Birds won’t fly
Just after a bit of advice please folks. Due to working 12hr shifts, I can only get my birds out once a day. I’m struggling to get them going at exercise time. I feed them at 16.30 and let them out at 13.30 the next day. Is this to big a gap between feeds. Any help very much appreciated. Ps, been separated 3 weeks & feeding is 2parts Red Rossette 1 part barley
Hello Jim
Could you feed some grub soon as you get home say 7 grams of light stuff
Then say 28 grams after there fly
Or do what staff van reet did leave barley in 24/7 give the cocks a pot of race mix increase the amount of race mix as the week goes on so they take less barley
If you like longer races replace the barley with beans
Could you feed some grub soon as you get home say 7 grams of light stuff
Then say 28 grams after there fly
Or do what staff van reet did leave barley in 24/7 give the cocks a pot of race mix increase the amount of race mix as the week goes on so they take less barley
If you like longer races replace the barley with beans
On a similar idea, leave a feeder of peas in the loft 24/7 and change the Bamfords/ barley for a mix with no peas or beans but plenty of maize, Saff and milo etc. A nice high carb feed. Fill them up with that after they fly. They will only eat a few peas if they get hungry. It might energy them up and get them flying.
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.
That's good advice there JimNeilA wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 5:58 pm Hello Jim
Could you feed some grub soon as you get home say 7 grams of light stuff
Then say 28 grams after there fly
Or do what staff van reet did leave barley in 24/7 give the cocks a pot of race mix increase the amount of race mix as the week goes on so they take less barley
If you like longer races replace the barley with beans
Why is that, Mike?MIL wrote: ↑Thu Apr 10, 2025 6:52 amThat's good advice there JimNeilA wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 5:58 pm Hello Jim
Could you feed some grub soon as you get home say 7 grams of light stuff
Then say 28 grams after there fly
Or do what staff van reet did leave barley in 24/7 give the cocks a pot of race mix increase the amount of race mix as the week goes on so they take less barley
If you like longer races replace the barley with beans
Always looking to learn something.
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.
How birds exercise is directly related to how they are fed.
When I raced I raced from No.34 Newman Grove. Between No.21 and No. 36 there were 8 different lofts - so as you can see it was a very intense area and you could easily watch each others birds exercise. Want the sky to yourself? You can forget that for a start!
I used to watch the one loft and I'd think "Jeezus its Tuesday morning and them cocks have had 75 min today" whereas my cocks had about 25 at the most. When I was learning my trade it was quite intimidating. What you have to realise though is that those cocks that had 75 min on the Tuesday were nowhere near the top of the sheet come Saturday. I wanted my cocks to peak on a Saturday. F^ck all is won on a Tuesday
Now, talking as a sprinter like I say you want your birds to peak on a Saturday. Saturday's are all that matters.
The way feed has evolved in the last 25 years has been significant
You can now extract the same (or better) protein from say a maple pea by feeding something more easily digestable
I've 2 sayings.
1. "Peas are Poisonous" (Not literally of course but I mean they no longer are required as part of the diet)
2. "Brown slows you down".
If you want to sprint more or less anything that's brown in the mix isn't required
When I raced I raced from No.34 Newman Grove. Between No.21 and No. 36 there were 8 different lofts - so as you can see it was a very intense area and you could easily watch each others birds exercise. Want the sky to yourself? You can forget that for a start!
I used to watch the one loft and I'd think "Jeezus its Tuesday morning and them cocks have had 75 min today" whereas my cocks had about 25 at the most. When I was learning my trade it was quite intimidating. What you have to realise though is that those cocks that had 75 min on the Tuesday were nowhere near the top of the sheet come Saturday. I wanted my cocks to peak on a Saturday. F^ck all is won on a Tuesday
Now, talking as a sprinter like I say you want your birds to peak on a Saturday. Saturday's are all that matters.
The way feed has evolved in the last 25 years has been significant
You can now extract the same (or better) protein from say a maple pea by feeding something more easily digestable
I've 2 sayings.
1. "Peas are Poisonous" (Not literally of course but I mean they no longer are required as part of the diet)
2. "Brown slows you down".
If you want to sprint more or less anything that's brown in the mix isn't required
ThanksMIL wrote: ↑Thu Apr 10, 2025 9:47 am How birds exercise is directly related to how they are fed.
When I raced I raced from No.34 Newman Grove. Between No.21 and No. 36 there were 8 different lofts - so as you can see it was a very intense area and you could easily watch each others birds exercise. Want the sky to yourself? You can forget that for a start!
I used to watch the one loft and I'd think "Jeezus its Tuesday morning and them cocks have had 75 min today" whereas my cocks had about 25 at the most. When I was learning my trade it was quite intimidating. What you have to realise though is that those cocks that had 75 min on the Tuesday were nowhere near the top of the sheet come Saturday. I wanted my cocks to peak on a Saturday. F^ck all is won on a Tuesday
Now, talking as a sprinter like I say you want your birds to peak on a Saturday. Saturday's are all that matters.
The way feed has evolved in the last 25 years has been significant
You can now extract the same (or better) protein from say a maple pea by feeding something more easily digestable
I've 2 sayings.
1. "Peas are Poisonous" (Not literally of course but I mean they no longer are required as part of the diet)
2. "Brown slows you down".
If you want to sprint more or less anything that's brown in the mix isn't required
There as many ways of feeding pigeons as there are fanciers!
This cut from Ad Schaerlaeckens' latest article:
"Not racing promising youngsters too often was another dogma.
Was !!! In today's pigeon sport, many winners are yearling hens that were raced vigorously as youngsters.
What is true in pigeon sport today can be outdated tomorrow. Much is controversial.
'Barley is gold', the late Dirk v Dijck always said. Others equally great champions find it poison."
I have a mate who swears by barley, thinks it is absolutely essential. Another who thinks it is pig food and won't have it.
Both win races, so who is to say?
This cut from Ad Schaerlaeckens' latest article:
"Not racing promising youngsters too often was another dogma.
Was !!! In today's pigeon sport, many winners are yearling hens that were raced vigorously as youngsters.
What is true in pigeon sport today can be outdated tomorrow. Much is controversial.
'Barley is gold', the late Dirk v Dijck always said. Others equally great champions find it poison."
I have a mate who swears by barley, thinks it is absolutely essential. Another who thinks it is pig food and won't have it.
Both win races, so who is to say?
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.