Took her time!

DarkPiedCock · Sun Jul 30, 2023 7:52 pm

Just had a yearling hen return from Hexham on the 10th June

Sun Jul 30, 2023 9:12 pm

DarkPiedCock wrote: ↑Sun Jul 30, 2023 7:52 pm Just had a yearling hen return from Hexham on the 10th June

Good to see Les

Sun Jul 30, 2023 10:13 pm

Nice to get ones back after sometime out. Hopefully she’ll repay you next season. I have generally found that birds that make their own way home, even after sometime, often do quite well. Better than those returned by courier.

DarkPiedCock · Mon Jul 31, 2023 8:41 am

I was gutted when i lost her. She was first or second bird in every race she had.

Mon Jul 31, 2023 12:29 pm

DarkPiedCock wrote: ↑Mon Jul 31, 2023 8:41 am I was gutted when i lost her. She was first or second bird in every race she had.

Hope you don't mind me asking Les why do you not race young birds no need to answer if private reasons

DarkPiedCock · Mon Jul 31, 2023 4:07 pm

Hi Buster, i only have a 12 x 6 loft to race to. If im to get my birds fit for the longer races i need to have them split. After 200 miles i pair them up and race them to 14 day eggs or small chick. I keep the young from the remaining birds. My ybs usually go out early july and are trained late August/early September. I never have too many at the end if the year. I have turned North this year after four years not being in a local club. I just raced BICC or BBC. Now the marking stations are so far from me, and i would have to rely on lifts. But i have found that i can only get a lift if the wind is in our favour. So ive resigned from the nationals and have added sprint/middle distance bloodlines this summer. It will be chaos/roundabout for me next year and i shall look forward to my new adventure. Les

Mon Jul 31, 2023 4:16 pm

DarkPiedCock wrote: ↑Mon Jul 31, 2023 4:07 pm Hi Buster, i only have a 12 x 6 loft to race to. If im to get my birds fit for the longer races i need to have them split. After 200 miles i pair them up and race them to 14 day eggs or small chick. I keep the young from the remaining birds. My ybs usually go out early july and are trained late August/early September. I never have too many at the end if the year. I have turned North this year after four years not being in a local club. I just raced BICC or BBC. Now the marking stations are so far from me, and i would have to rely on lifts. But i have found that i can only get a lift if the wind is in our favour. So ive resigned from the nationals and have added sprint/middle distance bloodlines this summer. It will be chaos/roundabout for me next year and i shall look forward to my new adventure. Les

Thanks for that Les as I said wasn't prying just curious as seeing a post you mentioned you had bought some young in and then seen the post where you said you did not race young, do you want to expand on the chaos/roundabout as seen others mention this, if you do then please start a new topic as sadly I hijacked this one in asking you the question

Trev · Mon Jul 31, 2023 9:51 pm

DarkPiedCock wrote: ↑Mon Jul 31, 2023 8:41 am I was gutted when i lost her. She was first or second bird in every race she had.

Brilliant news Les, I have a couple still missing from that race that I'd quite like back.

Trev · Mon Jul 31, 2023 9:56 pm

Buster121 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 31, 2023 4:16 pm
DarkPiedCock wrote: ↑Mon Jul 31, 2023 4:07 pm Hi Buster, i only have a 12 x 6 loft to race to. If im to get my birds fit for the longer races i need to have them split. After 200 miles i pair them up and race them to 14 day eggs or small chick. I keep the young from the remaining birds. My ybs usually go out early july and are trained late August/early September. I never have too many at the end if the year. I have turned North this year after four years not being in a local club. I just raced BICC or BBC. Now the marking stations are so far from me, and i would have to rely on lifts. But i have found that i can only get a lift if the wind is in our favour. So ive resigned from the nationals and have added sprint/middle distance bloodlines this summer. It will be chaos/roundabout for me next year and i shall look forward to my new adventure. Les
Thanks for that Les as I said wasn't prying just curious as seeing a post you mentioned you had bought some young in and then seen the post where you said you did not race young, do you want to expand on the chaos/roundabout as seen others mention this, if you do then please start a new topic as sadly I hijacked this one in asking you the question

As I've always said in this game we all have to find a system that works for us. I have to say Les that your way does sound tempting as my loft has been too overcrowded for old bird racing so it's hard to get the birds properly fit. As with Andy I'm glad you've joined a club as it's good to see you both getting more racing in

I hope your new additions do well for you mate.
Do you continue to train your youngsters through the winter when you can ?? I know Des Coulter reckoned that was the key to late breds, they need be trained through the winter.
All the best mate.

Mon Jul 31, 2023 10:54 pm

Trev wrote: ↑Mon Jul 31, 2023 9:56 pm
Buster121 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 31, 2023 4:16 pm
DarkPiedCock wrote: ↑Mon Jul 31, 2023 4:07 pm Hi Buster, i only have a 12 x 6 loft to race to. If im to get my birds fit for the longer races i need to have them split. After 200 miles i pair them up and race them to 14 day eggs or small chick. I keep the young from the remaining birds. My ybs usually go out early july and are trained late August/early September. I never have too many at the end if the year. I have turned North this year after four years not being in a local club. I just raced BICC or BBC. Now the marking stations are so far from me, and i would have to rely on lifts. But i have found that i can only get a lift if the wind is in our favour. So ive resigned from the nationals and have added sprint/middle distance bloodlines this summer. It will be chaos/roundabout for me next year and i shall look forward to my new adventure. Les
Thanks for that Les as I said wasn't prying just curious as seeing a post you mentioned you had bought some young in and then seen the post where you said you did not race young, do you want to expand on the chaos/roundabout as seen others mention this, if you do then please start a new topic as sadly I hijacked this one in asking you the question

As I've always said in this game we all have to find a system that works for us. I have to say Les that your way does sound tempting as my loft has been too overcrowded for old bird racing so it's hard to get the birds properly fit. As with Andy I'm glad you've joined a club as it's good to see you both getting more racing in I hope your new additions do well for you mate.
Do you continue to train your youngsters through the winter when you can ?? I know Des Coulter reckoned that was the key to late breds, they need be trained through the winter.
All the best mate.

I’m sure you will enjoy club racing. As you know like you I only raced nationals until this year. But due to all the rigmarole of DEFRA and vets I too resigned from all but the CSCFC. I then had to decide how as was going to race my pigeons so joined Glastonbury FC. I must say that it has been very enjoyable with a good social side.
With respect to latebreds my best old bird had 8 races this year and was my first bird from both of the longest races was a latebred. She is still carrying 3 nest flights and the first time she saw a basket was when being sent to her first race. She wasn’t trained at all before hand. I also still have her nestmate who had 2 races this year.