stock question

[Guest spin cycle]

though not new to racing this will be my first year with a designated stock loft . i have 6 pairs 2 given, 2 bought and 2 racers. the question is how many ybs off each pair to test and how many years do you give stock to be succsessful. for instance if i take 6 ybs then presumably i have to give those ybs 3 seasons (?) before i know if parents are any good as breeders. do i keep breeding in subseqent years or 'store' them and be trying something else?

[pjc]

If i was trying new stock for the first time I would breed 6, race 4 and keep 2 back.

The 2 kept back pair into your racers the following year and race the youngsters.

If neither the children or the grandchildren perform then look for something else asuming your methods are good etc.

[Guest spin cycle]

If i was trying new stock for the first time I would breed 6, race 4 and keep 2 back.

The 2 kept back pair into your racers the following year and race the youngsters.

If neither the children or the grandchildren perform then look for something else asuming your methods are good etc.

 

would you keep breeding from the original pair in the meantime?

[Wiley]

to me with stock to be test they have to go with 3 different hens in 3 season and at least 6 with each, if none are winners or scored well in my eyes are no good,

[pjc]

Yes, keep breeding from the stock until you prove them one way or the other but as Wiley says also try swopping pairs around or Bull the cockbird.

[peterpau]

Breed 6 race the lot, if you have 6 left at the end of young bird racing, keep 'em. If none, out 'em. If 3 or 4 split and re pair. Any with wet nests split and re pair immidiately.  Then if they have wet nests again out they go.  

[Guest spin cycle]

Breed 6 race the lot, if you have 6 left at the end of young bird racing, keep 'em. If none, out 'em. If 3 or 4 split and re pair. Any with wet nests split and re pair immidiately.  Then if they have wet nests again out they go.  

 

whats a wet nest ?

[pjc]

either caused by wet feeders or watery droppings!

[peterpau]

Wet nests are watery droppings round the nest, not nice and firm. Tiz the one thing I look for first. Either way you don't need 'em.

[Guest spin cycle]

6 pairs of stock can breed 36 ybs (less a couple of chuckouts perhaps) so why do some people have so many 'stock'....they can't possibly test them quickly ...can they ?

[bewted]

6 pairs of stock can breed 36 ybs (less a couple of chuckouts perhaps) so why do some people have so many 'stock'....they can't possibly test them quickly ...can they ?

 

2 chuckouts of 36 or are you hoping only 2 ?

[Guest cloudview]

depends on what strains you are going in for , iwould have said if these are sprinters 18 months should give a good indication  otherwise distance birds can take at least 3 years totest them

[Guest spin cycle]

 

2 chuckouts of 36 or are you hoping only 2 ?

 

being inexperienced unless they are obviously faulty i give them a chance in the basket...its worked so far (touchwood). but i'm open to suggestions...what would be a reasonable number ?

[peterpau]

6 pairs of stock can breed 36 ybs (less a couple of chuckouts perhaps) so why do some people have so many 'stock'....they can't possibly test them quickly ...can they ?

 

I only keep ex racers my stock loft will no longer have any prisoners next year 18 months after moving in here.

 

 

[Guest IB]

I think its quite a difficult question to answer, especially without knowing the distance you want to win at and at what age you expect your birds to fly that distance. For example, some send yearlings 500 miles, some say 2 yo for 500 miles and still others say at least 3yo before sending 500 miles. So think 'long distance' breeders will / could be there for a good number of years before they can be said to be proven.

 

Irrespective of distance, 6 youngsters would be a minimum, I would race them all out and would expect at least some of them to score or fly consistently or show promise (your choice) as YBs before deciding to leave the parents paired for another year's breeding.  

 

So make sure your records include an end of season performance summary for each racer and breeder. And do it while the season is still fresh in your mind and without rose-tinted specs on.