| By Bshuba on Saturday, January 19, 2002 - 03:52 pm: Edit |
Sorry guys I coundn't help it but I have to comment on this one...Dave O..You have won 10 times your share of races weaning at 26-28 days.Well guys theres the Big SECRET ..it Don't matter what else you do,just wean at 26-28 days and you will win 10x your share of races.THATS IT..Dave has been doing it this way so it Will Work..???? Just my humble opinion,Sorry Dave it just didn't sound smart to me there are more things that you have been doing than just weaning at these ages I'am sure..Now I'am OFF....
| By Mreyesign on Saturday, January 19, 2002 - 04:40 pm: Edit |
To All. If you keep feed and water infront of the parents in the nest box, you will see that the young birds will learn to feed themselves at age 18 to 20 day's and even younger. They simply copy doing what they see the parents do.
| By Tommakowecki on Saturday, January 19, 2002 - 05:17 pm: Edit |
There are many roads to Rome. Weaning dates aren't likley to effect how well one flys and I don't think that is being debated here, but what is best and easiest does help us all. I used to wean much younger than now and had great success - no problems with yb's eating only small grains etc. - so I lean more to weaning younger than older but no one hear is claiming that is the reason for their success - Just that it works well for THEM !
| By Billytaylor on Saturday, January 19, 2002 - 06:55 pm: Edit |
Shuba what the hell you doing back on here? Thought I had you running for the nuns for consolence. Lets race. Bye Billy
| By Roly on Saturday, January 19, 2002 - 09:14 pm: Edit |
May I point out that When I have y/bs from another loft is when I take them at 14 days, 16 max. When they are bred in the loft it is anything from 16 days to when I feel fit.
Many good flyer never takes them away at all... Or just the parents at say 28 days. Ideally I think that one massive loft that caters for all on an open loft, never ever actually leaving that loft has got to be the best system, if attaiable.
But with just 3 7x6 sections I have to be practable and do otherwise.
So it is what suit you that counts... but the Idea that so and such is too young means nowt. But for introductions to a new loft the earlier the better.. especially if you intend to fly them as young birds... The longer in their original loft the harder to settle and suceed as y/bs... Yearlings mated etc is a different case.
| By Roly on Saturday, January 19, 2002 - 09:17 pm: Edit |
Though I will say the best results - for me anyway is to basket them first then put them in their new compartment for 2/3 weeks, feed and watered there. Let out for a few days to settle the leave the door ajar, the wide open, I think you would be amazed at how few your losses would be.
| By Hoover on Saturday, January 19, 2002 - 10:01 pm: Edit |
To Eastfield. The feeders raise babies with diet of 50% green bean, 25% red rice and 25% glutinous corn till weaning, available all the time. Fresh water twice per day, minerals, tablesalt and grits as much as they want, vitamins once a week on the drink. Once moved to youngbird section, they eat on their own just like old birds, and start to loft fly twice per day. The ration is now cut off to 30% green bean, 35% red rice and 35% corn. The feed is hand mixed, an ounce per bird per day, 40% early morning and 60% late afternoon. It works for me, and the birds look healthy and happy. Agree with you Dave O., unless weaning at 14 - 18 days old makes youngsters any smarter, I found myself much more comfortable with the schedule, so why change and running after birds worrying if any of them do not know how to eat/drink? Again, my .2 cents only
| By Eastfield on Saturday, January 19, 2002 - 11:18 pm: Edit |
I wean at 18 days because I find it easier. The youngsters don't make a nuisance of themselves and it is easier on the parents. Also easier on me. Don't have the dirty nestboxes to clean as long and it keeps the coop cleaner. I always feed in the nestbox and the youngsters start eating with the parents at 14 days or earlier.It has nothing to do with raising better or smarter birds; the only thing I have noticed they are quicker on the wing than birds weaned at 28 days. I feed a lot of pellets when in the nestbox. Forgot to say they also get 2 days of pellets before going on a balanced ration. Keep at least 20 % pellets in their early YB ration.
| By Thumper on Sunday, January 20, 2002 - 09:53 am: Edit |
Just my 2 cents worth. I wean @ the age of 25-30 days as I feel they get fed better when the parents do it while on the side they eat a few grains themselves. When they are weaned at that age they are much stronger, the reason they don`t fly as quick is because they are much heavier I think.
| By Daveo on Sunday, January 20, 2002 - 11:02 am: Edit |
Bill S,
You are corect, weening ybs is only the first step or one of them to winning races.I like to keep them longer with the parents so they dont take a dip in developement thats all.just my way.I to as well put feeding cups in the nest boxes to teach them to eat faster and they will start to pick food at a much early age because of this.By the time i do ween them over all they have to do is find the water.Many roads to Rome.No one is really right or wrong as long as they can survive and not loose weight when you ween them over.
| By Roly on Sunday, January 20, 2002 - 02:49 pm: Edit |
I feel that EVERY y/b bird loses wieght naturally when first weaned, this is a part - ## knows why - of natures way. I don't think anything can oughter that. Obviously a lot of wieght is what I feel Daveo means.
| By Eastfield on Sunday, January 20, 2002 - 03:01 pm: Edit |
When weaning at 18 days I have never had a set-back yet; as Billy Taylor said you may have the odd one that does not drink right away. You can tell when they blink their eyes. All you need to do is dunk their head in the drinking bowl and they will be fine and never forget where the water is. This happens very seldom since I use a low waterbowl that they cannot miss when walking on the floor.
| By Roly on Monday, January 21, 2002 - 01:34 am: Edit |
Just read an interesting article. Schumeaker (Neol and sons fame) Young birds imported £20 each guarenteed no older than 20 days! Over rider ... To enable racing from their new loft.
Q. at what age do they leave the nest? AND it would appear to back up my deeply held belief that the sooner in their new loft the better.
| By David on Monday, January 21, 2002 - 05:36 am: Edit |
DONT think it makes a difference if they leave the loft there born in. seen lots of ybs bought at auctions that went on to win opens and fly super for the new loft 50 miles away or futher.a couple years ago gave a fellow a yb that flys in mike v. club he won best yb in that club that year.they got it or they dont.
| By Ron on Monday, January 21, 2002 - 12:59 pm: Edit |
Hi all. Last weekend we had two youngbird races, one was very short 75km, and other one was 360km. Weather was good, about 32-Celsius degree, party cloud, side tail wind. Short race, 318 birds sent, I got 10 participated and took 4th, 6th, 7th, 32nd, 35th, 36th, 37th and 41st. Long race, 152 birds sent, again I got 6 in competition, took 5th, 6th, 9th, and 23rd. The two losing birds on the long race and three on the short has been reported as missing in action, at least not home yet till now. Well, I consider these results are not so bad for a novice just like me, and I am sure I will soon move up higher. Really, you guys' postings here in this forum are teaching me much on how to fly them, thanks a lot. Just a little problem/confusing that I am trying to figure out here when the winner of the short race only send 2 birds, those came 1st, and 2nd with about 8 minutes before my fastest bird arrive. These birds have the long bodies, white feathered with black tail and black head, appear to be show birds in my humble opinion. Local fanciers call this family bird 'Rocket', which means they fly just too fast? However, when it comes to further distance, his other 5 birds out of the top 50 [we agreed to clock the first 50 birds, so everyone can feel the smell of winning, even for beginner like me LOL] but all homed within the day. Some say they came from England, other say from Germany. Could anyone throw any idea on what is the name of these birds, and where did they came from? For the long race, all the 4 winning birds are blue bar cocks, belong to an old experienced man who I am trying to ask him to sale me some birds breed off of the winning ones. People confirmed that unless he is not flying anymore, it is pretty hard to knock his birds off the sheet. Ok that is all I want to share, let see how my birds fly this weekend, 60km, 225km and 410km races.
Before I forgot, what is the effective of charcoal to my birds? Cheers.
| By Billytaylor on Monday, January 21, 2002 - 04:53 pm: Edit |
Roly good racing pal. As for the Rockets, only birds a have heard of with that name were the Janssen Red Rocket, but I may be wrong. Gearing up for OBs myself now. Roading 7 days a week and loft flying in the PM. Will keep this sched until first races, then slack to 3 times a week on road. Bet a Euro Dollar I will put the hurts on the club and maybe the Combine. Got 70 for a good strong OB team. Aint Hope the only way. Lets race. Bye Billy
| By Roly on Monday, January 21, 2002 - 07:12 pm: Edit |
Frankie George had a Bird named Rocket' that within 2 weeks won big from BOTH Thurso 460 miles and Lerwicke 540 miles.
Geoff Clare . was from here but moved to Ole leake for as he says, must get a position to do well with.
His Bird 'rocket' won the National from Perth one year and the next won it from Thurso.
Have recently read of TWO more 'Rockets' and then there was the great one of Stan Biss Ii see advertised imn he's selling spree I believe.
| By Roly on Monday, January 21, 2002 - 07:16 pm: Edit |
Frankie George had a stud, Geoff Clare ... who I hear is packing up, also sold a lot from his Bird.. and Stan Biss would / has too.
But remember that the pedigree is only as goodand as genuine as the man that writes it!