RPRA one loft race
Mike i have entered a few races in OLR in the UK. to me it is all about the Location. Once you have that sorted, the manager must have a team that becomes an extension of himself. When he is not on site, to carry out all duties on caring for the birds.
The numbers game is a major factor in the loft environment, no overcrowding and every task is on a routine. but this is what I would like to happen in lofts I send my birds too. There are other things so this is only a start.
The numbers game is a major factor in the loft environment, no overcrowding and every task is on a routine. but this is what I would like to happen in lofts I send my birds too. There are other things so this is only a start.
It is the management that matters.
There are a lot of OLR's in Australia, some have a record of being very successful, one or two are terrible. Waste of money.
It looks like the successful ones seem to be where the pigeons are kept healthy and trained to a schedule. Of course there are losses, but they are accepted. The bad ones are where the operators will not train the birds, mainly for fear of losing them and having to report them missing. So when the races start the birds are only half ready and get hammered.
Also you need to send the right sort of pigeons. The Aussies have figured this one out. The pigeons in these OLR's are not pampered. They go in the hamper and train when it's their turn regardless. So big pretty birds, especially cocks, tend not to cope. Smaller racey pigeons, preferably hens, are the trick. They seem to handle the pressure better.
There are a lot of OLR's in Australia, some have a record of being very successful, one or two are terrible. Waste of money.
It looks like the successful ones seem to be where the pigeons are kept healthy and trained to a schedule. Of course there are losses, but they are accepted. The bad ones are where the operators will not train the birds, mainly for fear of losing them and having to report them missing. So when the races start the birds are only half ready and get hammered.
Also you need to send the right sort of pigeons. The Aussies have figured this one out. The pigeons in these OLR's are not pampered. They go in the hamper and train when it's their turn regardless. So big pretty birds, especially cocks, tend not to cope. Smaller racey pigeons, preferably hens, are the trick. They seem to handle the pressure better.
Greetings from the land down under. 
Blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for verily, he shall not be disappointed.
Blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for verily, he shall not be disappointed.