Racing untrained yearlings

[alex wight]

Due to my circumstances last year, i have 38 yearlings to race this year, that have never raced a young bird programme. They have only had x6 15 mile tosses, to help break them to my new address. What would be the best way to train and race them? my shortest race is 48 miles approx, out to 400 miles approx. I want to know their capabilities are without throwing them away.

[Guest]

Due to my circumstances last year, i have 38 yearlings to race this year, that have never raced a young bird programme. They have only had x6 15 mile tosses, to help break them to my new address. What would be the best way to train and race them? my shortest race is 48 miles approx, out to 400 miles approx. I want to know their capabilities are without throwing them away.

 

I'm in the same boat mate, having moved and restarted after a 4 year break, so I too am interested in peoples advice  

[alex wight]

Cheers len just hope to hold onto the best, and use them along with my own bred ones this year. Good luck for 2009

[schouwman71]

i would keep them training at 15mls has many times has youcan then give them around 5 at 30 miles,race them on widowhood and they will do well for you,young birds dont need to be raced to win has yearlings,ive had some good ones in the past that have never seen even a basket has youngsters,no1 priority is healthy birds.

 

Les

[pjc]

You have at least given them some tosses as youngbirds so they have some idea whats required of them.

I would train them paired on good fine days, keep them at home if there are any cold easterly winds, even to the point of missing the first few races if they are not ready.

What you need to remember these are your future team, treat them gently this year as untried yearlings so you have some 2yr olds for next year as well as your yearlings which will have hopefully been raced this year as youngbirds.

[alex wight]

cheers les. i was hoping to race on the roundabout system.

[Guest monkeynuts71]

me too, im restarting and not sure what to do about my first young bird season? do i race them all the full youngbird program or just train on my own to leave me a team for next year? but then do i want a loft of untried pigeons next year????? but have a bad race and i have nothing ?

[alex wight]

You have at least given them some tosses as youngbirds so they have some idea whats required of them.

I would train them paired on good fine days, keep them at home if there are any cold easterly winds, even to the point of missing the first few races if they are not ready.

What you need to remember these are your future team, treat them gently this year as untried yearlings so you have some 2yr olds for next year as well as your yearlings which will have hopefully been raced this year as youngbirds.

 

Sounds like the plan i was aiming at.

[Guest strapper]

my thoughts exactly with you phil( pjc), these will drop like stones if pushed, dont listen to club m8s saying chuck them in to long races,remember as phil said, you need them for next year as 2 yr olds.

no doubt you will drop a good percentage but treat them right and they might surprise you.

[schouwman71]

cheers les. i was hoping to race on the roundabout system.

 

even better on round about,at least your going to race hens aswell,if there a new breed and trying them race them all bud,if there good the best ones will race well.

 

les

[hotrod]

im similar as my youngsters last year were only trained , but i'll have no hesitation to take them to 300 miles as yearlings this year, and maybe one or two if they are A1 might go accross water close on 500 miles, but as earlier post says health  is a must

[schouwman71]

me too, im restarting and not sure what to do about my first young bird season? do i race them all the full youngbird program or just train on my own to leave me a team for next year? but then do i want a loft of untried pigeons next year????? but have a bad race and i have nothing ?

 

if you have a good team ,race them bud but what are you going to do ,race darkness or natural,if darkness fly them through if natural 140mls and stop them to moult through.

 

les

[alex wight]

I,ll be aiming at training them really well and taking great care at the races. weather, distance ect will be huge factors as to what i do. and obviously cross my fingers ;D ;D

[thunderboult]

i have a cock here now never raced or trained as a yb just flown around the loft(summer bred) as a yearling i gave him 6 races upto 150 mls , as a 2yr old he flew really well, flying the entire programme including all of the welsh southeast nationals(6 races) and picking up 4th,6th,8th+11th sect in the nationals. so i'd say don't go to hard on them this year and next year i think you'll see the best out of them.

[jacksafc]

I would disagree with going easy and looking for a team of 2 year olds, as monkey says they'll be mainly untried and might not have what it takes, and regard to taking things slowly and missing a couple of races can they handle the jump. I think i'd treat them as yb's and try a few tosses at 2 miles, 5 miles, 10 etc up to 20/25 then as many as you can.

Difficult call but either way i would expect heavy losses when racing, best of luck.

[walterbmasson]

 

 

get them rangeing or flying for about 3/4 hour for 2weeks give them a couple of 40 mile tosses into first race keep them going every week up to 330miles to 350miles but dont stop them i do it with late breads every year  8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

[alex wight]

i have a cock here now never raced or trained as a yb just flown around the loft(summer bred) as a yearling i gave him 6 races upto 150 mls , as a 2yr old he flew really well, flying the entire programme including all of the welsh southeast nationals(6 races) and picking up 4th,6th,8th+11th sect in the nationals. so i'd say don't go to hard on them this year and next year i think you'll see the best out of them.

 

Cheers mate, ive been a fan of being steady with them and stepping up their racing per year. It becomes a game of patience, but you,ve proved its worked for you, well done.

[Guest kev d]

im in the same boat as well mine are getting chucks fron 10 miles when weather warms up

about six from 10 miles then same again from 17 miles friend takes them for me , then my neigbour

takes them to work with him he can drop them at 30 miles  or 65 miles they can go every day if i want .

then there straight in the first nfc race at just over 200 miles

[Guest monkeynuts71]

i will be flying natural, i dont have the room for darkness or to be honest i dont know anything about it. i think all my racers will be natural. if i get another loft i may try widowhood, i have the time to put to it with the hours i work but not the space at this moment in time

[alex wight]

Very varied and interesting ideas which is great. First of all i,ll see how they go then decide what direction to go in.

[Guest Owen]

I would not bog them down with rearing youngsters. Plenty of training at 15 miles but never in an easterly wind. Then race them fairly hard up to 250 miles.

I would have them on widowhood but I am biased because I don't understand roundabout and I am useless at natural.

If you do decide on widowhood, remember not to use too much hen. Do not overfeed.

This way you should end up with some very useful two year olds. I see no point in nursing them too much because you will only need the ones that will win races. The last thing you want is a bunch of  overfed, lazy so and so's that cost you money but don't win anything.

If it were me, I would want to test them properly so that I can build a team out of the best of them.

[alex wight]

I would not bog them down with rearing youngsters. Plenty of training at 15 miles but never in an easterly wind. Then race them fairly hard up to 250 miles.

I would have them on widowhood but I am biased because I don't understand roundabout and I am useless at natural.

If you do decide on widowhood, remember not to use too much hen. Do not overfeed.

This way you should end up with some very useful two year olds. I see no point in nursing them too much because you will only need the ones that will win races. The last thing you want is a bunch of  overfed, lazy so and so's that cost you money but don't win anything.

If it were me, I would want to test them properly so that I can build a team out of the best of them.

 

lol believe me they wont be lazy or over fed, your right, i want to have ones that are worth keeping.

[jimmy white]

You have at least given them some tosses as youngbirds so they have some idea whats required of them.

I would train them paired on good fine days, keep them at home if there are any cold easterly winds, even to the point of missing the first few races if they are not ready.

What you need to remember these are your future team, treat them gently this year as untried yearlings so you have some 2yr olds for next year as well as your yearlings which will have hopefully been raced this year as youngbirds.

 

i would agree with this post,, , i would certainly not train them too early in any poss bad weather , these are your future team , sometimes over keenness can force you into hard training , early,, i would suggest this the  very wrong thing,to do, yearlings usualy come in to their best form[form that will last longer[ in the month of may,, ] id be far more inclined to wait untill they are on widowhood, ranging well, [being un raced as yb,s will ensure this,,,fresh pigeons] then a few trainers when the weather heats up :-/ ;D] i would be happy just to get a few races under there belt,,,,, then as two year olds ,, the skies the limit,, wish you well

[pjc]

if you are intending breeding from them then it may also be worth thinking about taking a single youngster from each pair and training during warm weather to bond the birds and also test the hens then swithching to widowhood for the latter races?

[Delboy]

Alex, dont race them on widowhood as you will not benefit from this system, in the long run. Here, in Scotland, widowhood with yearlings, in my opinion , is not the way to establish a decent team for the channel. It may give you good results early doors but Im afraid you will lose more birds. Personally, if I was starting out and wanted to build a team for the distance,  I would fly them naturally up to 260 miles this year and then next year they can go as far as you want. PATIENCE , is the key mate, but you already know that. All the best,

 

Derek Hay