Experienced Birds Awol!

[sapper756]

Considering we are still into the "short distance" races, and from reading threads on here, it appears that a few fanciers, myself included, have lost what we would class as experienced birds, 2,3, and 4yr olds, who have flown many miles, and some have even scored in their lives.

 

Where are these birds?

 

Why are we suddenly losing experienced birds?

 

I look forward to hearing your opinions and experiences.

 

Thank You.

[DJWa]

Considering we are still into the "short distance" races, and from reading threads on here, it appears that a few fanciers, myself included, have lost what we would class as experienced birds, 2,3, and 4yr olds, who have flown many miles, and some have even scored in their lives.

 

Where are these birds?

 

Why are we suddenly losing experienced birds?

 

I look forward to hearing your opinions and experiences.

 

Thank You.

 

BRIAN IM MISSING 7 2 YEAR OLDS AND 23 YEARLINGS SINCE RACING STARTED

JUST GOT A 2 YEAR OLD HEN BACK TONIGHT MANKY

MISSING FROM THE 21ST APRIL FROM THORNTON

[b.massey]

Yeah lost a few myself... I am a small team flyer with 6 widow cocks and 8 natural hens. Down to 2 cocks and 5 hens. Hard to see out the season with losses!!!!!

[mcgrottys]

i put it down to it being to cold for our birds.

[b.massey]

i put it down to it being to cold for our birds.

 

Certainly too cold for the widowhood cocks.... Natural pigeons are coming out on top in these North winds

[buster151]

how does the cold affect them differently

[Guest bigda]

how does the cold affect them differently

the widowhooders are pampered, and they catch the cold easily

they are good day birds

 

 

 

[AR]

the widowhooders are pampered, and they catch the cold easily

they are good day birds

In my federation it doesn't matter if it's hot, cold, north, south, east, or west wind it's still the same guys who are doing the winning(widowhood or roundabout men.) so I think it comes down to having good birds and a good system. It's cold for all the birds. Jmo

[dal2]

the widowhooders are pampered, and they catch the cold easily

they are good day birds

[/quote

In my federation it doesn't matter if it's hot, cold, north, south, east, or west wind it's still the same guys who are doing the winning(widowhood or roundabout men.) so I think it comes down to having good birds and a good system. It's cold for all the birds. Jmo

Canny disagree with this statement.

Do some folk expect their experienced birds tae be lifted intae maybe a second or third race without the same work as the yearlings? Its a dangerous game, been there many times,!!!

 

I have had numerous strays in the garden in last 3/4 weeks and most seem to be 2/3 yr olds?

 

Sometimes a plan is drawn for prospective nat doos when the fed card is confirmed and sometimes this can blind you from other circumstances, like the weather, cos you want hours on wing or think that they have sat idle too long?

 

Then there is the VERY contentious notion that there is something wrong!!! Be it the bird, the feeding or the system!!!!

You know what we are like if you are honest with yerself! We can blind ourselves to anything cause we dont want to believe it!!!

 

Its a real sh** losing yer top birds. Last years Bovingdon inland nat made me CRY!!!!!

[Guest stb-]

i had only lost 2 birds at first 4 races , but lost 27 on sat as i poisoned them with mouldy beans , and yes all the 2 and 3 yr old were out for there first race , at least i know what caused it

[AR]

We've had 4 races now and not lost a bird but I know fine well there is at least a quarter of them will be of no use. We all have them the ones that keep coming home late. And we still keep them because of the fear of having that bad race or getting bop attacks

[yeboah]

If you seen some of the doos i get in over a period of time simple question for me to answer FALCON

[ovy1255]

go2 more su birds in will post ring nums morra night feeling bit under the weather so just basketed them and fed and watered one 09 bird i think the other a 11 bird with blood down side possible hawked.

[big blue bar]

i think it has to be perigrines ,in my opinion they are all feeding young now and know that there will be rich picking on sat and sundays . the coasts are over populated with them . We have been lucky this year so far but i m sure that we will lose some of our team to the hawks . last year we had about 5 to 6 bird with lucky escapes returning with half tails and wings out

[Guest stb-]

If you seen some of the doos i get in over a period of time simple question for me to answer FALCON

yesw mick the leading pigeons are getting nailed week in week out folk dont realise how many they are and how many pigeon they need to live on

[b.massey]

yesw mick the leading pigeons are getting nailed week in week out folk dont realise how many they are and how many pigeon they need to live on

 

If nothing changes towards the BOP then pigeon racings end is in sight! We can have one last chance at saving it. If everyone was to find out the things they could do to there racers so if they do get caught by BOP then the pigeon would die but also be a nasty meal for the BOP. Then we would cut the population very quick. But all fanciers need to take action as one or two here and there is not enough

[yeboah]

yesw mick the leading pigeons are getting nailed week in week out folk dont realise how many they are and how many pigeon they need to live on

No just the leading one's Rab the late one's that are knackered and just flying must be very very easy prey once they enter the hills ,I had hens out flying saturday night that were not away racing and was one blue missing when i called them in ,she turns up today with half a wing and tail also got a plain su rung hen in what a bloody mess she is in will take until next year for her to recover properly if the owner wishes to keep her then doubt very much if she will ever race properly again have seen i so many times with my own once they have been targeted that close they never recover mentally .

[gulkie]

my opinion for what its worth is that the older birds when attacks takes

place they go for cover as they have experienced it so many times before

and the yearlings carry on.omo