i don't know if any of you experienced it too: but this year something funny going on: lots of people complain about their pigeons that have already lost 1,2 or 3 primary flights (some people don't like it at all cause they are used to play these young ones without problems till the month of august and that might now be impossible)... these young ones are born end of december and other years it has never been so extreme: you could hear one person complaining about it but never so many ... i was perhaps thinking it came because of the winter that was quite warm (barely any days with temp under 0°C)?? But i have no idea.
Checked again all our youngsters and found none that has lost a flight yet ...(luckily)
anyone else experienced the same yet or any ideas on it ?
greetz,
D

By Oscar on Tuesday, March 05, 2002 - 08:14 pm: Edit

Hi David B. Usually the moult on YBs primaries gets triggered by the amount of light ( lenght ) , have those guys had the lights on ? If it is a big concern they can still put them on the dark and that usually will stop them and if it doesn't , not a big deal either they should then atleast go through the body moult , as long as YBs are through the body moult they should race fine .

By Bshuba on Tuesday, March 05, 2002 - 08:23 pm: Edit

David B
I of course agree with Oscar..too much light and nice weather will get them dropping flights..Some times you can get away with leaveing the lights on by mistake if its really cold,but with warm weather your in trouble..Just what I've also noticed.

By Baetensd on Wednesday, March 06, 2002 - 03:57 am: Edit

The funny thing is that some of them are using the darkening system for years already ... so they should know what and what not to do ... it might be because it was really warm for the time of the year ..

By Roly on Wednesday, March 06, 2002 - 06:28 am: Edit

!!! WHAT AND WHY / HOW!!! IT IS alien to natures intended.... expect some .....
Ask Tom about the Sheep being bred twice a year.. the end results, some ...

By Tommakowecki on Wednesday, March 06, 2002 - 09:29 am: Edit

Hi Roly; not sure what you mean by "Ask Tom about the Sheep being bred twice a year.. the end results, some ..." BUT our sheep do this natuarally.....no light manipulation here.....Only Genetics and good care.

By Billytaylor on Wednesday, March 06, 2002 - 04:43 pm: Edit

No reason not to leave the lights on all night, if your intention is to have the babies complete the moult prior to race season. Lets race. Bye Billy

By Mreyesign on Wednesday, March 06, 2002 - 06:22 pm: Edit

To All. Gentlemen. For what it's worth, I was using the lighting systen of sorts back in 1964. Variations on a theme. Leave the lights on. They moult quicker. What's the big deal.? So, I said to my wife ,I said, Listen Bruce????????

By Oscar on Wednesday, March 06, 2002 - 07:14 pm: Edit

Hi Billy , That may be right for your area but for Holland and or Belgium where YB races start in May you want them to go slow .`

By Billytaylor on Wednesday, March 06, 2002 - 07:21 pm: Edit

Agree Oscar where you live may dictate light system is best, but I believe dark system could be flown anywhere. Depends on when race reason starts and how early or late you breed. Light system for me is simpler, matter of early breeding an an on/off switch. Dont take any smarts. Lets race. Bye Billy

By Billytaylor on Wednesday, March 06, 2002 - 07:24 pm: Edit

Oscar you must have the competition on the run. Why else would they be hiding in the weeds using binoculars to see if the lights are on in your loft or what you do with the ladder. Dont show them the eclock antenna on top of the silo. Lets race. Bye Billy

By Baetensd on Thursday, March 07, 2002 - 04:06 am: Edit

Most people here go for darkening (the ones that wanna play from may to august with the same pigeons so they can fly all the nationals) or for following nature (no lights, no darkening) but then you can't be sure to be able to race july/august ...
greetz,
D

By Jimmyoz on Thursday, March 07, 2002 - 03:04 pm: Edit

Fellas,
In good old oz we race in the winter which means that if you start breeding about June the previous year then your birds are fully moulted or damn close to it.
Jim

By Davidtichbourne on Thursday, March 07, 2002 - 08:51 pm: Edit

Question, is there any data that in head/neck moulting there are increased YB losses? If so, what causes these "moulting" losses, chill? ear ache, impaired hearing/balance ? sunburn?
Or is a bird at the peak of a moult just not able to home properly and not of flying form? ...I can understand not having a winning bird as feathering impacts speed, but not YB losses related to moulting.

Dave.

By Mreyesign on Thursday, March 07, 2002 - 09:04 pm: Edit

Heavy losses in young birds is often attributed to the birds being in a heavy head mould. It is widely believed that the nose and ear feathers are of paramont importance at this time. Most believe that if the nose and ears or face in general is covered, the bird is A OK to fly.

By Billytaylor on Friday, March 08, 2002 - 01:04 pm: Edit

Dave, I also wont fly those in the head moult. Just go by what my old Scot pard told me that they are easily lost in that condition. Lets race. Bye Billy

By Mreyesign on Friday, March 08, 2002 - 01:21 pm: Edit

One day when science catches up with me. HA HA HA . They will discover that the ears play a bigger role in the birds homing ability than was previously imagined. The uncovered ears could well be the main reason for the losses.

By Roly on Friday, March 08, 2002 - 01:32 pm: Edit

Oh yes.. and the study of sqabs in the nest will be taken a lot of notice of.... Myrons Glass may yet have a proper use and use for a real reason at last LOL... Joking aside I do agree though the ears are all important.

By Billytaylor on Friday, March 08, 2002 - 03:52 pm: Edit

Roly I can think of a perfect place for Myrons glass. Lets race. Bye Billy

By Roly on Friday, March 08, 2002 - 07:30 pm: Edit

Crikey must be a big glass!

By Mreyesign on Friday, March 08, 2002 - 09:21 pm: Edit

The day is rapidly approaching when Billy T and Roly will be asked to stand up and give comment as the subject of eye-sign in view of the evidence presented. I can already hear the clicking of the cameras and recording equipment as they stammer and stutter their way through an admittance of the truth. WWWWEE BBBBELLLLIEVE. O'Hoohoo. As 300 pigeon flyers headed by Billy Schuba and Myron, BURST into tumultuous applause. And so it shall be written in Sept, in Winnipeg.

By Bshuba on Friday, March 08, 2002 - 09:32 pm: Edit

Bob
Did I miss something.?? is there something going on Sept in Winnipeg.???

By Bshuba on Friday, March 08, 2002 - 09:40 pm: Edit

Bob
If you were thinking..Windsor ..in October,you might want to have someone pick you up and take you there so you find your way...Trust me I'am not your man..haha

By Mreyesign on Friday, March 08, 2002 - 10:03 pm: Edit

ha ha ha ha Just testing you. GOTCH'A.

By Bshuba on Saturday, March 09, 2002 - 10:14 am: Edit

Tests so many Tests..But what a education..haha

By Myron on Saturday, March 09, 2002 - 10:53 am: Edit

ROLY & BILLY,

I DO HOPE THAT ALL THE INFO SENT YOU WAS NOT IN VEIN, & THAT YOU ARE TRUELY STUDYING & PUTTING YOUR BRAINS BEYOND CAPACITY & WILL NEED TO GET A COOLING DEVICE GOING TO KEEP YOU FROM OVER HEATING.
JUST LIKE OUR LITTLE FRIENDS WHEN THEY FLY THEIR LITTLE HEARTS OUTS FOR US.
THE LIKELY COOLING METHOD FOR YOU TWO WOULD BE A FEW PINTS POURED OVER YOUR HEADS WHILE STUDYING.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. A TEST WILL FELLOW SOON.

By Davidtichbourne on Saturday, March 09, 2002 - 12:51 pm: Edit

Thanks for the head moult advice, that makes good sense to me, I won't fly my YBs with heavy head moult. (This year will be the first time I've raced in 25 years).

By Myron on Saturday, March 09, 2002 - 04:11 pm: Edit

HOW BOUT A LITTLE CAP TO KEEP THE WIND OUT OF THEIR EARS.?????

SPOKE TO EYE DOCTOR TO GET CONTACTS FOR NEAR SIGHTEDNESS ON THE BIRDS WITH POOR VISION.

By Roly on Saturday, March 09, 2002 - 06:18 pm: Edit

You know Myron... I'm gonna send my eyes to you.. if you study them and Look closely in to my eyes you will see I already know all there is to know about the subject.....!

By Myron on Saturday, March 09, 2002 - 07:33 pm: Edit

JUST CALLED AUSSIE LAND LOOKING FOR YOUR EYES, BUT THEY DIDN;T HAVE THEM.

YOU CAN SEND A PIC OF YOUR OWN, BUT SEND A BOTTLE OF VISINE TOO.
IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S FOR,IT'S TO GET THE RED OUT.

By Roly on Sunday, November 03, 2002 - 09:44 pm: Edit

And how often have you seen the ACTUAL pupil not truely Black, indeed not even remotely black!

By Roly on Sunday, November 03, 2002 - 09:45 pm: Edit

And while on that Subject what does the Silvery purple shade mean in the actaul pupil some birds have?

By Mreyesign on Sunday, November 03, 2002 - 10:54 pm: Edit

To Roly...Remember this one old chap. O WHAT A SURPRISE... TWO LOVELY BLACK EYE'S...SIMPLY FOR TELLING A MAN HE WAS WRONG. TWO LOVELY BLACK EYE'S. bum bum.

Must have been written by an eye-sign man. There are only about 8 real eye-sign men in the world, but only one MAESTRO????? Post your pictures before I answer question No 8. It'll be too late after.