new starter needs advice please

[shaun h_]

hi im new to pigeon racing this will be mine and my sons first season racing . I was after some advice on how much feed to give my birds after morning exercise and after evening exercise . also what corn seed ect ive just started feeding them gerry plus i know i currently have problems cos birds will only exercise for about 20 mins on morning and about 10 to 20 on evening i give them half ounce each after morning and half to 1 ounce on evening these are yearlings and not had them long just managed to settle them theyve been flying out for about a week now but not for long managed to get 45 mins off them yesterday but only by forcing them to fly i fly with my son from our back garden in sunderland and its quite a built up area birds will trap really easy just from me saying come on they all down in seconds am i not feeding them anough for them to be like this they will keep eating even if there crops are full i trap through a open door any advice would be really helpfull.

shaun h

[OLDYELLOW]

Welcome to Pigeon Basics we hope you enjoy the site

[OLDYELLOW]

sounds like your under feeding slightly , i wouldnt be in a rush to get them flying out of there skins just yet 20 to 40 minutes is good its still cold

[north wales novice-]

personally i would trap them a.m. Shaun to 1/4 oz ,and p.m. to a full 1oz . but in all honesty thats just a guide and i think whats needed is a little patience , they are still getting used to you ,the cree and area . more excercise will come . and all the best to you and your son .  andy.

[kirky]

i dont think thay have been flying out long enough yet to fly the full hour thay will build up to it as thay get fitter, i would not flag them give them time.

[shaun h_]

thanks  i posted this on another forum but didnt get many replies this forum is more helpfull. ill take note on all any more advice will be appreciated thanks again

[pjc]

A week out for the first time and having been shut in for probably months I wouldn't expect them to fly for long as they have to regain fitness!

Don't try forceing them to fly as they have also only just been broken and if you push them to far they will say sod this we'll go and find an easier life elsewhere!

Feed will also depend on wether they are sitting, fedding young etc as it will need to be varied.

1/4 oz in the morning and 1oz evening if sitting or flying to the perch should be fine but measure your corn as your saying they get 1/2 to 1oz eve, theres a lot of difference to a bird between those 2 amounts.

 

Phil

[OLDYELLOW]

trap your birds to a galley pot with a small amount of white dari no more than a teaspoon full in there boxes soon as that trap / door is open they know its there then feed them hopefully your trapping will improve , and as phil says measure there feed out on some scales and feed in a empty pickstone pot in middle of floor , i like to see my birds compete for there feed once stopped  feeding remove food never leave food in loft unless rearing but if rearing you wont have as much control , all the best Regards Mark

[pigeonpete]

welcome to the site, and the best of luck with them, ask away, your questions will always get answered on here :-)

[shaun h_]

A week out for the first time and having been shut in for probably months I wouldn't expect them to fly for long as they have to regain fitness!

Don't try forceing them to fly as they have also only just been broken and if you push them to far they will say sod this we'll go and find an easier life elsewhere!

Feed will also depend on wether they are sitting, fedding young etc as it will need to be varied.

1/4 oz in the morning and 1oz evening if sitting or flying to the perch should be fine but measure your corn as your saying they get 1/2 to 1oz eve, theres a lot of difference to a bird between those 2 amounts.

 

Phil

 

thanks for reply the birds are not sitting the just all in together i haven't split cocks and hens yet but hoping to do so in the next couple of days im still only getting 20 mins or so out of them round the doors they have been on 3 training tosses about 6 miles and they,re improving 1st time it took 12mins 2nd under 10 mins and 3rd  7mins so getting better i think not sure how long it should be taking them really but they are getting home quicker so they must be improving. i will also change the feed amount to 1/4 oz on morning and 1oz on evening and will stick to it and see what happens thanks again..also to all other replys . is it ok to keep them on gerry + full old bird season or should i be looking to a different corn i was told by a corn merchant that it is something to only feed twice aweek is this right he also advice to feed nothing but barley for full week to get them to fly but i dont think my birds are over weight as on some you can feel the keel sorry for so many questions but need all the advice i can get thanks.

[pjc]

i've not used Gerry plus but think its aimed to be used 2 days before basketing and a general mix the rest of the week.

Does it not have any recomendations on the bag?

[OLDYELLOW]

i've not used Gerry plus but think its aimed to be used 2 days before basketing and a general mix the rest of the week.

Does it not have any recomendations on the bag?

 

Phil many are using it all week with great results

http://www.versele-laga.com/Nutri/Nutrition/Library/Versele-Laga/PDF/Products/EN/Dvnschms2005.pdf

[kev43]

welcome to the site hope u have as much enjoyment out ov it as i have there will always b gd fliers on here who will help u out so gd luck to the comin season to u and ur son

[lightning fast]

 

thanks for reply the birds are not sitting the just all in together i haven't split cocks and hens yet but hoping to do so in the next couple of days im still only getting 20 mins or so out of them round the doors they have been on 3 training tosses about 6 miles and they,re improving 1st time it took 12mins 2nd under 10 mins and 3rd  7mins so getting better i think not sure how long it should be taking them really but they are getting home quicker so they must be improving. i will also change the feed amount to 1/4 oz on morning and 1oz on evening and will stick to it and see what happens thanks again..also to all other replys . is it ok to keep them on gerry + full old bird season or should i be looking to a different corn i was told by a corn merchant that it is something to only feed twice aweek is this right he also advice to feed nothing but barley for full week to get them to fly but i dont think my birds are over weight as on some you can feel the keel sorry for so many questions but need all the advice i can get thanks.

 

 

your birds won’t be flying well around the house because the cocks will be chasing the hens down , when u split them they should fly better , I would keep them on Gerry plus for the first 2 races and then add a widowhood mix in the further the distance the less Gerry plus and more widowhood mix, you won’t get it right first time but u will find out what u have done wrong , that’s easy its getting it right that’s hard,, I wouldn’t ration them, let them eat what they want, once 3-4 go to the drinker take the food away. JMO

 

 

[kev43]

1/4 ov an ounce aint no gd up here in north east it,s 2 cold believe me i have tried it 3/4 ounce after exercise am and 1 ounce at evening after exercise

[bullcock]

Be patient and as some have already said if your birds have been locked up all winter they will take time to build up the flying time, by what you have said they fly for 20 minutes then there is not much wrong with them health wise, just build it up gradually and one of the most important things about getting birds to fly around the loft for an hour with spirit is routine,routine,routine keep to the same times and the birds will get to know when to fly and when to come in and feed and they will drop and trap within seconds.

also remember that it all depends on there current nest condition,eg sitting eggs,feeding young birds or driving or are they separated, so alway remember that a pigeon flyes or not according to what is going on in its head, a driving cock wants to clap and chase its hen and not fly in a tight kite of birds and once one lands they will all start to land.

so be patient and if you are going to flag or throw a ball at them to increase the time, I always throw the ball once and after that let them come down, remember you dont want to sacre them too much, bad traps cost races.

I hope you have a good season and enjoy it, good luck.

[shaun h_]

once again thanks for all reply. ill keep posting up on progress.

[Guest southern and mason]

1/4 ov an ounce aint no gd up here in north east it,s 2 cold believe me i have tried it 3/4 ounce after exercise am and 1 ounce at evening after exercise

 

yep thats wot a do kev lyk u say its diffrent up here in the north east and this lad and his son are closer 2 the coast

[Guest southern and mason]

a wud say spit ya pigeons and they will fly much betta myn are still paird up on ybs sum do about 30 mins and drop then the rest are doin about a hour so out of 70 about 20 drop and the other 50 r goin well

[Guest southern and mason]

wer in sunderland do u fly lyk m8

[kev43]

 

yep thats wot a do kev lyk u say its diffrent up here in the north east and this lad and his son are closer 2 the coast

 

1st week on widowhood and doin 45 mins no flags goin well out ov site as a team and comin bk in 1,s and 2,s over the moon james son,,,,ur lot goin down canny now all drivin hard now  

[Guest southern and mason]

 

1st week on widowhood and doin 45 mins no flags goin well out ov site as a team and comin bk in 1,s and 2,s over the moon james son,,,,ur lot goin down canny now all drivin hard now  

 

gud stuff m8 am nealy ther got me first race nxt sat a open race in the club nxt 2 myn  

[shaun h]

wer in sunderland do u fly lyk m8

 

farringdon area

[Guest southern and mason]

 

farringdon area

 

who do u fly against m8 any big names in yr club

[shaun h]

dont think so m8 only just joined so dont really no anything about the other fanciers.