Breeding Tips, Ideals for Success in 2006

[SmithFamilyLoft]

The 2005 YB season has ended, and already the 2006 season has begun !!
The conditioning and health of your breeders is now in full swing. Now is when the winners of 2006 are made.

I wanted to start this thread, in hopes that breeders of successful YB's might share some of their methods in order to help others. I bet 98% or more, of what I know, came from others. I personally have invented or discovered very little new knowledge on my own.

For months now, I personally have followed my breeders health very carefully. I have tested some new methods over the last year or so, and found outstanding results. Medical supervision prior to the breeding season is critical. Vaccinations and health exams. Worming, etc. Weeks before the birds are paired, they need to be in outstanding health. Scrimp here, and your 2006 YB results will show it !!

Please share your thoughts and ideals.

[Skyeking]

Thanks for your supportive views on the importance of prevention.

I agree that you get started and review what you did in the past and get a new plan in place if the birds were not in top condition. Now is the time to get a prevention program in place, because it will effect the health of the young, 6 months from now.

Prevention is critical in every phase of pigeon racing. I can't emphasize enough that a future pigeon fancier go out and find a good avian vet and/or rehabber well before they actually acquire any pigeons. It is vital to overall performance, breeding, and when there is an emergency. Don't wait until you have a crisis on your hands, it is hard to find time to locate a qualified avian vet at the last minute.

Well, you know I'm a nut case about nutrition as well, so I'm going to say a few words on that. Follow the guidelines set forth by your club, or go to my thread in the same forum and check it out. These products work and work well, keep a calendar to mark down when and what treatment or nutrition product was given. It is simple, but effective.

[re lee]

Pmv vaccine, worming, dipping, canker treatment, parathpiod cocsidi, treatment. THEN the hard part setting down and gowing through the birds finding that best mating for the different pairs. Which is the art of breeding On flying birds race birds. looking at the over all strenghs the bird carries on the outside. the seeing of the needed points persay to help it with the race need. then on to the inside unseen qualitry. The record book pedigree Looking at what it done in the past as a breeder. How its young has done in training in raceing. . AND then you have the hit pairs that you repair to through that need over and over. NOW show birds you set them down looking to off set the faults to improve the over all points never pair same fault to same fault. Of course befor this you prepare the breeding loft for the new season.AND the young bird side as well. THEN you look the breeders that need replaced that no longer fit the program while you look at putting the birds together. NOW some keep this in mind through out the year. but it still becomes the key at the pairing of the birds. And its good to have a few reserve birds in case something goes wrong during the season. Most important is not trying to make numbers in the breeding loft. Better to put those key birds down together then fill the loft with birds that will not produce the desired needs to go forward. a 100 young birds sounds good But 50 well bred young birds do much better in the end. less crowding the loft. less feed less birds lost in traing or less birds that are show birds to go through at the end trying to find the small handful that make the whole season good. Healthy birds are the need at the beging of the season and end. BUT qulity breeding is for the most part in my veiw the whole key to breeding the birds. Any 2 pigeons paired together will have young birds most often. BUT that certion selected pair and pairs will more then likely raise the birds need to perform in the sky or show pen. I guess that breeders eye kicks in picking the pairs the best you can and not picking birds that you know you will not go forward with save those for flyers or show or offer them if they can help some one else for sale. Or free. Then give all the backyard type to people that well just want a pigeon. My 2 cents might be way off But I try