Racing Pigeon Age limit

[Keepsmilingqueen]

i was just wondering what is the age that fanciers consider an old bird, too old for racing, its just that the team i have inherited contains no birds over 3yrs old, and iv noticed that fanciers in my club are still  racing birds older than this  ;D

 

thanx

sharron  

 

ps please forgive me if i am asking the most stupid questions, iv gotta learn from somewhere  :B

[Guest]

birds can race up to 6 yrs old or even longer, but as with any sport outh is important and a lot of facniers like to keep their team full of youth. but for the longer races you will see older birds coming through. (this just my opinion),yearlings tend to make better widowhood cocks for the shorter races, its as if they are 'thicker' than the older 'wiser' birds.hope this helps.

[ribble]

think gez sums it up spot on.

[Guest jason]

yes, Gez sums it up nicely, just like to add, at my club if you send birds over 3 years of age the members take the mickey by asking "what you doing racing pensioners?"

;D ;D ;D lol  ;D ;D ;D

[ACE LOFTS]

iv put 9 year old pigeons threw before in a race

[kaybee]

im sure 'Fortune Lady' was 10 years old when she came to win her double gold award with the SNFC

[Wiley]

personnally if a pigeon hasnt scored alot of times or won by the time it is 3 years old,they do not go any further,if they are continuelly scoring and winning they will go to stock,however if they do not breed the goods and where scoring keep them on the road. There is a guy in my club who races 9-10yr old pigeons and by half they do look it to,he tends not to do so well on the sprint racing but come berwick,stonehaven or thurso, he is guareented to have a fair few good ones on the clock,

[ALF]

Dont think it matters what age they are if you think their good enough and fit enough send them ;D ;D ;D

[hooky]

i currently have 7 1999 rung birds in my loft and just last week i got two on the drop in front of my young birds...so really if they are healthy and train well why not fly em

[Guest Paulo]

3/4 years old was the age my dad used to race his widowhood cocks too. His natural birds for the distance races were raced to about 5/6.

 

If they do win a lot more fanciers will prob have it retired and in the stock loft through. Or some go to the opposite extreme and try and squeeze more and more races out of it until they lose the bird.

[stevebelbin]

I raced a cock last year that was 7 year old and he seemed to struggle compared to his previous years racing where he had won and been really consistent, so he was stopped. I think it depends on the bird and how much work they have had in previous years, and how valuble they would be in the stock loft.

[Chris Little]

I am sure Bobby Carruthers won a SNFC race from Sartilly with a 9 year old hen

[Keepsmilingqueen]

thanx alot for all your replies so far   they have helped alot !!

 

sharron  

[Guest]

My friend 2 years ago was 9th Open Pau NFC with an 8 year old hen and was gonna send her again the following year. I talked him into putting her to stock and this year was 2nd combine bergerac only 5 day birds with a yearling daughter. He probably could have kept sending her but is ensuring her line of hard day pigeons carries on instead of sending her one too many times.

 

I personally retire my distance stock by 6 years old and generally find if they are still around at six , they usually are my best producers aswell.

[Guest bristolkev]

there was a guy in vol 78 n0.6802 june 2nd 2006 edition of the BHW on page 18 under BEST IN THE WEST by the name of terry selway winning yet another  1st place with this  10 yr cock.he says this cock has more cards than clintons!

[NANCYVIEWLOFTS]

i dont think the age matters but normally after 3 or 4 years old you cant motivate them the same as they have seen it and done it all before

[Wiley]

To race a pigeon upto ten yr old,does beg the question why hasnt he stopped the pigeon and the only thing in my head is that the pigeon cant be a producer as it is a winner

[Guest Paulo]

Sure does it must just breed crap but win races you can get one offs like that

[swilcox]

Herbie Allen had a famous pigeon called 09! He was a super pigeon and won 9 x 1sts plus 1000's in National races. 09 won his last race at 9 years old from Nantes!!! Funny thing is he never bred anything!!

 

Stuart