Racing Hens

[demolition man]

After few losses youngbirds i've got 24 spare hens, i don't normally race hens but these are to good to get rid of. i do have a spare section any idears how to race these its got too be simple as possible :egyptian: :egyptian: Thanks

[andy Burgess]

After few losses youngbirds i've got 24 spare hens, i don't normally race hens but these are to good to get rid of. i do have a spare section any idears how to race these its got too be simple as possible :egyptian: :egyptian: Thanks

why not just race them to the perch , put a stock cock in on a Friday ? just an idea ,and simple enough

[geordie1234]

Celibate hens I've heard work like mad around the loft for hours very simple aswell maybe worth a go

[PATTY BHOY]

As Andy says pop a spare cock or 2 in before basketing.

[andy Burgess]

As Andy says pop a spare cock or 2 in before basketing.

ive put a little more thought into it ,and think maybe ,just send them , but have a cock in on return each Saturday .i bet by week 2 or 3 they will come home like rockets

[geordie1234]

I think if you race completely celibate with no cocks on return or before you will see the pigeons that are the most natural racers

[demolition man]

So if i race these to the perch how much i do feed, how would i stop them pairing how much training wiill they need? will putting a cock in once a week stop them pairing?

[geordie1234]

i would split your section one side to the other the side with the perches make a slanted floor out of mesh or that so they cant land and pair up so when the trap feed them in the full section then let them fly up to the perch and shut the section over so they are locked on there perch

[Pigeon Thos]

I have 18 hens and 10 cocks - similar to last year. I'll select the 8 hens and put them into a section with 6 boxes and they WILL pair. I keep an eye on them and put the hen I want to breed from from each pair through to a stock cock for half an hour every second day until they lay. You end up

With 4 eggs per pair but can guarantee the fertile ones are to the stock cock selected and the chosen hen. I did this last year and had 12 from the one cock - but he only reared two with his own hen. All these hens raced week about on natural and some were re-paired to cocks for longer races.

[andy Burgess]

So if i race these to the perch how much i do feed, how would i stop them pairing how much training wiill they need? will putting a cock in once a week stop them pairing?

how much to feed is down to you i feel ,you will know best .if they pair = they pair ,why worry that may the best motivation they need .how much training ? if flying well around home and previously raced , very little i would feel.placing the cock in once a week may or may not stop them pairing ,it was a suggestion to hopefully motivate a quick return. your first question also said you wanted to keep it simple, just send them ,if slow to trap , feed lighter etc etc .very best of luck.

[adam owen]

race them like owen races his cocks on the homosexual system hopper feed barley loose out once a day race them every week no matter what the distance ,when the channell comes play about with them add few cocks on friday and sat or just on return ect if some pair dont worry let them sit the egggs then add eggs till they cant sit no more you could have some fun with them really

[Tony C]

Keep them on perches (slope back or V perches best). The only flat surface in the loft should be the floor (no ledges or traps where the hens can pair up on/in). Have just one nest bowl placed in the centre of the loft and pair up one aggressive hen to a cock and leave them paired (this pair will keep the other hens from pairing up on the loft floor). Race the hens celibate and you'll be surprised how well they come.

[Wiley]

I like a good team of Lesbians worked well for us in the past.

[Guest IB]

I was in a similar state last year with around 10 spare hens. I race Natural but I put all the birds on celibate about 2 weeks before the 1st race. Found that Hens on celibate fly for hours, and don't need training. Cocks would not fly at all, all they wanted was in beside hens, and I made a major mistake not training them .. they were not as fit as they should have been and that took a heavy toll. But last years losses were the worst I've ever experienced losing 24/34 of my OB racers.

 

Found celibate hens very easy to manage (apart from wanting back in with cocks) and did not pair up amongst themselves. Took stock hens out too, and allowed hens that had not been paired to a cock to run free, found that any cock would pair with any hen, and got a jealousy system going but contrary to what I was told to do, I found it better to give each one of the pair of hens time on her own with the cock she'd chosen on marking night, because they'd race better. If I had to do it again, I don't think I'd show on marking night at all - but that does make for easier basketing.

 

Think I've around 5 spare this year, haven't decided how to race them, but paired hens would be easier and I've done that before, and I think Natural system makes for a far happier / more content loft, so I think a couple of nest boxes in YB end for these pairs might work.

[Guest The Newbie]

Raced hens this season sent them to the 3 comeback races won 2,2nd in the other the hens were miles better than the cocks we will be racing more of them next year.

[demolition man]

Thanks for the idea's I shall see what we come up with and keep you informed if they start doing the

 

bee-nezzs:

[Guest maricelbill]

After few losses youngbirds i've got 24 spare hens, i don't normally race hens but these are to good to get rid of. i do have a spare section any idears how to race these.

its got too be simple as possible

 

 

i can well believe it.

[demolition man]

After few losses youngbirds i've got 24 spare hens, i don't normally race hens but these are to good to get rid of. i do have a spare section any idears how to race these.

its got too be simple as possible

 

 

i can well believe it.

 

 

You can believe wot it needs to be simple :emoticon-0136-giggle: :emoticon-0136-giggle: :emoticon-0136-giggle: