UkPigeonRacing

I acquired 4 stock pairs of the late Des Coulter from a good friend of his back in November last year, the little shed they are in isn't ideal so I want to try and break them as soon as possible. They have been kept in an aviary since Des got rid of all his birds a few years ago but as he only lived across the road from me I am confident that they will break ok. However I want to get something from them before I try so I have let them sit an early round of eggs, as you know this time of year is a lottery for me as Mrs Sparrow hawk is never far away The first round has seen 5 out of 8 eggs hatch which I am slightly disappointed with but as I don't really want too many early babies I can probably live with it lol. Two pairs have hatched both eggs, one pair has hatched one egg and the other pair didn't hatch either. The first pair are now rung, the third baby will be ready to ring by Wednesday and the other two by next weekend, the other pair should be down on eggs again in a day or two. I will get this round weaned and let them go down again, when they are on their second round I will try breaking them

I would get 2 rounds and let them go down again then try and break them

If they were birds that Des had flying out you shouldn’t have too much of a problem. Good that you have something out of them.

I would be dead scared of letting them out of a shed that is not very good, as you say, even after a couple of rounds of youngsters.
In fact, especially after a couple of rounds of youngsters.
I would expect them to clear out without a moment's hesitation.
I HATE the term 'Breaking them in' to a new loft. I always use the term 're homing them'.
Breaking them in means to make or force something to obey. Good luck if you try that with a bird, which can simply fly away.
I have re homed many pigeons over the years, simply by letting them learn that this is a terrific place to live.
They are not stupid. They know if it's a good place or not.

Thanks for your comments and words of advice as always fellas
I wrung two more babies this evening so now have all 5 of the babies from the Des Coulter birds wrung and the pair who's eggs didn't hatch are back down again so fingers crossed these will hatch

Murray wrote: ↑Mon Jan 23, 2023 8:04 am I would be dead scared of letting them out of a shed that is not very good, as you say, even after a couple of rounds of youngsters.
In fact, especially after a couple of rounds of youngsters.
I would expect them to clear out without a moment's hesitation.
I HATE the term 'Breaking them in' to a new loft. I always use the term 're homing them'.
Breaking them in means to make or force something to obey. Good luck if you try that with a bird, which can simply fly away.
I have re homed many pigeons over the years, simply by letting them learn that this is a terrific place to live.
They are not stupid. They know if it's a good place or not.

Thanks for comments and advice Muzza but these birds are a slightly different case.
The little shed that these birds are in is ok just a little small, these birds are older birds that were kept on an open loft just a couple of hundred yards away from me so used to fly over my garden every day. They were moved away a couple of years ago when Des packed up and have been shut in an aviary since. The guy who had them did try to break some one of which actually ended up coming into mine !! Des's loft is no longer there so if they (as they almost certainly will) go back to their old home they will find nothing there so I'm fairly confident they will come back ok.

You should find they come back okay then Trev.

In NZ we moved several times and used to take the loft with us every time. After a few days I would let them out and they always stayed. Never lost many.

We have just put the house on the market and will be moving after 15 years here. We may go to a place about 140 miles away, and might not be able to take the loft. So it might be a bit tricky. I will use it as a chance to thin out the birds, and only take the best. Or what I think are the best. What would I know?
In any case, The birds know me, and I will be getting them out and flying as soon as possible.

Many years ago we moved 150 miles and I had them out a couple of days latter. I only had a small loft, even smaller than this one. I took it apart, moved it, put it back up and put the birds, nest boxes, eggs and everything back in. All in one day. I am too old to do that now.
Anyway, they all settled back in, and a couple of days latter were wanting out. So I took a deep breath and let them out. They had a good explore and all went back in!

I sort of think the longer you keep them locked up the more they fly away.

I agree 100% with the last sentence Murray

I have moved mine a few times over the years. When I started I had a small loft in the garden at the family home beside dads loft. These were birds from dad along with birds gifted to me from fellow club members and quite a few from the milk tanker driver who raced pigeons. No prisoners were kept in those days so all were broken, and quite quickly. I then got the job as herdsman on the Duke of Norfolk’s estate. I was given a house as part of the job. A loft was erected in the garden and the birds from dad’s moved in. All were settled quickly and I don’t remember losing any. With the changing of land a new dairy unit and bungalow were built on a new site on another part of the farm. The birds were moved into a loft near to where the bungalow was going to be built. Then moved to another area next to a barn and then once the bungalow was built back into the garden. I had the birds flying out from all three locations. Then after 12 years I moved down to Cornwall. Around a 100 miles away. The birds were housed in a garage for a time while I re-built the loft. Again I broke them quickly. I think I did lose the odd ones but most broke ok. Including the hen that had won Lerwick 650 miles for me in Sussex. 6 years later I moved to Somerset where the birds were moved a further 2 times before I brought the shop. I have lost a few over these moves but not many. I have had some pigeons that have been moved 4 times and broken out in each location, including the Lerwick winner and other multiple winners. I have found that the quicker you break them the better and you rarely lose the good ones. They seem to know us and learn quickly when moved. The worst ones I have found are ones that have been kept in for a while before being let out, even ones that have never been out anywhere before. I agree with Murray that these birds when allowed out just want to fly and very quickly get lost.

Murray wrote: ↑Fri Jan 27, 2023 8:18 pm You should find they come back okay then Trev.

In NZ we moved several times and used to take the loft with us every time. After a few days I would let them out and they always stayed. Never lost many.

We have just put the house on the market and will be moving after 15 years here. We may go to a place about 140 miles away, and might not be able to take the loft. So it might be a bit tricky. I will use it as a chance to thin out the birds, and only take the best. Or what I think are the best. What would I know?
In any case, The birds know me, and I will be getting them out and flying as soon as possible.

Many years ago we moved 150 miles and I had them out a couple of days latter. I only had a small loft, even smaller than this one. I took it apart, moved it, put it back up and put the birds, nest boxes, eggs and everything back in. All in one day. I am too old to do that now.
Anyway, they all settled back in, and a couple of days latter were wanting out. So I took a deep breath and let them out. They had a good explore and all went back in!

I sort of think the longer you keep them locked up the more they fly away.

It's a lovely place you have there, house, loft and gardens !! What's made you decide to move mate, are you changing your job too ??