Advice

[sarg]

Hi all, can I please ask for some real constructive advice. I am a complete newbie, no loft, no birds etc. Always been involved with country sports, fly fishing etc, got chickens and bees. Anyhow when I was a lad growing up on exmoor, the local game keeper had a loft of pigeons, they have always fascinated me and the wife said why not look into it. So I went off to my local club on marking night to have a look and chat. Unfortunately there was a massive argument over boxing the pigeons whilst I was there, and I kept quiet because of the tension. Generally I get the impression they are a good set of gents, but I got the wrong night, and when I did get to talk to a few, they weren't that cooperative/supportive which I guess is totally natural. I did get the impression most had lost nearly all there young birds this year with fly aways whilst training or exercising, plus perigrines causing a issue too, I must admit I have seen 5 locally to me in the last week. Anyhow my question to them and you is, I can only fit a 8x4 loft in my garden, is it a practical, can I race from this, how many Birds and if so how would you set it up and system. Ie I don't think I could have an open loft, they would get hammered by hawks/ perigrines.

Any advice would be appreciated even if it's "I wouldn't bother" which is the impression I got from the club.

Cheers Sarg

[Leroy]

I would give it a go. Don't bother with buying old birds for breeding your own youngsters because I think you would struggle for room, but buy a dozen young birds at the start of next season from a good flyer who gets results. You can fly your yearlings naturally rather than widowhood,the year after. Give it a go, nothing ventured nothing gained. I only race to a 10x6 :-)

 

All the best

Lee

[rembrant2coo]

Hi all, can I please ask for some real constructive advice. I am a complete newbie, no loft, no birds etc. Always been involved with country sports, fly fishing etc, got chickens and bees. Anyhow when I was a lad growing up on exmoor, the local game keeper had a loft of pigeons, they have always fascinated me and the wife said why not look into it. So I went off to my local club on marking night to have a look and chat. Unfortunately there was a massive argument over boxing the pigeons whilst I was there, and I kept quiet because of the tension. Generally I get the impression they are a good set of gents, but I got the wrong night, and when I did get to talk to a few, they weren't that cooperative/supportive which I guess is totally natural. I did get the impression most had lost nearly all there young birds this year with fly aways whilst training or exercising, plus perigrines causing a issue too, I must admit I have seen 5 locally to me in the last week. Anyhow my question to them and you is, I can only fit a 8x4 loft in my garden, is it a practical, can I race from this, how many Birds and if so how would you set it up and system. Ie I don't think I could have an open loft, they would get hammered by hawks/ perigrines.

Any advice would be appreciated even if it's "I wouldn't bother" which is the impression I got from the club.

Cheers Sarg

 

 

SENT YOU A P.M. MATE

[blaz]

it has been said give it a go . their have been fanciers that have won racing to rabbit hutches.if you do take up racing and join a club send me a pm would be glad to breed you a few yb,s,next year.

[sarg]

Thank you all, lots of reading to do and talking with the wife, but it looks possible at this point. Any more opinions greatly received

 

Sarg.

[gulkie]

If u do decide to go ahead take Blaz up on his offer he is a first class flyer and a gentleman

I fly his birds and I'm more than pleased Good luck m8 .also if u do start up guys on here will

help u out I'm sure.

[PIGEONPACKMAN]

yes I have a loft of the same size in the garden only takes a minute to scrape out each day I keap only 8 birds in mine ,I lets them bread each year and offer the younun's away for free,i don't race but love looking after them ,training them you could try get some late breads of top fanciers, could get you on your way

[Guest IB]

I'd say go for it. Most fanciers complain they keep too many pigeons. Your small loft will automatically limit your numbers but the plus side is they are in such a confined space that your closeness to them when they are in the loft will make them very tame. You'll need to think of your loft design. You will probably need to split it into 2 compartments, one with nest boxes and perches for breeding and racing, the other with perches only for young birds. Good luck.

[Wiley]

If limitations on size is a problem, I'd personally do some research on the jealousy system, and the possibility of racing from a few hutch like structures, at waist height. The bond created by you and the birds would be great. Hutch like lofts would also be a big health benefit also. Jim Jenner goes into detail about his first loft that was successful similar to a hutch on one of his DVDs.

[Wiley]

BIRMINGHAM ROLLERS RACING PIGEONS TIPPLERS DOUBLE KIT BOX LOFT SHED

 

http://bit.ly/14AaZPk

 

These are impressive and would be great for a new starter who has a limit of space, and number of birds able to keep

[PIGEONPACKMAN]

you can watch your birds better with small numbers and one will shine above the overs when its on form and you get to know each bird and its personality. mine aren't what I would call tame but they don't mind trapping when im in the loft ,even without food . The main problem I have is if you loose one training etc you don't have many pigeons to re-coup your loss and then you don't want to train paired up pigeons for the same reason I guess it would be hard to get them trained for races with stories of people having bad tosses all the time you get a bad one your wiped out .my advise would if you can fit a bigger loft in your garden get one ,you can always keep small numbers in till you get used to it all .

[sarg]

Thanks again guys for your help. Yes I can see cleaning and getting tame birds being a plus in a small loft, ad well as a smaller feed bill. The big issue is the losses, I guess everyone had losses, but small teams it must have a bigger impact on, with no way of correcting it.

Thanks again all.

Sarg

[airdrie2]

MY MISSUS flew last year youngbird season with 2 young birds so it isnt the numbers that count . go for it