Advice Please

July 2, 2013

Hi all im after some advice please. my best cock bird has a race from pointiers on saturday and basketing is tomorrow, but he is feeding a 4 day old baby, so im a bit worried. He is in great condition he was 6th fed 2 weeks ago from le mans. Some people say they dont race pigeons on small babies as the milk he will be carrying can go sour. Is this true. Look forward to your replys. Mass

PATTY BHOY · July 2, 2013

Dont send m8,had the same with a hen. Won the race week before eggs hatched, then when feeding ybs days old bird was well behind. Put it down to sour milk in crop.

Delboy · July 2, 2013

Hi all im after some advice please. my best cock bird has a race from pointiers on saturday and basketing is tomorrow, but he is feeding a 4 day old baby, so im a bit worried. He is in great condition he was 6th fed 2 weeks ago from le mans. Some people say they dont race pigeons on small babies as the milk he will be carrying can go sour. Is this true. Look forward to your replys. Mass

Scored with 2 cocks from SNFC Alencon,550 miles, the other year, both sent on 4 day ybs. Every family is different though.

Bluedoo · July 2, 2013

Agree with Delboy, one of best ways to send natural doos was to chipping eggs, The birds dont just start producing soft food once eggs have hatched, its there ready for youngsters.

hotrod · July 2, 2013

Hi all im after some advice please. my best cock bird has a race from pointiers on saturday and basketing is tomorrow, but he is feeding a 4 day old baby, so im a bit worried. He is in great condition he was 6th fed 2 weeks ago from le mans. Some people say they dont race pigeons on small babies as the milk he will be carrying can go sour. Is this true. Look forward to your replys. Mass

He will be on a 5 day youngster tomorrow. So the bird should be starting to feed solid food ,if you don't send you will never know ,then if it scores well ,then u know what to do next year. Ps I've found that the chipping of the eggs starts the milk making process .

William Reid · July 2, 2013

Hi all im after some advice please. my best cock bird has a race from pointiers on saturday and basketing is tomorrow, but he is feeding a 4 day old baby, so im a bit worried. He is in great condition he was 6th fed 2 weeks ago from le mans. Some people say they dont race pigeons on small babies as the milk he will be carrying can go sour. Is this true. Look forward to your replys. Mass

Only thing I would say is check his throat for any sign of thrush (small white spots or thin white line at left side of throat )

just ask me · July 2, 2013

I don't race natural but I do know some top lads that do and most of them say they have had better results with cocks racing to a big younster

like with every time you send them there no guarantees

But if healthy and happy in himself Id have him away that for sure

Wiley · July 3, 2013

It's down to you, when we raced natural our best results was old cocks on big young uns or on the drive. Our best hen results was racing home to lay, chipping eggs and a small youngster. But were talking some 15-17 years ago now.I used to like also taking the cock or hen away to make them think they was the only one there for the eggs or the youngster.

What I will say the result will be how keen he is, he has to be keen to do anything.

William Reid · July 3, 2013

It's down to you, when we raced natural our best results was old cocks on big young uns or on the drive. Our best hen results was racing home to lay, chipping eggs and a small youngster. But were talking some 15-17 years ago now.I used to like also taking the cock or hen away to make them think they was the only one there for the eggs or the youngster.

What I will say the result will be how keen he is, he has to be keen to do anything.

Wiley would you not check the throat to see how clean it is .and if not why. :animatedpigeons:

Wiley · July 3, 2013

Bill as I said we haven't raced natural for something like 15-17 years.

However I do not look at any throats during the racing season neither do I look at how clean a pigeons breast is. However I look at how well they exercise around home and the birds droppings this is the indicator on a birds health, and Im a big believer you can only get good results with birds with good health.

July 3, 2013

I think the youngster is a good age to race your cock to, it won't have taken anything out of the cock like rearing a big youngster might.

I've heard a lot of stories about pigeon milk. The facts are that the adult birds start making it almost as soon as they are down on eggs. If the eggs don't hatch, it is re-absorbed by the adults. If it isn't being used it sounds likely that the adult re-absorbs it too, and I've also heard of the 'other' story of some fanciers thinking it gives the adult extra nutrients in the basket.

It is a natural process, and nests are lost in nature and in fanciers lofts too. So doesn't seem to me that it can turn 'sour'.