Winter Flying

[sapper756]

During the winter do you still give your birds their freedom to have a fly around the loft, or are they shut up for the winter?

[DJWa]

1 lot out yesterday and another team out today

they loved flying in the cold weather ,

[tiger]

Been locked since November with large aviary on

[bigbill]

Racers locked up since last race, latebreds out every day.

[Dmurray]

Birds are out every other day unless it's snowing then they are locked up

[Wiley]

Out most days

[greenlands]

Out every day weather permitting,wish they raced the sky during racing season like they do now.Will have to change my system ??

[philg50]

Out every day weather permitting,wish they raced the sky during racing season like they do now.Will have to change my system ??

I wonder if its because we interfere too much when racing with our the fanciers regime ,ie out morning then night train then not now ,set routines ,special feeds,amounts of feeds ,weight of corn per bird it goes on and on ,for byes the winter water and feed and just let them out ,my doos are the same in winter just bouncin and i hardly look near them ,yer not the only one thinking about changing things believe me.

[alex young]

I like to get them out when ever possible to keep them in good shape as I don't train them while racing.

[Roland]

always did, always, snow etc. Never hurt them none. If anything made them more hardy and better for distance and hard races.

Then in Canada at mates he kept his in all winter. He did more than well winning his share. Did for a couple of seasons... Now open loft all year round... if not out in an aviary. Not good for 'Shows' etc. unless bringing them into the house in front of the radiators for a week or so lol. I tend to watch the wild birds and what they are up to. Sometimes I don't open if East in wind, or a 'Still' day / Night where and when nothing moves. But they still have the aviary to sit in.

If I was interested in short or Wind bag races though I'd keep them in in the winter ... and only allow aviary on warm sunny days I guess.

[eastcoaster]

Both , hens out most days all day, cocks not out at all but do have access full size Avery all day .

[Kyleakin Lofts]

Hens out one day, cocks the next, weather permitting and whether I am able to be around.

[dal2]

Had mine oot twice since September.....half them wanting to sit on roofs....too fat....tooo far in moult.....time to pair up and try again end of feb

[Dooheed 5]

Heard many a time lads sayin in the off season “My Doo’s a bouncin “ or “they’re tearing up the sky†but come the time when it really matters they’re nowhere to be seen ?? Each to their own if you manage to let yer Doo’s oot in winter time or shut them up but I think it make no difference at all come racing season

[Mattydoos79]

I let my hens out first then after the cocks and I like them outside excerising during winter as it keeps them trim lol

[paddymac]

2017 Ybs only and that is weather permitting, Ob racers are separated and resting and will not be out until January.

[yeboah]

Just never have the time during winter to let them out ,far to cold to stand out at present anyway

Usually march before their out ,the good one's will still be good and the bad one's still bad lol

[blue lad]

Limited daylight . But both sections still getting out most days. It definitely sharpens them up . They have wings and what are wings for ?

[Blue Chequer Pied]

Heard many a time lads sayin in the off season “My Doo’s a bouncin “ or “they’re tearing up the sky†but come the time when it really matters they’re nowhere to be seen ?? Each to their own if you manage to let yer Doo’s oot in winter time or shut them up but I think it make no difference at all come racing season

 

Agree 100% winter form counts for nothing. I have some latebreds that are out whenever i get a chance. I like to get the race team out for a bath but thats about it.

[ALF]

Racers locked up from September disnae do them any harm we don't want the hawks thinking our lofts are a McDonald's were they can come and get a meal anytime they like

 

Late breds out almost every day

[tommy bhoys]

During the winter do you still give your birds their freedom to have a fly around the loft, or are they shut up for the winter?

mr hawk gets starved at my lofts but many like tae feed them all winter long :emoticon-0179-headbang:

[blue lad]

They are well wise to the sparrahawk. I've seen it more this winter than any other . And nae lost een tae it as yet . Long may it continue

[blue lad]

Snipes flying over the roofs on there way out tae the country for grains . Morning noon and early evening daily in all weather's . Only the UN healthy or in firm fall to the hawk. Same we domestic birds if out regular they soon get wise to the signs of the wild birds when hawks about.

[tommy bhoys]

Snipes flying over the roofs on there way out tae the country for grains . Morning noon and early evening daily in all weather's . Only the UN healthy or in firm fall to the hawk. Same we domestic birds if out regular they soon get wise to the signs of the wild birds when hawks about.

dream on what a load of pxss the hawk only wants a kill

[blue lad]

Your late breds will be better for it.I bet they are well wise by now .

 

Get em out they got wings !