Racing Late Breds

[West]

Hi everyone, just interested in getting feedback on what people's experiences are with racing late breds/hatches. I'll be returning from Afghanistan end of March and will be getting some late breds to possibly attempt racing part of the YB season, although it begins in July. Worst case scenario I'll get them in on the last couple races when the distances drop back down. I'm not new to racing by any means but just getting back into the sport after a few years out. Anyways I'm interested in hearing what everyones experiences are and how you managed.

[Kal-El]

I'm not a big advocate of racing late breds. Mostly because I've had two bad years with that experiment. However, I am in favor of breeding late hatches to stock. But there has to be a method behind breeding the stock birds. And letting the parents rest for some time to let them revitalize in order to breed nice robust stock birds.

[conditionfreak]

Racing late breds is just not as good. That's all. It is a last resort. But if one does it, they should only take them out to the two hundred I think. 250 or more is tuff on late breds. 150 max would be even better. IMO

[soymi69]

Late birds for me are just for stock ike West mention, because first it will be too late for the young bird season and they will be too young to compete with the old bird race. So they can be use for breeding and maybe the year after they can be race.

[Crazy Pete]

Getting a late hatch the end of March You should be able to have them ready for the end of the young bird season, if not going over 150 mi or so. If you live in Washington your old bird season starts a lot later than down in Texas you should be able to fly them to 350 mi I wouldn't go any farther.
Dave

[Pigeon0446]

Originally Posted by Crazy Pete

Getting a late hatch the end of March You should be able to have them ready for the end of the young bird season, if not going over 150 mi or so. If you live in Washington your old bird season starts a lot later than down in Texas you should be able to fly them to 350 mi I wouldn't go any farther.
Dave

I would not consider a bird born in the end of March a late hatcher. A bunch of guys around here don't put their pairs together till the middle of Feb. And the they raise 2 or more rounds. Our races start in the end of Aug. In 2008 I had a late hatch that wasn't hatched till the begining of July and I took her on a toss on accident and she made it back with the birds so I kept taking her. She made the first race which is 120 miles she actually turned out to be one of my best birds that season. She might be an exception to the rule but they can fly yb races and should def be able to fly old birds. But like others have said you should limit the distance to about 300 miles the first season of old birds.

[hillfamilyloft]

My best bird last year hatched out April 7th. He was 2nd high points birds in the club with 4 top 15 finishes. We started racing in September to first of December. My thoughts are that it could be done with an early developing family of birds. You may even be at a better spot when it comes to the mold. I also had a 4th place finish with an April 27th youngster.

Randy

[hillfamilyloft]

That should be molt not mold.

[[MN]eXist^_^]

Flying darkenend late hatches in ob season may be possible. I know silvre toye did it with his hens long ago and won some nationals. I wouldn't be suprised if they showed up against ob's. I think if birds that are still sqeaking can win or place in the top 10% in yb season then it is possible to do this system in ob's also. I know someone who will do this so we will see the results where they are.

[conditionfreak]

Ha Ha. I "assumed" that a late hatch was a bird hatched in like August or September. March is diffinitely not a late hatch. Depends on where you live I guess though.

I am going to be racing a August hatch this coming old bird season. We'll see.

[[MN]eXist^_^]

I thought late hatches where birds bred after June

[SmithFamilyLoft]

Originally Posted by West

Hi everyone, just interested in getting feedback on what people's experiences are with racing late breds/hatches. I'll be returning from Afghanistan end of March and will be getting some late breds to possibly attempt racing part of the YB season, although it begins in July. Worst case scenario I'll get them in on the last couple races when the distances drop back down. I'm not new to racing by any means but just getting back into the sport after a few years out. Anyways I'm interested in hearing what everyones experiences are and how you managed.

Would you please define the word "Late Bred" as it may mean different things in different parts of the world. So, at what age, when flying say a 300 mile race, would a bird be considered a "Late Bred", if it is ie. less then 150 days old ?

[sky tx]

Our Y/B races start in Sept. As for me a 4 month [120 day old] bird is good to race.
So a May/June hatch is a late breed bird?

[West]

Originally Posted by SmithFamilyLoft

Would you please define the word "Late Bred" as it may mean different things in different parts of the world. So, at what age, when flying say a 300 mile race, would a bird be considered a "Late Bred", if it is ie. less then 150 days old ?

Keep in mind that I return in March and most likely won't have birds till April. The YB season kicks off beginning of July and I'd say racing 3 month old birds through the racing program would classify them late breds, late hatches, very young, whatever you want to call them. I'm more curious in what people's experiences are actually racing birds this young in competition rather than if they are classified as late breds or not.

[Crazy Pete]

So getting birds in April they should hatch end of Feb 1st of march, yes unless they are a slow matureing bird. I have my Fabry crosses they would be more than ready.
Dave