Breaking a yearling hen.

[Diamond Dave]

Ah, ok Murray, thanks for that. Does the weather have any significance when I do let her out?

[king]

Ah, ok Murray, thanks for that. Does the weather have any significance when I do let her out?

Any decent day will do, so long as it's not raining or windy.

[Diamond Dave]

Thanx King.

[NeilA]

Best of luck Dave
You have e some good advice there

My mate In Motherwell tried to break one of my hens on babies and just laid again which I thought perfect so told him to go for it but she flew back here to near London so I think it’s luck on the day or I gave poor advice on the matter

[Diamond Dave]

Cheers Neil. She flew 430 miles as a young bird so I would love to hang on to her and put her in my race team but equally would like to keep the babies.
I don't wanna pre-empt the outcome, but my next question would be if I do hang on to her - how long should I leave her before putting her in a race basket?

[NeilA]

Cheers Neil. She flew 430 miles as a young bird so I would love to hang on to her and put her in my race team but equally would like to keep the babies.
I don't wanna pre-empt the outcome, but my next question would be if I do hang on to her - how long should I leave her before putting her in a race basket?

Never raced a broken bird mate I guess if she is crossing the old loft it might be different to if she isn’t

[Murray]

I have moved house in the middle of the old bird season and raced the old birds to the new loft two weeks later. It was only a short move, granted, about 5 miles in a straight line.
The first couple of weeks they went to the old place first, then woke up and came straight home.
If she stays you can begin training her with your old birds after she's had a couple of weeks to fly herself fit and learn the area.
Be aware that pigeons operate on instinct a whole lot. They are smart, smarter than many people realise, but sometimes something clicks in their heads, and a broken pigeon that is well homed will go back to where they came from in a race.

It's your pigeon and your choice, but a hen like that who is a proven racer over 430 miles as a young bird, well I'd be putting her name on a nest box and keeping her. She can breed many young birds for you.

[king]

Cheers Neil. She flew 430 miles as a young bird so I would love to hang on to her and put her in my race team but equally would like to keep the babies.
I don't wanna pre-empt the outcome, but my next question would be if I do hang on to her - how long should I leave her before putting her in a race basket?

I've broke and raced many broken birds Dave. Birds from local lofts race better and I've won with them. But I've never raced a broken bird from a loft as far away as yours. If you settle her, I would be reluctant to attempt to race her.

[Diamond Dave]

Ahh that is such a shame King and Murray.
I appreciate what you say and will obviously heed your advice and won't race her this year.
But what would you think if I trained her say just 20 miles along with a couple of late breds and then maybe try her in the race basket next year?
- All hyperthetical if she doesnt stay anyway.

[Murray]

Absolutely your choice, Dave.
As you say, it all depends on her staying.
You obviously think highly of the wee girl, and for me that would be enough to put ideas of training her out of my head.
But that's just me.