Young Bird Training Is It A Necessity?

[billy_g]

2/3 seasons back I was for getting out of this great hobby of ours,breed 30 young birds never trained any of them,what I did do was let them out on a Saturday after the main race birds had all went over,great for me they would go with the birds into the west for 2 + hours ,next years racing as yearlings was a night mare a2b was a no go came home when they wanted,they never lasted long.

[Valiant Fifer]

breed latebreds -don't train them over the winter--come next year they will look like pictures--but race them next year and expect 99% losses.

yes there is exceptions but IMO TRAIN AS Y/BIRDS THEY LEARN BETTER -- Start training at 14 weeks old.

I agree m8, yb racing is not important

but training in the year of their birth is with out a doubt!

[sparko]

I have 13 young birds that do 20 mile chucks in 21 to 22 mins but when I go to 20 mile from a location further left as we race from two different lines here the birds are 30 mins or more even after 5 chucks from same place so why is that ? i noticed from the second training line to the left of first one mine go even further left hence the 30 mins but on the first training point they clear straight for home.

[Roland]

70 miles eh! Mine used to go straight in at 140 miles. Will do again in future. Club mate never trains any of his South roaders and does real well. Indeed they fare better mostly than the North Roaders that are trained, and have been trained, consistently.

Days of Trains and pre cars being able meant that most birds excelled once sent. Indeed did the full program and at most seasons end was a job to make way for the nest boxes. If a circle is the size of a running track, how many miles do they cover circling! If they have finished ranging they have covered far more distances in ALL directions than any training toss.

Training is for getting mileage under the wings if and when needed ....(Loft system?)and fanciers own beliefs. they are natural athletes and not human when one has to work out and stick to a regime I believe.

Will say that losses are far, far more if trained in small steps etc. - Was my biggest mistake. Soon to be put right.