Widowhood Questions?

[zimmzimm3]

I understand that widowhood and double widowhood is basically understand that widowhood and double widowhood is separating them and then letting them see each other just before the race. I know this is just the tip of the iceberg and i am ordering a book on it but I was wondering if anybody could explain it further and tell what the loft requirements are. Thanks

[zimmzimm3]

Also if anyone has tried it and it has worked for them that would be great to know.

[TAWhatley]

ZimmZimm,

You should be able to find some really good threads about this in the Homing/Racing Pigeon Forum. If I get two spare minutes, I will try to find those for you, but have a search on your own .. you'll find some good stuff.

Terry

[Lovebirds]

Reading a book is your best bet I think. I fly double widowhood. If I flew widowhood, I wouldn't have won the races that I've won the past few years. On widowhood, you only race the cocks. On double widowhood you race the cocks and hens. I've had and have good cocks, but very few have ever actually won a race. They came close, but no cookie.
But......even reading ONE book, that will be only ONE persons version of the system. Different people have different ideas on how to make it work. Just like any other thing having to do with pigeons.

[zimmzimm3]

Are there any loft needs? would i need a separate section in my loft.

[Lovebirds]

Originally Posted by zimmzimm3

Are there any loft needs? would i need a separate section in my loft.

Yep. Cocks need a section with nest boxes. Hens need a section with perches only. The cocks section should be bigger than the hens section. For numbers sake, lets say you've got 15 cocks and 15 hens. When you put them together, the section needs to be able to hold 30 birds and they are always put together in the cocks section, so that's why it needs to be bigger.

[zimmzimm3]

could you have a wall that is removable between the cock and the hens section and then you could remove the wall and have one big section. Also could these sections be the same as your two breeding sections. Thanks

[Lovebirds]

Originally Posted by zimmzimm3

could you have a wall that is removable between the cock and the hens section and then you could remove the wall and have one big section. Also could these sections be the same as your two breeding sections. Thanks

Well, yea, I guess you could, but not sure why you would want to? Unless you quit flying widowhood, but a door it seems to me would be better. Opening a door makes the loft the same size, but putting up and taking down walls sounds like a lot of trouble to me. But, I'm construction challenged, so........
Not sure what you mean by "two breeding sections"

[zimmzimm3]

Originally Posted by Lovebirds

Well, yea, I guess you could, but not sure why you would want to? Unless you quit flying widowhood, but a door it seems to me would be better. Opening a door makes the loft the same size, but putting up and taking down walls sounds like a lot of trouble to me. But, I'm construction challenged, so........
Not sure what you mean by "two breeding sections"

I will be separating the sexes after breeding season (one sections for cocks and one for hens) so would these two sections work to use the widowhood or double widowhood system.

[Lovebirds]

Originally Posted by zimmzimm3

I will be separating the sexes after breeding season (one sections for cocks and one for hens) so would these two sections work to use the widowhood or double widowhood system.

Well, maybe I'm a little confused. THAT wouldn't be anything new!!
Normally, your "breeding" section doesn't have the traps because, usually your breeders aren't free flying birds. So, how would your widowhood birds trap into the loft? And where are you going to put your breeders while you're racing your widowhood birds? If you've got just the one loft, it would be hard to make it work.

[zimmzimm3]

Ok i see actually you have it right lol i am the one that is confused because i am an extreme newbie you have helped me understand a whole lot. Thanks

[zimmzimm3]

Lovebirds to help me understand everything could you please explain to me what your setup is how many sections/lofts you have and what they are used for. Thank You. I have ambitions to race but have no prior knowledge and am trying to learn all i can. Thanks

[Lovebirds]

Originally Posted by zimmzimm3

Lovebirds to help me understand everything could you please explain to me what your setup is how many sections/lofts you have and what they are used for. Thank You. I have ambitions to race but have no prior knowledge and am trying to learn all i can. Thanks

Well, what I have and what you need may be two different things.
A perfect scenario is (and this can be separate buildings or everything in one big building)
Breeding Loft w/ two sections. 1 with nest boxes, 1 with perches
Young Bird racing loft with two sections.
Old Bird racing loft with two sections.
One extra section for any misc or mismatched birds.
An area to quarantine birds that become sick or injured or for stray birds that show up at your loft.

What I have is the widowhood loft which you already know about.
The big loft has a breeding section with 20 nest boxes. A section for my breeding hens when not paired for breeding. Aviaries only. No traps.
7 individual breeding pens across the back.
3 sections in the front that are used for young birds. The two outer sections have perches only and the middle section has 32 small nest boxes.

[zimmzimm3]

Originally Posted by Lovebirds

Well, what I have and what you need may be two different things.
A perfect scenario is (and this can be separate buildings or everything in one big building)
Breeding Loft w/ two sections. 1 with nest boxes, 1 with perches
Young Bird racing loft with two sections.
Old Bird racing loft with two sections.
One extra section for any misc or mismatched birds.
An area to quarantine birds that become sick or injured or for stray birds that show up at your loft.

What I have is the widowhood loft which you already know about.
The big loft has a breeding section with 20 nest boxes. A section for my breeding hens when not paired for breeding. Aviaries only. No traps.
7 individual breeding pens across the back.
3 sections in the front that are used for young birds. The two outer sections have perches only and the middle section has 32 small nest boxes.

Why would 2 sections be needed

[Lovebirds]

Originally Posted by zimmzimm3

Why would 2 sections be needed

For the old birds, you already know that. Flying widowhood or double widowhood..........???
For young birds.........two section is not a MUST, but most people build a big one room young bird loft. IF you have the money, and the time, at least two sections is the way to go IMO. It's easier to train you birds when you can split them up into the two rounds. Think about this. I've got 20 birds that are over 30 days old. I've got about 40 more, give or take that are between 8 days old and still in the egg. These 40 still have to learn everything the 30 plus day old birds already know. With two sections, you can teach your second round of babies how to trap, etc........without having to deal with the older birds too. The two groups can be handled separately up to a certain point, at which time you can put both groups together.
Boy, you're making me work REALLY hard here.
Can I make a suggestion? You and I and others have talked about many many subjects concerning racing birds and most of it, is still years away for you.
I'll bet you a dollar to a donut that in two years, you'll be asking the same questions.
Get back to the basics and start at the beginning which is getting a loft built.
I don't mind answering questions but you're getting way ahead of yourself.