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Re: Widowhood box
Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2024 11:51 am
by NeilA
My best two years the cocks flew 22 races winning the fed 11 times
Not once did they see there hens prior to a race just uncovered the bowl for 15-20 mins they never trained after the 2nd race
When I started to mess about with a few hens I was advised to show for 30 mins or when the cock was low in the bowl with the hens above him then remove him
The cocks never flew as good on that system
Re: Widowhood box
Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2024 10:40 am
by Diamond Dave
Does open boxes encourage dominant cocks to try to take over the whole loft?
Then those that are not strong enough probably wouldnt come home if they were getting battered all the time.
Re: Widowhood box
Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2024 10:46 am
by NeilA
Diamond Dave wrote: ↑Thu Oct 03, 2024 10:40 am
Does open boxes encourage dominant cocks to try to take over the whole loft?
Then those that are not strong enough probably wouldnt come home if they were getting battered all the time.
Not sure mate always leave half a front up so the front is cut in half
The guy i remember had natural boxes so probably only 18-20 inch
I just wonder if we over think it with types of box and fronts where if that’s where there nest was then that’s there territory anyway
Uncovering the bowl would be the trigger that your hens going to be here
Re: Widowhood box
Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2024 10:59 am
by Murray
Got it in one, Neil.
A pigeon does not have a catalog to select his box from. He doesn't know if his box is 20 or 24 or 28 inches wide. If he has a box it is the most important place in the world.
I do agree that a a half shut in front is very good. Vital, in fact.
Re: Widowhood box
Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2024 7:19 pm
by Andy
Do you remove the bowls during the week Neil or just upturn them and leave them in the shut half of the box. I remove my bowls completely from the section once the hens are removed. I do leave half the box shut off during the week. On marking day I will just put the bowls in the boxes and open the box up about 10 minutes before introducing the hens. I will show the hens for the first couple of weeks or so then just the bowl, partly due to time as I have to basket mine straight after finishing work to get up the club.
Re: Widowhood box
Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2024 7:53 pm
by NeilA
Andy wrote: ↑Thu Oct 03, 2024 7:19 pm
Do you remove the bowls during the week Neil or just upturn them and leave them in the shut half of the box. I remove my bowls completely from the section once the hens are removed. I do leave half the box shut off during the week. On marking day I will just put the bowls in the boxes and open the box up about 10 minutes before introducing the hens. I will show the hens for the first couple of weeks or so then just the bowl, partly due to time as I have to basket mine straight after finishing work to get up the club.
I leave them upright all week just cut a piece of ply to put on top and remove the ply Friday night