements, can easily be made.

These will also limit the disturbance to the resting widowers to a minimum. It is best to have the nest-boxes in one line on one side of the loft so that they can see no other nest-boxes. Beside this, the nest-boxes must be fitted up in such a way, that they can be darkened, if required.

 

The best method is, to use a plywood board hinged to the top which can, when necessary, be lowered down to the front of the nest-box so that no daylight can come in. If this is not fitted, you can use a piece of cardboard and place that between the dowels of the nest-box front, which will give the same result.

 

It is evidently better when the widowers are, in some degree, conversant with those proceedings, because alterations made in their absence would upset them.

 

38 - So, one must keep the resting widowers in darkness ?

 

Yes, during the time the hens are shown to those that are sent to the race and also on the Sunday until all hens are taken away.

You must wait until the calmness is somewhat restored to raise the board or take the cardboard away.

 

You can ease those difficulties by not showing the hens to widowers that are flown in races for which they are kept in the panniers for two or three days. One can prepare them by giving them their nestpan back or by turning it over a half hour before they are basketed for the race.

 

We will add to this, that the widowers that are used for this method, will always remember that on their return they will find their hen in the nest-box waiting for them. They will be much calmer in the race pannier and their output will be none the less.

 

39 - Is it not necessary to show the hens on the Sunday to the widowers that have not raced that day ?

 

By no means, only when they have been rested for three or more weeks. Than you must give them their hens on the Sunday on arrival of the other widowers, but only for a quarter of an hour. This is also done when some of the birds have not been raced for at least a fortnight, to keep up their form and to prevent apathy.

When a cock has not seen his hen for a long time, it is better to show the hen before it is sent to a race, more so when it concerns a long distance race. These are, only general rules. A skilful fancier makes a profound study of each of his favourites and always acts with knowledge.

In some cases you may show the hen one or two days before for five minutes in the evening immediately before it gets dark. The preparation system can, as one can see, differ from one bird to the other. Personally, we pick up new experiences and are therefore qualified to confirm that also on this point as in many other fields in the pigeon sport, there are no hard and fast rules.

 

40 - Do you think it is better to rest the whole team on the same day ?

 

This is one of those things that in winter one is determined to do but either through lack of persistence or timing of the race program, is not carried out. When one has at his disposal two lofts of widowers it can easily be done. When it concerns races below three or four hundred Km., one can easily race them four or five consecutive Sundays and can rest them all on the same Sunday.

One can use that Sunday to purge them after which one can put them on a diet for two days. The results that follow will surely be influenced by this.

 

 

41 - What kind of purge do you advice ?

 

A single purge, in the middle of the season, as we suggest, can be rather strong. We personally, are not afraid to give them a small soup-spoon of Carlsbadsalt or sodasulphate added to two litres of water. The two days following they are given a very light meal, 20 grammes per pigeon per day, consisting of : 25 % toasted bread, 25 % barley, 25 % wheat, 15 % dari and 10 % linseed. They must also be given some greens. One can also purge them with full cream milk, as explained before.

 

42 - Is there any danger that resting widowers lose some of their appetite ?

 

This will never happen after the two diet days that we mentioned before and after the complete cleaning out they have had through the purge. For the rest, the fancier must proceed very skilfully. It is needless to expect that widowers will show their full appetite during fourteen whole days.

 

Resting widowers must be treated on equal terms as those that have been raced on the Sunday, for example : Those that are flying the short distances, don't get any feed on the Saturday and only small seeds on the Sunday morning.

One must impose the same restrictions to those that are kept home, but must not lose sight of the following basketing. For example : When it concerns Angouleme, when the birds go into the basket on a Wednesday, one should give them their diet half way between the arrival of the proceeding race and the appointed date of the following race. In this way, the birds are normally fed for the last 5 or 6 days they spend in the loft.

 

 

43 - Can one exercise the birds that are kept home, while the other birds are away for a race ?

 

There is nothing to stop you doing this, but it is not at all necessary. They have been exercised enough and keeping them in for a few days will not harm them. One must, nevertheless remember that when a pigeon is exercised regularly, its appetite is better and more steady.

 

44 - What does one do when the widowers return from a race ?

 

First we will give the classic system, as practised by most widowhood flyers and which we have followed for many years. Afterwards we will give the reason why we brought in some variations.

 

The hens are in their reserved part of the nest-box, in which, they, as we' mentioned before, have had their corn and water. Immediately, after the widowers are clocked, the partition in the nest-box is opened and the pair can stay together. The duration differs according to the effort of the accomplished task and of the time between the past and the following race.

 

 

 

 

45 - Can you go into the subject more thoroughly ?

 

What we mean is that a short distance cock, which is less tired and more spirited when it returns from a race, must be allowed less time with its hen than one that returns overtired. So much more because a short distance widower is nearly always sent to a race again the following Friday or Saturday, while a long distance widower needs at least a fortnights rest before it sent to a race again.

 

When the home coming cocks are too spirited, it is better to prevent frequent treading. If necessary, one must not allow the cock to go to its hen immediately after its arrival. The cock will find its drinking and feeding pot with some small seeds in its usual place. It will be less spirited if it has to wait for its meal till its hen is taken away.

 

For short distance birds the duration of this being together after their return may vary from a quarter to one hour.

 

When one wishes to prolong the form, one must be very strict on this point, especial during the racing season. Birds that are in the middle distance races and which are basketed the following Friday are treated in the same way. When it concerns long distance birds, cocks and hens can stay together until the evening without any supervision or restrictions.

 

 

 

46 - When and how are the widowers fed on their arrival from a race ?

 

Here is what we do, after they have been home for one hour : We place a small pot containing small seeds in their reserved part of the nest-box and as soon as the cock starts to eat, we take its hen away. In opposition to the other days, we keep the cocks locked up on the Sunday until they are given their evening meal.

 

 

Shortly, after the hens are taken away, they receive in their nest-box, 10 grammes of a light mixture consisting of : bread, wheat, dari, barley and a small amount of linseed. After four hours we open the nest-boxes and feed them a small amount of barley on the floor of the loft. While they are eating, we turn the nest bowls upside down.

 

47- The widowers are therefore not given as much as they can eat on the Sunday ?

 

No they are not, and it is also best not to give them too much on the Monday. They are not let out on the Monday and on that day 20 % of barley is added to their normal mixture. To make sure that they eat all the grains of the mixture one must give them a hand full at a time. The other days they have their normal mixture.

If you have followed up the advice we have given you for the Sunday and Monday, one does not have to be afraid that the widowers will lose their appetite before they are basketed for the following race. One must always try to keep the birds, whose digestive organs may have been upset, to some extent, in a good condition. And remember that not all that is taken in becomes nutriment but only that which has been digested.

 

48 - You mentioned earlier something about a new system and what is the reason you like to alter this ?

 

Firstly, because we like to experiment and pass on the results to our readers. Next, because we have repeatedly noticed in the past seasons that, after four or five Sundays of ardency, the form comes to a standstill. We are trying therefore to find a remedy to preserve the established initial ardour of our widowers for as long as possible.

thanks paulo great reading it helps thanks again

 

[OLDYELLOW]

 

Interesting oldyellow, I use cod liver oil to coat pro biotics on feed, never thought of it as a purgative?

 

i believe it was mentioned in a widowhood year but cant rember , but certainly is used to purge the birds

[Tony C]

hi this will be my second yr racing i raced my yb's on darkness and now want to race them widowhood, i have 20 yb's left and i want to have 8 widowhood cock and 8 widowhood hens. can someone give me advise on how to start them on widowhood

 

You say you raced them on the darkness, my advice would be is not to pair them up to early, the end of Janurary will be plenty early enough. Dont shoot yourself in the foot even before you start, they'll benifit from that bit of extra rest.

[REDCHEQHEN]

 

You say you raced them on the darkness, my advice would be is not to pair them up to early, the end of Janurary will be plenty early enough. Dont shoot yourself in the foot even before you start, they'll benifit from that bit of extra rest.

 

Unless your first race is the beginning of April - then you need atleast 3 clear weeks from your first race to end of breeding - working backover to get your birds into condition and in to the swing of things

 

Always work back over from your first race for pairing up and

always write everything down - you can then work out 'where you went wrong' for the following year and change accordingly

[Guest]

 

Unless your first race is the beginning of April - then you need atleast 3 clear weeks from your first race to end of breeding - working backover to get your birds into condition and in to the swing of things

 

Always work back over from your first race for pairing up and

always write everything down - you can then work out 'where you went wrong' for the following year and change accordingly

 

spot on  8)

[Ian McKay]

 

spot on  8)

 

Clockman should know he's been on widowhood for 20 yrs ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Guest]

 

Clockman should know he's been on widowhood for 20 yrs ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

 

never been on w'hood, you'v been on the drink again, ??)

[Ian McKay]

It's you I am talking about not the doos 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

[Guest]

It's you I am talking about not the doos 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

 

off topic..

[Ian McKay]

 

off topic..

 

YEP should be removed ;) ;) ;)

[Guest]

 

YEP should be removed ;) ;) ;)

 

like yir teeth  ;D

[Ian McKay]

 

like yir teeth  ;D

 

OFF Topic

[Tony C]

 

You say you raced them on the darkness, my advice would be is not to pair them up to early, the end of Janurary will be plenty early enough. Dont shoot yourself in the foot even before you start, they'll benifit from that bit of extra rest.

 

The extra bit of rest I refer to is not the time between putting them on w/hood and the first race. Darkness y/birds in the year of their birth moult, get trained, raced and then moult out again, a lot to put a young bird through. Pairing them that bit later gives them a bit more time to build up much needed reserves.

 

Unless your first race is the beginning of April - then you need atleast 3 clear weeks from your first race to end of breeding - working backover to get your birds into condition and in to the swing of things

 

Always work back over from your first race for pairing up and

always write everything down - you can then work out 'where you went wrong' for the following year and change accordingly

 

There's many ways to race w/hood. Since racing my y/birds on darkness I've found that pairing up later and sending them to the first race sitting 6-8 days on their second round benifits them in the long run. I take their hens away on the Thursday, let the cocks sit Thursday night and send the cocks Friday sitting, they're on w/hood from then on in.

[jakjak]

buy dave allens a widowhood year , pair them up allowing 8 weeks to rear and 3 weeks to train  once reared split sexes remove hens and one yb and leave cock one , id start traing hens as they dont mind the cold as much and send hens to first 3 races then after first race start cocks training but entirely up to you

 

I started with the dave allen book..........very  informative.......the video is good as well.