UkPigeonRacing

It's true Neil, but remember a 20 min "burn" in training where they're going flat out at 100% is often more laborious than a 40 min loft fly

MIL wrote: ↑Thu Apr 03, 2025 9:45 am It's true Neil, but remember a 20 min "burn" in training where they're going flat out at 100% is often more laborious than a 40 min loft fly

Yes good point

Goose is quite right though.

Sometimes I think we do things for our own confidence as much as the birds

I'm sure you "could" still win and not train - therefore negating any risk, but you'd adapt your feed accordingly

Prior to getting wed when I trained twice a week I was feeding Versele-Laga "Prestige"

From 2005 onwards I stopped training but the feed changed too

Out went the Prestige and in came the Gerry Plus and Superstar Plus

MIL wrote: ↑Thu Apr 03, 2025 9:55 am Goose is quite right though.

Sometimes I think we do things for our own confidence as much as the birds

I'm sure you "could" still win and not train - therefore negating any risk, but you'd adapt your feed accordingly

Prior to getting wed when I trained twice a week I was feeding Versele-Laga "Prestige"

From 2005 onwards I stopped training but the feed changed too

Out went the Prestige and in came the Gerry Plus and Superstar Plus

I do feed pretty light as in grains as you know and control the Monday Tuesday intake
I never really train the cocks after race 2/3 the hens are the issue after the 2 cocks I lost I have room for 8 hens in the club limit picking out to be the team if hard
Then if I say pick 16 and change the 8 each week I really need to train them on the weeks they miss

I understand the predicament

Let me know when the youngsters arrive

MIL wrote: ↑Thu Apr 03, 2025 11:14 am I understand the predicament

Let me know when the youngsters arrive

Be after 815 tonight poor things

They'll be fine mate

Sometimes mine were close on 72 hrs coming from Gary and Niall

Good thread this with some good info.
I have always endeavoured to split my YB team but only half and half (12-15 in each basket) Ive never considered going down to 3 or 4, and I have to ask the question - what happened to the old saying which applies to most elements in nature - "there is safety in numbers"?

Diamond Dave wrote: ↑Thu Apr 03, 2025 9:30 pm Good thread this with some good info.
I have always endeavoured to split my YB team but only half and half (12-15 in each basket) Ive never considered going down to 3 or 4, and I have to ask the question - what happened to the old saying which applies to most elements in nature - "there is safety in numbers"?

When you train in a training van there is safety in numbers, because it's just not only yours that is getting the hit. But when you are on your own, it's only your birds that are being hit, and if it gets one its yours, and the reason for the small numbers is not to attract the peregrine, and if you do get a hit chucking in fours, its only those four that are being disrupted. With young birds I wouldn't start them in fours, until they have had a few up to ten miles.

Diamond Dave wrote: ↑Thu Apr 03, 2025 9:30 pm Good thread this with some good info.
I have always endeavoured to split my YB team but only half and half (12-15 in each basket) Ive never considered going down to 3 or 4, and I have to ask the question - what happened to the old saying which applies to most elements in nature - "there is safety in numbers"?

This is a myth. There is AWAYS a victim. If you let 50 birds go or 5, if ONE is taken you have still lost one. The purpose of smaller groups is it is UNLIKELY every group will be hit.
So if you let 50 go, one maybe taken and the 49 scared shitless. If 5 are let go, and one taken only 4 are left scared shitless.