Turbo Jeff

Just wanted peoples opinions, do you need to breed from race birds before they race or is it better to fly them dry to leave more fuel in the tank for racing. How much does it take out of a pair of pigeons rearing 2 young before the race season starts.

Just wondered what people do to calm there pigeons down,mine are all yearlings and since seperated when i enter the the loft they look on edge.The cocks will all fly out of their boxes and fly around climbing up the wire mesh on door or whats above the boxes,the hens are wild they just want to keep well away from me,is this natural when they have been seperated as they didn't seem as bad when they were all together as young birds.I don't go in the loft shouting or making sudden movements and have never been cruel to them,i or is this a normal thing the birds thinking oh god he's here again whats he upto today, because it is me who picks them up puts them in baskets and chucks em up miles from home and split them up from their partners.Also the droppings on some of the hens have gone loose as though they have a touch of cocci is this the stress of moving sections and been seperated.

Just wanted peoples opinions if i should fly natural or widowhood,the trouble is i work for myself and am never in at the same time everyday to give birds regular routine which people say widowhood pigeons need. Next year 2008 will be my first year flying old birds and i only have 8 cocks and 5 hens,can't make my mind up if it would be better to race all the loft on natural or just 8 cocks on widowhood. I know i could fly roundabout but i havn't time on a regular basis to let cocks and hens out at same time everyday. Am i wasting my time racing a small team from my back garden on natural when competing against lads in club with 40 birds on widowhood.Would i be better just trying to get my 8 cocks fit and healthy and flying widowhood. I know it also depends on what distance i am trying to fly,my club race program starts at 112 miles down to 500.

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Cheers Ryan seems a good idea,would you let all the cocks rear a round to bond them to hen and box.

Just wanted peoples opinions if i should fly natural or widowhood,the trouble is i work for myself and am never in at the same time everyday to give birds regular routine which people say widowhood pigeons need. Next year 2008 will be my first year flying old birds and i only have 8 cocks and 5 hens,can't make my mind up if it would be better to race all the loft on natural or just 8 cocks on widowhood. I know i could fly roundabout but i havn't time on a regular basis to let cocks and hens out at same time everyday. Am i wasting my time racing a small team from my back garden on natural when competing against lads in club with 40 birds on widowhood.Would i be better just trying to get my 8 cocks fit and healthy and flying widowhood. I know it also depends on what distance i am trying to fly,my club race program starts at 112 miles down to 500. Regards Mark.

Birds seem to enjoy and look well on some form of bedding rather than grills.

I thought it would be safer than straw where bugs can live in the hollow pieces.

Would using tobacco stalks on my loft floor as a form of deep litter be any good? I know it would cost more than straw or woodchips but wondered if it would be suitable or what the negatives would be.

Please does anyone have a couple of Staf Van Reet hens for sale suitable for stock, bred from cocks which have raced and scored.