How Much Loft Flying?

[Guest kslicker]

Hello folks. I am new to the hobby/sport. This is my first year racing. I am racing young birds. On a good day they fly for 40-60 minutes. On a bad day it is 15-20 minutes. I feed them a mixture that consists of about 25% maple peas. The rest is various grains. They get tablespoon each every morning and as much as they like in evening. Am I on the right track? Cheers

[Guest devonred]

Sounds good to me

[geordie1234]

I read once im sure it was the mcgovern brothers Ireland that once they start training the doos they dont get out at the loft at all just tosses

[budgie]

At present the Cocks 85mins Hens 20 mins but they are in for a shock

[Rooster J. Cogburn]

Hello folks. I am new to the hobby/sport. This is my first year racing. I am racing young birds. On a good day they fly for 40-60 minutes. On a bad day it is 15-20 minutes. I feed them a mixture that consists of about 25% maple peas. The rest is various grains. They get tablespoon each every morning and as much as they like in evening. Am I on the right track? Cheers

 

When were the youngsters bred?when did they start flying?

[Guest kslicker]

I read once im sure it was the mcgovern brothers Ireland that once they start training the doos they dont get out at the loft at all just tosses

 

I think I read that too. Well for them, if only I had the time and money to do that.

 

When were the youngsters bred?when did they start flying?

 

They have been loft flying for about a month. I got them just out of nest around March.

[Guest stb-]

as long as i want them 2 use a bin bag on a pole they will stay up till i take it doon

[yeboah]

The great thing about our sport is there are so many different methods just got to stick to your own but must be very regular as for feeding yb's never liked giving them to little as they are still growing a good light feed in the morning and as much as they want at night for ten minutes if they are in good health should fly for up to two hours unaided if not all is not well omo

[Guest kslicker]

The great thing about our sport is there are so many different methods just got to stick to your own but must be very regular as for feeding yb's never liked giving them to little as they are still growing a good light feed in the morning and as much as they want at night for ten minutes if they are in good health should fly for up to two hours unaided if not all is not well omo

 

2 hours! Jaysus thats alot. My birds droppings are spot on, their throats are fine, no signs of respiratory. One thing I do notice is they haven't bathed in two weeks even though the sun is shining and the bath is available!

[Guest IB]

Mix of answers in there, some about OBs? Is it your February-bred YBs you are asking about, that have been on the wing for about a month? If so I think they are flying well, but would expect them to start ranging soon, then expect them to be out of sight for an hour+.

 

I would also put them out around 6am, unfed, feed them the short measure when they come back, use it as trapping training, get them in as soon as they land.

 

If it is your OBs, you say you are only racing YBs this year, so wouldn't worry too much about them, concentrate on your YBs.

[Guest kslicker]

Mix of answers in there, some about OBs? Is it your February-bred YBs you are asking about, that have been on the wing for about a month? If so I think they are flying well, but would expect them to start ranging soon, then expect them to be out of sight for an hour+.

 

I would also put them out around 6am, unfed, feed them the short measure when they come back, use it as trapping training, get them in as soon as they land.

 

If it is your OBs, you say you are only racing YBs this year, so wouldn't worry too much about them, concentrate on your YBs.

 

Cheers dude. They were bred around February. They are starting to range for about ten minutes at a time. I might start letting them out AM because at the moment I can only do PM (the loft is at my parents). But my father can do AM with them. Do birds generally fly more AM?

[Guest IB]

Cheers dude. They were bred around February. They are starting to range for about ten minutes at a time. I might start letting them out AM because at the moment I can only do PM (the loft is at my parents). But my father can do AM with them. Do birds generally fly more AM?

 

I think work commitment might stop a lot of fanciers putting YBs out in the morning. I've found they're not keen on going far when sun starts getting lower in the sky, that's maybes another reason why younger ones are put out PM - to keep them round the doors. Early morning seems best, fewer pigeons exercising then, so nothing to hold YBs local.

[Rooster J. Cogburn]

My youngsters are out first light.The earliest are starting to do a fair bit of flying now.They do a good stint in the morning but they are on the stoat all day and fed accordingly.Hoping they'll mature into fine specimens with it

[geordie1234]

I think work commitment might stop a lot of fanciers putting YBs out in the morning. I've found they're not keen on going far when sun starts getting lower in the sky, that's maybes another reason why younger ones are put out PM - to keep them round the doors. Early morning seems best, fewer pigeons exercising then, so nothing to hold YBs local.

I found this last year that when i was letting them out after work about 6ish 7 i was only getting 45 to 60 mins

 

so this year they are out 6-6.30am in the morning as i can gaurantee that i can let them out at this time everyday as the earliest i ever start is 8!

 

Another plus point at this time the neighbours never see the youngones tipping about there roofs

[Guest kslicker]

Some interesting responses. Do you think BOP are more active in early morning though?

[Guest IB]

I think they are active all day long.

 

Was also told hawks don't see too well in poor light, believed that until I saw a sparrowhawk skirting just above the rooftops pre-dawn early morning, and again during evening failing light just last winter.

 

I'm more concerned with peak activity, and for sparrowhawks I'm told the months January to March are really bad; and for peregrines January to April. I've no qualms about OBs being out during these months, they've got to be / get streetwise to BoPs, but I do not allow YBs out till end of April, beginning of May. When I read of BoP strikes on the Forum, it happens mostly during this period, and either YBs involved around the loft, or OB trainers.

[Guest kslicker]

***Update***

We have recently made a new window in the shed. This allows the air to flow through the shed. We can adjust this flow. It seems to be working very well. There is no smell in the loft and the birds are flying the longest they have in ages(60 minutes last night).

I had just bought Respiratory antibiotics, but I will see how the fresh air, some Naturaline and Eucalyptus do for 8 days.

[REDROCKET]

An hour in the morning and an hour in the evening fed after trapping no food for the bad trappers a couple of short training tosses and thats them ready for racing.