questions on routines and bird preparation

[xigeon]

Do you give your birds a mixture of vitamins that only you know?

If so do you have a specific or special way in which you prepare it?

 

How do you prepare your birds for a race, special food/vitamin mixture, lucky charms etc?

 

Do you go through any specific routine in readying the birds for flight?

 

On the Saturday while waiting for the bird, do you go through any routine in anticipation?

 

Is there a lot of anxiety, and what do you do to calm yourself if there is?

 

Do you socialise with the bird, read the papers with them, talk to them, play music to them etc?

 

Many thanks for your time

 

[Guest TIMBARRA LOFTS]

who is this and can you tell me where your based..

[blaz]

yes i play music to them and when the birds get good at dancing i take them to the disco . dont tell me you have not danced with good bird at a disco

[gangster]

yes i play music to them and when the birds get good at dancing i take them to the disco . dont tell me you have not danced with good bird at a disco

 

mine like 2 read the daily sport...and wear a horse shoe for luck... ;)

[xigeon]

who is this and can you tell me where your based..

Hi I am a student of anthropology in London, UK just trying to find out about habits of pigeon racers when then are by themselves before, during and after races and their relationships with the birds as this is difficult to do. serious answers would be much appreciated and helpful thank you guys

[Guest TIMBARRA LOFTS]

well i will reserve my right to keep my actions private, sorry.  bye

[xigeon]

ok thanks anyway....

can anybody help me?

[xigeon]

ps i dont need specifics of secrets, but just if you do. thanks again

[dazza]

Some really grown up responses so far.

 

Xigeon - you will get a sensible reply if you wait. There are some helpful people on here! If you are serious then you can pm and i will try to answer your question.

 

Timbarra strange response for someone who has so much to say on everything else.

[thunderboult]

Do you give your birds a mixture of vitamins that only you know?

If so do you have a specific or special way in which you prepare it?

 

How do you prepare your birds for a race, special food/vitamin mixture, lucky charms etc?

 

Do you go through any specific routine in readying the birds for flight?

 

On the Saturday while waiting for the bird, do you go through any routine in anticipation?

 

Is there a lot of anxiety, and what do you do to calm yourself if there is?

 

Do you socialise with the bird, read the papers with them, talk to them, play music to them etc?

 

Many thanks for your time

hi xigeon,  we use a product called aviform ultimate it contains a number of things including - multi vits,water sanitizer, etc. we use this product  3/4 times a week.

when we're in the racing season we feed a diet that's quite high in carbs but as we get towards basketing night we give a high fat seed mix. there will also have access to seeds which are high in protien if they want them.

to get them ready for a race- we keep the cocks(males) and hens(females) seperate through the week and on basketing night we let them see their mates for a short period to increase their motivation to get home as quick as they can.(when they return from a race they get to spend some time with their mate and they quickly learn this).

on race days i can't wait normally, as soon as i wake up i'm thinking about it, first off checking the weather, then phoning lib line to see what news there is at the lib site. then i get all the other birds fed off out the way. put fesh food and water ready for the birds due to return, check the clocks still working ok, then put it in the loft ready. i'll work out what time i think they'll be back and have their mates waiting for them when they get back. i've still normally got hours to go after doing this so then it's smoking like a trooper drinking coffee like it's going out of fashion and pacing back and fore the garden whatching everything that fly's. hope this helps.

[gangster]

i thought you was a crank...

[Guest Freebird]

Me being from Texas--I play -boot scooting-S#@!^% kicking  music.  Maybe show them a XXX rated movie to show them what is waiting for them when they get home. Not sure it helps--but it does not seem to hurt them.

Ahahahaha! Would this xxx rated movie have some exotic birds in it, i.e. Indian fantails, Russian pouters, German beauties, Chinese tufts and pretty little fluffy things(bunny) I'll bet your birds are always first home. Ahahahaha!

[pjc]

Do you give your birds a mixture of vitamins that only you know? We use a mixture of grits, minerals, black & red and liquid multi vit on occasions in the water but nothing secret that isn't readily available.

If so do you have a specific or special way in which you prepare it? Only preperation is feshly squeezed fruit juice to stick brewers yeast to corn

How do you prepare your birds for a race, special food/vitamin mixture, lucky charms etc? Feed a good clean mixture with protein/carb ratio adjusted to suite requirements

Do you go through any specific routine in readying the birds for flight? We have a routine regarding feeding, cleaning etc which the birds are used to in readiness for a race.

On the Saturday while waiting for the bird, do you go through any routine in anticipation? Only routine on a ace day is to prepare the loft in readiness for the birds to return, hens ready in boxes if widowhood, check the stall traps are locked, shout at the neighbours if they dare get the lawn mower out and gag the kids.

Is there a lot of anxiety, and what do you do to calm yourself if there is? Always anxiesly awate the return of the first birds, nothing can calm you down until you see either your birds arrive home or somebody elses birds pass the loft.

Do you socialise with the bird, read the papers with them, talk to them, play music to them etc? Always talk to the birds while in the loft and often have the radio playing whilst cleaning out.

[REDCHEQHEN]

Do you give your birds a mixture of vitamins that only you know? Ready prepared multi-vit, but do use other preparations that I prepare myself

If so do you have a specific or special way in which you prepare it? Yes but is prepared on a daily basis when I feel its required

How do you prepare your birds for a race, special food/vitamin mixture, lucky charms etc? There is a bit of a routine ritual on basket day, they are fed a mix that I prepare, which can be changed to suit the race conditions, there are no ‘lucky charms’ except I did buy the OH a horseshoe for Christmas which is above the loft

Do you go through any specific routine in readying the birds for flight? There is a specific routine yes

On the Saturday while waiting for the bird, do you go through any routine in anticipation? Loft prepared – and lots of cups of tea drank

Is there a lot of anxiety, and what do you do to calm yourself if there is? Lots of anxiety - Make a cup of tea (evil)

Do you socialise with the bird, read the papers with them, talk to them, play music to them etc?

Spend a lot of time with the birds, music is played nearly every day of the week, there is a mains powered radio in the loft – which is left on during the day, turned off at night, mainly so the cocks can’t hear the hens calling

[NW USA]

Hello Xigeon, I'm not in the U.K. but hope to be helpful just the same. I'm new to this and have had birds less then a year, first race is 2 weeks away. I feed premixed grain with about 9 different grains, I supplement that with barley at times. I do give a vitamin supplement called RedCell weekly, its a common poultry vitamin. Birds have grit available at all times. My birds are all yearlings trained out to 70 miles last fall. My birds are currently loft flying 20 to 30 minutes twice a day. I will give them 6-8 training tosses in the next 2 weeks starting at 20 miles and working out to 70 to prepare for their first race of 180 miles.  I imagine I will be anxious for returns on race day. I will go about my normal morning with my wife and kids, chores, playing, etc...I do occasionally talk to the birds but what I say to them is unfit to print. Good Luck.

[fred x]

Well done pjc, & redcheqhen, This is what the Pigeonbasic is all about helping others with your knowledge.

when some one asks for some help so they  can improve themselves. be it right or wrong, they can give it a go & if the system works for them well & good.  "Sportsmanship i call it"

[jimmy white]

Do you give your birds a mixture of vitamins that only you know?

If so do you have a specific or special way in which you prepare it?

 

How do you prepare your birds for a race, special food/vitamin mixture, lucky charms etc?

 

Do you go through any specific routine in readying the birds for flight?

 

On the Saturday while waiting for the bird, do you go through any routine in anticipation?

 

Is there a lot of anxiety, and what do you do to calm yourself if there is?

 

Do you socialise with the bird, read the papers with them, talk to them, play music to them etc?

 

Many thanks for your time

 

[1] no  

[2] different types of food for differnt races [distance wise]

[3] yes  

[4] no

[5] yes, there is a lot of anxiety to calm anxiety,, im afraid to say,, smoke   and drink coffee

[6] yes to all,,,, excepting reading the papers to them ;D

 

hope this helps

[xigeon]

Thank you guys for your help so far!!!

[xigeon]

also i will be back to ask more questions when come across queries if that is ok... also the personal preparation of the pigeon of the pigeon.. almost the science behind you wanting your bird to come back and the things that you do to decrease the anxiousness/anticipation is what i am getting at, this is where i am trying to research... any ideas????

thanks

[pjc]

you might like to be a a fanciers loft on race day.

It would be interesting to put a heart monitor on them when they are expecting the birds home and see what happens when they see a bird approaching etc.

[REDCHEQHEN]

What are you studying out of interest?

Psychology?

[pjc]

What are you studying out of interest?

Psychology?

 

 

If its Psychology then save your time and money studying pigeon fanciers as we know we are all mad! ;D

 

[vanlink]

 

A pigeon fancier friend of mine came around to watch my birds arrive from a race of which he was not participating in. He said that it was amazing to see how nervous I was getting and how I kept getting to my feet and sitting back down again. He could really see it as an observer because he was relaxed due to not competing. I know that I do get very nervous prior to arrival.

I talk to my birds all the time, especially during the most important time, trapping. I feed by hand and I gently fight with them to build confidence. I usually have a radio with me when I am in the garden so I am very often singing. When the birds are separated I do like to play a certain theme song when they go back together, which the birds get used to (At the moment ‘Here come the Girls’ from the ad).  Observation is as much a part of preparation for the fancier as anything. I do like to have team talks and individual pep talks too after all I am the Manager and how they act reflects on my reputation.

 

As for Vitamins, I do not give them, they play no part in health or athletic ability and I wonder how many species including humans managed before they were discovered.

[Tony C]

Do you give your birds a mixture of vitamins that only you know?

If your asking do I divulge what vitamins I give my pigeons... yes I do

Or

Do I make up my own concoction... no I don’t

 

How do you prepare your birds for a race, special food/vitamin mixture, lucky charms etc?

My pigeons are fed a base mixture to which I add certain seeds & grains as and when I feel necessary.

Vitamins are administered again when I feel necessary and not as a matter of course.

No lucky charms, if I win its not down to luck, if I lose its not down to bad luck.

 

Do you go through any specific routine in readying the birds for flight?

I try to stick to regular exercising and feeding times in my day to day management of my pigeons.

 

On the Saturday while waiting for the bird, do you go through any routine in anticipation?

Just pace up and down, cant keep still.

 

Is there a lot of anxiety, and what do you do to calm yourself if there is?

There’s anxiety, sometimes even heartbreaks but these are outweighed by the enjoyment to be had.

 

Do you socialise with the bird, read the papers with them, talk to them, play music to them etc?

Move slowly amongst them, talk to them, give them treats, create a bond with them.

 

[Tony C]

also i will be back to ask more questions when come across queries if that is ok... also the personal preparation of the pigeon of the pigeon.. almost the science behind you wanting your bird to come back and the things that you do to decrease the anxiousness/anticipation is what i am getting at, this is where i am trying to research... any ideas????

thanks

 

The anxiousness/anticipation is all part of the game along with the adrenalin rush you get when you get your first arrival.