season come to an end?

[Guest jason]

I started the old bird season with 3 pair of yearlings on the natural system, I've now lost 5 of them in 2 races and training from 40 miles 3 times per week.

 

my question is, if you was in this position, would you keep racing the one (cock) on his own or would you call it a day and wait for the young bird season

 

jason

[Wiley]

its very hard to compete with the one bird but i have done in the past, however the thing is if you lose him there will be no age in your loft,to back up your yearlings, its bacially down to the individual as if u lose this cock you mite aswell basically say ur starting again and shouldnt expect much in the next 2 seasons anything would be a bonus. But its down to you mate, i personally would set out alot of questions on how can i motivate this cock ect and then come up with an answer, if you cannot come up and tick every box stick to your young birds!

[jimmy white]

sorry to here of this jason,, i feel there has to be a reason for loosing these birds ,, i think i would seek into this, learn by your mistakes [sounds a bit harsh, but never the less true] i think i would now concentrate on a decent team of yb,s,, i really do wish you luck as this is obviously a real downer for you,, but , as with pigeons , time and patience could turn things around for you

[Guest jason]

I think I will send it to next race (Worcester 104 mile) and then call it a day.

as I'm running our one-loft race it would give me a lot more time to concentrate on the one-loft young birds.

 

Jason

[Guest jason]

sorry to here of this jason,, i feel there has to be a reason for loosing these birds ,, i think i would seek into this, learn by your mistakes [sounds a bit harsh, but never the less true] i think i would now concentrate on a decent team of yb,s,, i really do wish you luck as this is obviously a real downer for you,, but , as with pigeons , time and patience could turn things around for you

 

I don't think there was anything wrong with the birds (everyone at the club commented on how well they looked) I think it was more to do with lack of experience, as young birds last year I stopped them after Cheltenham (124 mile to me)

 

jason

[jimmy white]

i wish you luck jason ,, who knows ,, could be the winner  , but i think your doing the right thing,concentrate on the ybs

[rockinrick]

    watever u do m8 u will succeed , bit puzzled how u only had 6 yearlings  for old bird , do u not have any older birds to fly ?

,,,,,, anyways m8 goodluck with race

[stevebelbin]

 

I don't think there was anything wrong with the birds (everyone at the club commented on how well they looked) I think it was more to do with lack of experience, as young birds last year I stopped them after Cheltenham (124 mile to me)

 

jason

 

The lack of experience doesnt always come into it!! I raced yearlings last year that had one 56mile race as a YBs but still raced well from 400miles. Good luck with your last one though and fingers crossed one or two may return  

 

 

[Guest]

Hi Jason,

 

I'm sorry to hear about your losses mate. With all due respect, your birds may have looked in good condition, but there may have been something underlying that you couldn't see. I am not looking for excuses in a bottle but had your birds been tested for health problems? If they were in peak condition, you need to look at your feeding and motivation. If this was OK, then maybe they just weren't good enough! They should have at least come home though, which makes me think that there is more to it than not being good enough! I've been through your pain numerous times for various reasons and all I can say is as long as you keep on trying, it will eventually happen for you. Keep your chin up and concentrate on your young uns mate. Best wishes and good luck.

[Ronnie]

Jason i'm in the same boat mate.started with a small team and after last week (first old bird race) i'm down to 5 birds 3 cocks (1 all battered and bruised and un able to race) and 2 hens(1 hen was unraced as a young bird)on top of that i was 30 min's behind the winner this week.Same as you everyone commented how good the looked and felt but i thought they was to heavy.Anyway to cut the story short after talking to Peterpau on here and getting a few tips of him it turn's out i havnt treated my birds for anything apart from worm's.using cider vinegar and garlic i thought i would be ok.I treated them this week and now i am hopefull for this coming week.Also asked a guy to see if my feeding was ok and he advised me if i'm unsure try and keepit about the one and half ounce of feed per day per bird(rough guideline as all birds are different and all corns are) untill i got it right.Well i used that guide against what i was origianally feeding and it turns out i was nearly double that.so it may pay to look at that .

As for the race programme i am going to continue (ive still got the pair i'm hoping to race in the first national) if i can get the season out of it i will be happy.My aim is a loft with birds that i can send 400miles plus and get on the day.

Hope this helps mate just a few idea's .As jimmy white says it may be down to your management and not the birds.I know it is in my case ,all the best mate whatever you decide.On a side note my young birds are the main priority my yearling's are experience for myself in the hope of learning more for the future.

[Guest jason]

Thanks for the comments lads, 10 minutes ago I was stood on front of loft pondering about old birds that had gone missing, when all of a sudden.......

3 hens dropped onto loft roof, 2 missing from first race on 14th april and one from saturday.....so now I've 4 to race!

I'm going to treat them tommorow for canker

 

jason

[sapper756]

Keep yor chin up Jason m8, Wish you all the best with your old birds.

[Wiley]

Thanks for the comments lads, 10 minutes ago I was stood on front of loft pondering about old birds that had gone missing, when all of a sudden.......

3 hens dropped onto loft roof, 2 missing from first race on 14th april and one from saturday.....so now I've 4 to race!

I'm going to treat them tommorow for canker

 

jason

 

how weird but gd lick id defaintly get a swap and dropping test done dont blind treat what may not need fixing

[Roland]

sorry to here of this jason,, i feel there has to be a reason for loosing these birds ,, i think i would seek into this, learn by your mistakes [sounds a bit harsh, but never the less true] i think i would now concentrate on a decent team of yb,s,, i really do wish you luck as this is obviously a real downer for you,, but , as with pigeons , time and patience could turn things around for you

 

I personally don't think it's wise to even train yearlings till nigh the end of May! No birds like cold winds, all hate them especially any East, when you shouldn't even train old birds, let alone yearlings, and definately not race them. That's hy the wiley Ole boys just send a seasoned old Cock bird two, or hens, to keep the pot open for Averages etc.

 

[westy]

sorry to here to here it mate just carry on racing.

[jimmy white]

 

I personally don't think it's wise to even train yearlings till nigh the end of May! No birds like cold winds, all hate them especially any East, when you shouldn't even train old birds, let alone yearlings, and definately not race them. That's hy the wiley Ole boys just send a seasoned old Cock bird two, or hens, to keep the pot open for Averages etc.

 

i must agree with roland here, most yearlings are lost early in the season [even if theve flown 300 miles as ybs],, yearlings come on a treat in the month of may and can win well up to 360 miles even further if pushed , but at least glad youve got some back   :) a wee rest[ maybe droppings tested[and a couple of trainers then right in to 200 miles in the best of weather , if their right theyll  win    again, the best of luck to you [ so may not be over yet for you :) ]

 

[peterpau]

Maybe trained too soon, and raced when not ready. Mine have been in the basket three times. Two twenty mile chucks, and then raced from Bath. I'd go for canker first, you can only tell through bad results or a swab test. I think you will agree you aint had a lot o' luck

[Guest]

Glad to see your birds are working back, Jason. Perhaps as others say a combination of training when weather was too cold, and the birds a bit heavy ... I'm working on the feeding side of things myself from this week. Best wishes for your remaining OB races.

[Roland]

Maybe trained too soon, and raced when not ready. Mine have been in the basket three times. Two twenty mile chucks, and then raced from Bath. I'd go for canker first, you can only tell through bad results or a swab test. I think you will agree you aint had a lot o' luck

 

Sorry can't see how anyone can think that ... let alone say. I mean just what and how has canker to do with 'Homing' or wanting to home. Blumming aida, in the 50's 60's one would wipe the canker out with a matcth, put sommat in the water, and that week - end home in great times from Thurso, Lerwicke. Sorry but these are just some money spinning projected, and Crutches of lame excuses. Especially when one sooner or later has to come to the fact that a Mild canker is prevalent at all times in pigeons, and indeed needed! Sorry PeterPau, have no inckling where your coming from there mucker.

[Roland]

Yep Canker, Respira, Ecoli etc. etc. are augered by many with frends that sell the stuff.

[Guest Vic]

Jason, Either you or your old birds are beset by problems!  For somebody to boast a website, and fall at the second fence, is to say, at  the at the least unbelievable!Also, for three "lost" pigeons to turn up together, after being missing for a week or so, is also remarkable indeed. To give everyone, a fair chance on your one loft race programme. Forget about your miserable O.B. team and concentrate on the adventure that you have so generously offered to one and all on pigeon basics. :

Vic.