Still wonder about training
I’m still not sure that training old birds is worth while. I haven’t trained all season and have a few that are coming well now and that have had a few races. But yesterday I decided to give some birds a trainer. These were birds that had come back late from previous races or hadn’t been for a couple of weeks (8), been returned by courier (2), unraced as yet (2) and latebreds (3). 15 in total. I only took them about 15 miles. Let them go at 6.50am. I got home at 7.15 and half expected them to be back. I had nothing before going indoors at 7,45. I had some breakfast and afterwards went to clean out and feed before work. This was around 8.15. By this time I had 9 back. 6 of the ones that had previously been raced, the 2 brought back by courier and 1 of the unraced ones. So 6 short. I haven’t seen anything since. So nearly half missing from a 15 mile trainer. I have had better % returns racing with no training.
Back just enjoying club racing for the time being.
I hear what you are saying, Andy. What it is with losing pigeons these days, I don't know.
I think it's a combination of things, A big increase in the number of BOP's, all sorts of radio waves and cell phone signals, and possibly the birds are losing their inborn homing ability.
Where I live sending birds untrained is a guaranteed way to lose them. So I give them heaps but short. Mine have had about 20 tosses but have not been further than 10 miles. And I lost about 10 out of 45 in the first few weeks, so they must have been the usual proportion that were not good enough.
They have had a break for nearly 2 weeks, and when the weather clears up they will go up the road. They are well educated and I expect them to go out to the longer stages with no problems.
But I might be wrong....
I think it's a combination of things, A big increase in the number of BOP's, all sorts of radio waves and cell phone signals, and possibly the birds are losing their inborn homing ability.
Where I live sending birds untrained is a guaranteed way to lose them. So I give them heaps but short. Mine have had about 20 tosses but have not been further than 10 miles. And I lost about 10 out of 45 in the first few weeks, so they must have been the usual proportion that were not good enough.
They have had a break for nearly 2 weeks, and when the weather clears up they will go up the road. They are well educated and I expect them to go out to the longer stages with no problems.
But I might be wrong....
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.
I picked up one of the missing latebreds this evening from Blanford about 18 miles South of where they were liberated. She is still in good condition so don’t know why some of the raced ones haven’t turned up. Talking to the chap who got it in was of the same view re training. He had 2 short trainers before the season started and lost so many proven racers that he hasn’t bothered since. He reckons they get a better chance just sent to the races.
Back just enjoying club racing for the time being.
It is a topic which will always lead to discussion.
I knew a bloke years ago who was very hard to beat in the young bird races. Very hard.
He would have his youngsters quite hungry, then take them out for a toss. They would zoom home and trap quickly. He would then put them back in the box and take them out and do it again.
I knew a bloke years ago who was very hard to beat in the young bird races. Very hard.
He would have his youngsters quite hungry, then take them out for a toss. They would zoom home and trap quickly. He would then put them back in the box and take them out and do it again.
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.
They would get the feed when they trapped the second time. He would do this day in and day out. The pigeons were zombies.I don't think that is fair at all.
This year I have 30 young birds left after the early training, in two 15 bird teams.
I bred about 45. Three were bred for stock and one went to another place as a stock pigeon. So I have lost about 11 after, I don't know, 30 tosses?
I lost a few in the early tosses from the north and north east, but since turning them to the west I have only lost one, and it was an unraced yearling from last year.
The ones that are left are good pigeons. They come home from any direction, in any weather. They have had a lot of practice.
I took the B team out today. Home they rolled.
Later I saw one of the red boys was missing. He's one that has never missed a toss. 
But just when I was closing up, home he came. He must have been chased or something.
I think there are many ways of doing it. My way is to train them out many times, a little bit at a time, so the poor ones fall away, and the good ones become bullet proof.
I go out into the shed now, and feel a thrill looking at them. These youngsters are ready to go anywhere.
This year I have 30 young birds left after the early training, in two 15 bird teams.
I bred about 45. Three were bred for stock and one went to another place as a stock pigeon. So I have lost about 11 after, I don't know, 30 tosses?
I lost a few in the early tosses from the north and north east, but since turning them to the west I have only lost one, and it was an unraced yearling from last year.
The ones that are left are good pigeons. They come home from any direction, in any weather. They have had a lot of practice.
I took the B team out today. Home they rolled.
Later I saw one of the red boys was missing.
He's one that has never missed a toss. But just when I was closing up, home he came. He must have been chased or something.
I think there are many ways of doing it. My way is to train them out many times, a little bit at a time, so the poor ones fall away, and the good ones become bullet proof.
I go out into the shed now, and feel a thrill looking at them. These youngsters are ready to go anywhere.
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.
The trouble is here that it seems we get hammered every time we try training them, even with experienced pigeons. As you know I’ve lost pigeons that have flown 300+ miles from 15 mile trainers. It takes all the enjoyment out of training when you never know when or if they are going to return.
Back just enjoying club racing for the time being.
Well done Murray good to see they coming wellMurray wrote: ↑Fri Jun 16, 2023 11:24 am They would get the feed when they trapped the second time. He would do this day in and day out. The pigeons were zombies.I don't think that is fair at all.
This year I have 30 young birds left after the early training, in two 15 bird teams.
I bred about 45. Three were bred for stock and one went to another place as a stock pigeon. So I have lost about 11 after, I don't know, 30 tosses?
I lost a few in the early tosses from the north and north east, but since turning them to the west I have only lost one, and it was an unraced yearling from last year.
The ones that are left are good pigeons. They come home from any direction, in any weather. They have had a lot of practice.
I took the B team out today. Home they rolled.
Later I saw one of the red boys was missing.
But just when I was closing up, home he came. He must have been chased or something.
I think there are many ways of doing it. My way is to train them out many times, a little bit at a time, so the poor ones fall away, and the good ones become bullet proof.
I go out into the shed now, and feel a thrill looking at them. These youngsters are ready to go anywhere.
Sadies Lofts home of decent birds just a useless loft manager, and now a confirmed loser but proud
Have to agree Andy but they need some training to know what to do so ballsed if you do and ballsed if you don'tAndy wrote: ↑Fri Jun 16, 2023 3:36 pm The trouble is here that it seems we get hammered every time we try training them, even with experienced pigeons. As you know I’ve lost pigeons that have flown 300+ miles from 15 mile trainers. It takes all the enjoyment out of training when you never know when or if they are going to return.
Sadies Lofts home of decent birds just a useless loft manager, and now a confirmed loser but proud
Yesterday morning I must have not closed the loft door properly and the wind blew it open. 
Next thing there'e a bunch of pigeons tearing around.
Some of them flew non stop for 6 hours! They were having a ball!!! I reckon some of them must have flown 200 miles
I think I will leave them in today for a rest day and give them a big feed of vegetables and some garlic and cider vinegar.
There is probably not much point in training them 10 or 15 miles any more. The first races are only about 60 miles and they can do that with one wing behind their backs.
Next thing there'e a bunch of pigeons tearing around.
Some of them flew non stop for 6 hours! They were having a ball!!! I reckon some of them must have flown 200 miles
I think I will leave them in today for a rest day and give them a big feed of vegetables and some garlic and cider vinegar.
There is probably not much point in training them 10 or 15 miles any more. The first races are only about 60 miles and they can do that with one wing behind their backs.
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.