How Many Birds To A Basket/crate

[Delboy]

This subject is a real bugbear of mine. In my opinion this is one of the reasons we have had bad returns from many races,in the past ( especially yb races ) Federations demand clubs to cram up to 28 birds into baskets/crates because they may not have enough room for all the birds on their transporter.( then go down the piggin road with the transporter half empty)To me, this is amateurish and completely without regard to the pigeons wellbeing and welfare. This also equates to false economy as it guarantees undue stress on the pigeons and this in turn results in many being lost .When birds are lost, revenue is lost . If a federation thinks it will be overwhelmed with birds for a race then it should put a limit on how many their members can send in the first 2 or 3 races and maybe run a mid week trainer/race to compensate the unraced birds from the previous weekend. I would honestly say I would never have more than 20 in any basket/crate at any race. Truthfully,do you think the birds look comfortable with over 20 in a basket? Sometimes less stress means more success!!

[tyson]

I agree with you derick sick saying this to people the less birds the more chance the birds can get a drink that is why birds come back dehydraited

[hotrod]

ive always said this ,at club ,sometimes on a Friday there are maybe 8/10 birds more than all full baskets so they say put 2/3 in that one and that one so now you have 30/31 in each ,I got off my nut and say no just put them in another crate and take 2/3 out off others and take them down to 24/25 .but the look I get well u would think I had two heads

[paddymac]

NIPA basketing is 22 birds to a crate inland races and reduced to 18 birds per crate when the birds go to the channel.

[tommy bhoys]

lanarkshire is 22 tae 28 bridge bhoy but its my pet hate tae to many birds per basket and guys cant count either that makes it worse

[tiger]

25 birds for up coast and 22 for channel

[Delboy]

NIPA basketing is 22 birds to a crate inland races and reduced to 18 birds per crate when the birds go to the channel.

 

Sense at last,

[Delboy]

ive always said this ,at club ,sometimes on a Friday there are maybe 8/10 birds more than all full baskets so they say put 2/3 in that one and that one so now you have 30/31 in each ,I got off my nut and say no just put them in another crate and take 2/3 out off others and take them down to 24/25 .but the look I get well u would think I had two heads

 

This is the behaviour I am talking about, *expletive removed* disgraceful Stu and you should stand your ground for the benefit of the pigeons.

Edited June 15, 2016 by Delboy

[Kyleakin Lofts]

ANRF is 22 - 25 in a crate. Most times only the 22 or less and we are only sprinting.

[geordie1234]

ive always said this ,at club ,sometimes on a Friday there are maybe 8/10 birds more than all full baskets so they say put 2/3 in that one and that one so now you have 30/31 in each ,I got off my nut and say no just put them in another crate and take 2/3 out off others and take them down to 24/25 .but the look I get well u would think I had two heads

Same mate mental

[alex young]

Only from memory the RPRA rule is 1 night in the basket 44sq in. per bird, 2 nights 52 sq in. and 3 nights 60sq in. this could have changed. We put 30 max. in for land racing but would prefer a lot less.

[Delboy]

Only from memory the RPRA rule is 1 night in the basket 44sq in. per bird, 2 nights 52 sq in. and 3 nights 60sq in. this could have changed. We put 30 max. in for land racing but would prefer a lot less.

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30 is far too many

[Walter swanston]

This post is timeous and long overdue.Everything that Delboy says is correct.I have seen only this week enormous teams of young birds out training and I know that fanciers will turn up at the race marking DEMANDING that their pigeons be basketed.I have had stand up rammies with experienced fanciers who should know better claiming "I have paid my fed dues so the fed is duty bound to convey my pigeons".Solutions to this difficulty can be and must be found.

[Ian McKay]

Here is a classic Derick taken from this site

 

Basketing is going ahead on !!!!!! at normal time, 22 birds per crate, first message will be !!! on!!!!!! although there is a good chance that they wont get up till around noon, if necessary I will get them taken back to !!!!!! if the weather south of the !!!! is slow to clear

 

 

This Fed sent 436 birds????

 

 

My own Fed are running the lorry 3/4 empty but last year were were told we must put 15 per crate after we put 12 in a crate

 

Why are we obsessed with putting too much in a crate then wondering why so much losses

 

I do not believe this is the only problem we have

 

Any references used her are for this topic and discussion only and are not meant to be derogative to any one or organisation

[REDCHEQHEN]

UNC - 25 per basket for Friday basket - Saturday liberation

20 for Thursday basket - Saturday liberation and shorter channel races

15 per basket for Bourges

[VAGIN]

I will not be racing my Y/Bs till we are over the 100mile mark. To put 32 Y/Bs into a crate is madness . For the last 2 Y/B seasons the day after the 2nd race I ve went into the Y/B end to find most of my Y/Bs throwing up and that the start of Y/B sickness That my Y/B season over Im not one of these fanciers who think its cured in 2/3 weeks. I think about the welfare of my birds and others I have watched Y/Bs in the crates they get stressed so easy ,some have never been basket trained they dont know how to drink/ The start rubbing against other birds fighting breaks out Im sure ever bird in the loft has its own perch/its own space Im a pigeon lover before being a fancier TO CUT THE STRESS PUT IN LESS

[PIGEON_MAN]

Are there no rules in the SHU that cover this like we have in the RPRA.

[chrissyboy1]

Lanarkshire this week for Billericay is 18 pigeons per crate and the same for Arras

[Delboy]

Ive heard people say their crates can take 28 birds no problem BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER SAYS SO!! This is commercialism and these people are only saying this to give their transporters they are selling to you more capacity and make them more appealing. Im 40+ years in this game and at no time have I ever looked in a basket/crate with 28 pigeons in and said, the pigeons look so relaxed and content. Get a grip folks, think of the pigeons and nothing more and the successful seasons will come. The other thing nowadays with Y.B.S rife,is for the first 3 races everyone should have their own crate/s. This stops cross infection and also lowers the stress on the ybs as they recognise their loft mates in the crate with them. If you have your own crate then both cocks and hens can go in there with no problems. Pigeonmen are daft at times , we create a lot of problems for ourselves.

[yeboah]

This subject is a real bugbear of mine. In my opinion this is one of the reasons we have had bad returns from many races,in the past ( especially yb races ) Federations demand clubs to cram up to 28 birds into baskets/crates because they may not have enough room for all the birds on their transporter.( then go down the piggin road with the transporter half empty)To me, this is amateurish and completely without regard to the pigeons wellbeing and welfare. This also equates to false economy as it guarantees undue stress on the pigeons and this in turn results in many being lost .When birds are lost, revenue is lost . If a federation thinks it will be overwhelmed with birds for a race then it should put a limit on how many their members can send in the first 2 or 3 races and maybe run a mid week trainer/race to compensate the unraced birds from the previous weekend. I would honestly say I would never have more than 20 in any basket/crate at any race. Truthfully,do you think the birds look comfortable with over 20 in a basket? Sometimes less stress means more success!!

As we have discussed before Derek this is my pet hate to many birds in baskets

As we both know trying to get things passed at AGM s is always an uphill struggle

Have been making enquiries and the answer is simple take it out off the hands of the unions and go to a higher level

Just like Bosman did with football

It would be known worldwide as the Currie and Hay Ruling

[Delboy]

As we have discussed before Derek this is my pet hate to many birds in baskets

As we both know trying to get things passed at AGM s is always an uphill struggle

Have been making enquiries and the answer is simple take it out off the hands of the unions and go to a higher level

Just like Bosman did with football

It would be known worldwide as the Currie and Hay Ruling

 

Hay and Currie ye mean lol

[Ian McKay]

Unions only comply with DEFRA rule as do transporter manufacturers but they work on a maximum of birds in a crate NOTHING stops us from reducing it as long as birds cannot be thrown about in crates too much

 

 

Ps Unions, Feds and clubs DO not comply with DEFRA rules which are Law and will be enforced in due time then some will be in trouble big time

[Delboy]

Unions only comply with DEFRA rule as do transporter manufacturers but they work on a maximum number of birds in a crate NOTHING stops us from reducing it as long as birds cannot be thrown about in crates too much

 

 

Ps Unions,Feds and clubs DO not comply with DEFRA rules which are Law and will be enforced in due time then some will be in trouble big time

[peter pandy]

Only from memory the RPRA rule is 1 night in the basket 44sq in. per bird, 2 nights 52 sq in. and 3 nights 60sq in. this could have changed. We put 30 max. in for land racing but would prefer a lot less.

I can hardly believe what I am reading here regarding what the RPRA recommend Are you aware that 44 sq ins = 6.1/2 ins.. 52 sq ins = 7.1/4 ins and 60 sq ins = 7.3/4 ins.. Most pigeons are between 8-10 ins from head to tail and could not turn round in that space.

[tyson]

dehydration is the biggest cause of losses especially young birds as if there is to many in baskets/crates some birds are unable to get to drinkers then you here pigeon men on a Saturday moaning about the pigeons diving into the drinkers I know from convoying pigeons what like it is when you see pigeons trying to get to the drinkers but cant because there were to many pigeons in baskets