Feeding for 750 miles

[king]

I'm no authority on distance, but I can tell you how I fed my "Obble" cock in 2002

He was a single entry to the MNFC Bergerac at 557 miles and dropped after 14 hrs 5 min on a NE wind winning £1,000

I'm well aware 557 is not 750 but he dropped with virtually all his body weight in tact on him so he'd ben fuelled right


All year long (once he finished rearing) he was on 100% beans morning and night. Beans beans beans

When he could eat no more beans each feed he then had peanuts (redskin - human consumption)

That went on all racing season - even on Friday's and Saturdays

9 days before basketing for Bergerac I dropped the beans and replaced with a high carb widowhood mix

Again eat as much as he could morning and night til he could eat no more - then he ate peanuts

Even if he was full of beans or widowhood he'd always eat peanuts after

Just shows beans again for the distance not a lot different from Dennis Fords hopper
If I went one day to try longer ones I would definitely be very tempted to follow this system with my limited skills it would be one I could manage

I think Mike's example shows that feeding can be simple and successful. When I was working shifts I raced all distances on a hopper of beans. Even won inland when the club had 40+ members sending.
Fanciers win on ANY sound feed, branded or otherwise. At the end of the day it's good pigeons that win.

[NeilA]

I think Richard Wade feeds beans then changes Wednesday night to a sport mix from memory

[Diamond Dave]

I think Richard Wade feeds beans then changes Wednesday night to a sport mix from memory

I'm guessing that would be the week before Neil as the birds are basketed on a Monday so that would be around 4.5 days on the sport mix.....presumably carbs?
Wouldnt that make them a bit lively over the 4.5 days they are in the basket?

[NeilA]

I think Richard Wade feeds beans then changes Wednesday night to a sport mix from memory

I'm guessing that would be the week before Neil as the birds are basketed on a Monday so that would be around 4.5 days on the sport mix.....presumably carbs?
Wouldnt that make them a bit lively over the 4.5 days they are in the basket?

Sorry Dave I didn’t explain I drifted Richard’s a top sprint flier that feeds beans
Not sure it would make them lively don’t forget they use or still do get just maize in the crates
My own example was from about 10 days out I cut the beans down by increasing the carbs and particularly fats fed from half ounce a day to about a ounce and a quarter that last period

I am no distance flier but I have read they need 3gram fat per hour fly in the diet how long for I have never looked into but I think fats are vital the last 7 days or so for Barcelona
It was a simple system and I enjoyed it they flew lovely at home

The video Goose put on shows how’s easy it makes feeding and perfect for myself that was shift working and away from home working at other times
I wouldn’t hesitate to try it again

[NeilA]

Dave if you went with 3 gram of fats per hour flight and we know VL energy mix is 26 per cent fat
For this example a pigeon eats 30grams a day of VL energy plus any mix you want after this
In them 30 grams would be 7.8grams of fat (26 per cent)
If we call that 8 grams for ease that would mean if you fed 30gram of VL energy for 8 days you had loaded 64 grams of fat
Again for example Barcelona is a 20 hour fly and we use the 3 gram of fat as a guide then you need 60 grams of fat loaded

Then you need to consider will the flight be longer and is the plan to just get them home in time or when would to much fat act as dead weight

[Diamond Dave]

Dave if you went with 3 gram of fats per hour flight and we know VL energy mix is 26 per cent fat
For this example a pigeon eats 30grams a day of VL energy plus any mix you want after this
In them 30 grams would be 7.8grams of fat (26 per cent)
If we call that 8 grams for ease that would mean if you fed 30gram of VL energy for 8 days you had loaded 64 grams of fat
Again for example Barcelona is a 20 hour fly and we use the 3 gram of fat as a guide then you need 60 grams of fat loaded

Then you need to consider will the flight be longer and is the plan to just get them home in time or when would to much fat act as dead weight

Oh my goodness. Thanks so much for this Neil.
I have never considered racing to be so technical but that has certainly opened my eyes.
Is the 3 grams of fat per hour your own calculation or has that been documented scientifically? Either way mate, I am indebted to you for sharing that.

[Diamond Dave]

Never tried that far Dave

Have a look at this (Right hand page - "very long distance")

https://publications.versele-laga.com/d ... page/76-77

Thanks Mike. Very nice of you to sort that out for me I've never seen Marimans corn round my way but in the light of Neils latter post, I shall be looking at all the corn values from now on.
Think I've been very naive in my approach to racing up to now.

[Murray]

You are fortunate in having successful pigeon racers like these sharing their knowledge, Dave. You may have seen me fall out with them lately but I would not doubt their knowledge of pigeon racing in the UK.

[Diamond Dave]

Good watch that Goose I’m in work today so that broke a otherwise boring day
Dave have a google for Dennis Ford like Goose mentioned it’s a Jim Jenner film
I wish I was better at computers I would load it up for you

Yeah I just stumbled across it a few weeks back so actually went and had another look myself on mentioning it. The amount of trapping mix may actually be more than I first remembered looking at the cup he was using.

https://youtu.be/Hk6y5Gc-EqY?si=9z1I_h5HtLzV38oi

I'm hoping that's the link above for anyone interested but I'm not the best with such things.

I can confirm I'm useless with such things first one was wrong Hopefully this is the Dennis Ford one...
https://youtu.be/DmYrf-ZDsmU?si=X9goML1cfF58MQ-g

Yes goose, enjoyed that mate thanks for taking the time to post it.
I have been trying to do something similar with a form of roundabout but never thought that just the box would be a good enough motivation for the hens. Very interesting.

[NeilA]

Hi Dave
It’s documented in a few articles but one also by Wim Muller
I tend to use it for sprinting as a guide
Really for a 100 mile race 50mp I could use barley / dupurative and be ok with a little fat Thursday
I think carbs are burnt in 1/2 hour some say a hour I didn’t add that to your calculation as it would be pointless for your plans