How To Race Late Bred Birds

[Guest IB]

It’s that time of the year when we look back on the racing season and try to figure out what needs improving for next year, and how. One of mine in need of big improvement is racing latebreds. I breed them every year to race the longer distance. They are not trained as YBs because either the moult or weather is unsuitable. It’s the end of another season and once again all the yearling latebreds that I raced are gone. Here's how I worked them:-

 

6965, cock, Training: 4 trainers to 50 miles prior to 1st race (65 miles) then given 3 to 40 miles between 1st & 2nd races (82 miles) and 1 x 40 miles between 2nd & 3rd race and 1 x 40 miles between 4th & 6th races. Racing: Given first 4 races to 157 miles, rested 5th, and dropped in 6th (220 miles).

 

6967, cock, Training: 4 trainers to 50 miles prior to 1st race (65 miles) then given 2 to 40 miles between 1st & 2nd races (82 miles) and 1 x 40 miles between 2nd & 3rd race and 3rd & 4th races. Racing: Given first 5 races, dropped in 5th (185 miles).

 

6966, hen, Training: 4 trainers to 40 miles prior to 2nd race (82 miles) given 2nd race and slept out. She’d been rearing, so stopped her for that.

 

6968, hen, Training: 4 trainers to 50 miles prior to 1st race (65 miles), then given 3 to 40 miles between 1st & 2nd races (82 miles) and 1 x 40 miles between 2nd & 3rd race. Racing: Given first 3 races, dropped in 3rd, (115 miles).

 

6969, hen, spare, Training: 4 trainers to 50 miles prior to 1st race (65 miles), then given 3 to 40 miles between 1st & 2nd races (82 miles) and 1 x 40 miles between 2nd & 3rd race. 2 to 40 miles, and 1 x 30 miles. Racing: Given first 4 races, to 157 miles, skipped 5th as she was paired up on 17 may, laid on 25th sent to 6th race sitting eggs, dropped 7th race (257 miles). Going into that race she had done 270 training miles, and 620 race miles. Didn’t expect to lose this one as some of my YBs are expected to fly 257 miles as YBs.

 

I’ve also 3 yearling latebred cocks that I did not race. They were given 4 trainers to 40 miles during June & July. I’ve also tried keeping latebreds till they were 2 y-o and ended up losing them under 200 miles - when I’m trying to get them over the channel - so all comments and advice on how to race latebreds successfully would be greatly appreciated.

[kirky]

I only breed latebreds for stock as it is hard enough to race yearlings that have raced as ybs, if i only had latebreds i would just train them up to 2 year olds then race them and would expect to lose 50% of them.

[REDCHEQHEN]

I don't often breed latebreds - but in recent years when I have they have been trained with the young birds the following year ( as 'yearlings') then raced as 2 year olds

 

when I have done this I have not lost any

[blaz]

one of my late breeds this year .he was bred from a hen after she raced eastbourne 09 .he was trained the same as old birds before 1st race he went to all club fed races bar last one .also took a round of yb,s from him because of his breeding.he did not score till leicester 243 mile 1st club 19th fed .he came home the next morning from the eastbourne nat race 384 mile.so he got sent to ypres 428 2nd bird home to me.did not see him coming as got told to take clocks down.(wrong)when i got back he was sitting in his box fed watered and resting at 8.40pm.distance 428 mile.do the Mathe's i did and it psst me off still theirs always next year

Edited November 8, 2010 by blaz

[nogin]

ASK WEE ENDFLIGHT HE'S YOUR MAN

[andy]

This subject came up a couple of years ago on PB and I posted in detail how to race "latebred darkness" pigeons as yearlings. Maybe the powers that be on here will know how to search for it.

[JohnQuinn]

It seems to me that you are doing everything correctly with them, from training regime to races. I also think you are correct to send them as far as your young birds are expected to fly.

You don't mention if there are bro's or sis's to the latebreds still in your race team who have survived the race program as young birds or if these would be from new pairings selected at the end of Ob racing??

[Guest IB]

Thanks for your replies.

 

Kirky – agree difficult to race and one alternative I’m looking at is not to breed any more.

 

Redcheqhen – yes, that's the way I was told to race them on the forum years back. Found as 2 y-o they went down very quickly - under 200 miles. Needed to try something different.

 

Blaz – would that be the nest mate to my blue cock? He’s unraced this year, trained for maybe going on road next year. I haven’t a clue how to work him tho.

 

Andy – I haven’t been able to find it, will keep looking.

 

John – Following on from my reply to Redcheqhen when keeping them till 2 y-o failed for me, I reckoned ‘when yearlings why not treat them as YBs’, so that’s what I tried this year, again without success. 2009 pairings were not same as 2008’s (when birds were paired mid-February) so late breds had no 2008 siblings.

 

2009 was a dreadful year for me for YBs first time I’d paired late March for channel racing, and didn’t take into account affect it would have on age YB’s would be come YB racing. Also left their training far too late, and basically lost the lot including older siblings (2009) of these 5 birds. Strangely although I consider it my worst YB year, they did win a club trophy – points trophy (joint winner) before going down? 6965 & 66 were nest mates, and 67 & 68 were nest mates, all bred mid to late June.

 

2010 I paired end of February, and started YB training beginning of July. So I’ve 8 raced 8 trained & 4 latebreds for 2011, when I’m going back to mid-February pairing.

[dal2]

I would seriously consider putin yer birds together in January and maxing the early advantage you will get in both moult and maturity. As long as yer willing to feed them the extra 2 months and maybe train slightly earlier?

Cheers Steven

[Guest REDFOXKRAUTHS]

I have had late breds before with my best lot being bred in late 07, 8 in total, i trained them to 10 miles when i could before end of november ( maybe 2 or 3 times) then as yearlings (08) I trained them up by them selves like young ones and got them in to some come back races, if you are unable to do that put them in the youngbird races as trainers up to about 130 mile MAX.

Then as two year old race them as normal its now 2010 and i still have 4 out of the 8... 3 almost 4 years on :-)

[blaz]

Blaz – would that be the nest mate to my blue cock? He’s unraced this year, trained for maybe going on road next year. I haven’t a clue how to work him tho.

 

no he is not related to him i would treat him same as old birds next year and race as far as coast or ypres. his dam bred my best yb this year.on cocks side he is a grand son of sir Colin 2nd open Nantes plus other nat posisions . hear is picture of sire son of sir Colin and dam .lost sire when he got out of loft.

Edited November 9, 2010 by blaz

[Guest bakes]

Blaz – would that be the nest mate to my blue cock? He’s unraced this year, trained for maybe going on road next year. I haven’t a clue how to work him tho.

 

i would treat him same as old birds next year and race as far as coast or ypres. his dam bred my best yb this year.on cocks side he is a grand son of sir colin . hear is picture of sire and dam .lost sire when he got out of loft.

 

top pair of doos there gaz and all best for coming year also as long as you no you should of scored highly from the race there always coming season to try again at it

 

all best.

[Rebus]

I always have a few late breds every year but dont start training until mid May the following year when the weather is more suitable to start inexperienced birds, i can usualy have them well enough trained to go training with the National birds in mid June 40-50 miles then they go as trainers to every young bird race, i think patience is the name of the game with late breds and this system has worked well for me. Two of the best pigeons i have were late breds trained this way and scored well in the Nationals and are still with me at 13 and 14 year olds.