Fit to Race

[stevebelbin]

Due to me going away for the next two weekends, my birds will have missed the first three races and will start when I come back from approx. 150miles. They will be exercised while im away, and may be able to be trained when I come home, weather permitting. Is this too much of a jump for 2-3 year olds? Yearlings will be started later when we have a drop back race.

[Roland]

of course not!

[stevebelbin]

Cheers, I thought not, jumping them doesnt normally bother me, but I was talking to a few lads in the club and they thought I was mad LOL

[stevebelbin]

How far do you train yours Rose b4 they would go out to their first race of 150? As I may wait another week when they will be at 200 odd miles and train them 100miles the weekend im back!

[peterpau]

Mine go 10 mile 3 or 4 times then to 122 miles. if you can go 10/20 miles 3 or 4 days then just bang 'em in mate. Our fed start this weekend we'll be on a Rugger tour in Devon. Our birds have had 2 chucks at 20 mile. Then when we get home, they go racing whatever.

[stevebelbin]

Cheers Pete, I will go with that, i will hopefully get a few chucks into them when im back and bang em in  ;D

[Guest]

Hi Steve,

 

as long as they are fit, healthy and motivated then it shouldn't be an issue if they are good enough. A few years ago we were late in starting with our widowhoods and were awaiting a comeback race from Grantham approx. 145 miles. This was cancelled and we had to jump the cocks from 50 mile Thirsk training tosses into a race from North Weald, 230 miles. We only had 6 on, all were back within half an hour, our first bird won 1st Club 7th Fed! Attached is the photo of my Dad Sid holding the winner, Peters Pied.

[Roland]

I tried for a while to Just Feed race last season but the dirge of the onstant 'Feral' put a stop to nigh much. Ricky Mardis did very well where one just controls completely by feed, and not even loft flying. I believe that Chris Balsam was also quite sucessfull too on this system once. I know that Chris defnately tried it about 10 years back I believe.

[Wiley]

I tried for a while to Just Feed race last season but the dirge of the onstant 'Feral' put a stop to nigh much. Ricky Mardis did very well where one just controls completely by feed, and not even loft flying. I believe that Chris Balsam was also quite sucessfull too on this system once. I know that Chris defnately tried it about 10 years back I believe.

 

i roland s0orry for my ignorance, was wondering what ya ment just by feed? is it racing them short of food?

[Roland]

No, it is a different feed most days. Marathon  /Atheletes have been doing similar for many years. Basically it is simply this. After the race Saturday they have a light Protien... 3 Peanuts would suffice, and a little light feed. Over the next two / three days the protein and are increased to rebuild / replenish any tired or torn musles. Then they are fed Carbs increasingly till they want to explod when basketing. Of course one would only send a short race prior to a distance race, A wing opener like, just 150 miles or so.

[Roland]

 

Usually have them down to the coast about 40mls wouldnt worry me too much if they didnt get trained before they went as long as they were flying well at home i have mine out all year round so they keep pretty fit just wouldnt expect anything much from them the first couple of races if i did that

 

Spot on Rose... 100% agree.

[Roland]

Gary Edmunds, the best flyer I've ever know never took his birds- any bird - more than 20 miles. Race season they never went any where. Bill Briggs was a great fler also, and a Lorry driver. His went anywhere and everywhere most days, and he done his share of winning... But was ALWAYS way behind Edmunds, like most others, in the fed. Said 'Roland, I come over and see you after the Perth race'. He is about 15 miles from me. Well I sitting and waiting for my Perth birds when in he walks... I said 'I thought you said AFTER the perth race'! He laughed and said 'I am, that finished over an hour ago' lol. What a flyer, what a country man and what an affinity with the birds.

[stevebelbin]

No, it is a different feed most days. Marathon  /Atheletes have been doing similar for many years. Basically it is simply this. After the race Saturday they have a light Protien... 3 Peanuts would suffice, and a little light feed. Over the next two / three days the protein and are increased to rebuild / replenish any tired or torn musles. Then they are fed Carbs increasingly till they want to explod when basketing. Of course one would only send a short race prior to a distance race, A wing opener like, just 150 miles or so.

 

Interesting feed system  . Just one thing though, for a distance race would you want them exploding out of the basket, surely they want to conserve energy for the last 200 miles or so. Surely a few slow-releasing-energy peanuts prior to basketing would be good for this.

[Guest slugmonkey]

I try to get mine at least 50 - 75 miles or farther 2 weeks before the race this year only made 40 we went 100 first week and I won one of the races if you have them in any kind of shape at all 150 shouldnt be a problem

[stevebelbin]

Hi Steve,

 

as long as they are fit, healthy and motivated then it shouldn't be an issue if they are good enough. A few years ago we were late in starting with our widowhoods and were awaiting a comeback race from Grantham approx. 145 miles. This was cancelled and we had to jump the cocks from 50 mile Thirsk training tosses into a race from North Weald, 230 miles. We only had 6 on, all were back within half an hour, our first bird won 1st Club 7th Fed! Attached is the photo of my Dad Sid holding the winner, Peters Pied.

 

Some set-up that, ive just fitted those louvres to my YB loft and they are perfect for controlling the ventilation  ;D

 

[Roland]

It doesn't matter really Steve. You can only fill a cup to the brim. They take their' quota then it is turned into fats etc. These is also good and available as a reserve tank and is what the distance birds need! There three stages before they burn Muscles for use as heat. That is the part we don't want to have. Toxins are thena problem, depending on how bad.

[Guest]

Thanks Steve, Its changed a bit.........quite a bit actually, since the fire! The repairs have gone well, even added an extension, will try and upload some updated photos once everything is finalised. Attached is one taken a few months before the fire!

[Wiley]

beautiful lofts

[Guest]

Thanks Wiley, left hand end which was what was burnt down, is the young bird loft, you can just see the curtains for darkening down! 40 feet was lost. The next two compartments are 12 boxes each for widowhood cocks. Their is another compartment of 12 boxes, plus a compartment for the widowhood hens next to the cabin, as you will see by the attached photo. We like to have 9 widowhood cocks per end!

[Guest CS]

Some set-up lofts... Davey.. Wish you a good luck this year...

[Guest]

Cheers Craig, I'm looking forward to the young bird racing thats for sure! The burnt part is back up, and looks better than before, new roof etc! We have birds for the channel racing but no sprinters, so we are starting at the Grantham comeback race with them, then straight into Lillers! We have some cracking new sprinters in the young bird loft, even got some of my old bloodlines back!

 

You have a cracking set-up going off your photos, and I wish you good luck also! Keep uz updated of how you are doing mate!

[Roland]

nOW THAT IS IMPRESSIVE MUCKER... GOOD LOOK.

[Guest]

Thanks Roland, good luck to you too!

[jimmy white]

just seen your new set up davey b ,, must say absolutely fantastic , what a brilliant job youve did there,,,,,,best of luck to you  

[Guest]

Thanks Jimmy, we've been building it since 1983, and its only coming to the end now! Good luck to you also!