Race age: Cock vs Hen

I don't know that as a rule either sex outflies the other at any given age. Every bird is different and there have been fanciers that have done well racing just cocks, just hens or a combination of both. We all hear about the widowhood system with cocks but not too many people realize that some people have done very well using the same type system but racing the hens instead of the cocks. It just depends.

Dan

Every year since 2003, in OB's, my hens have outflown my cocks. This year however, my cocks did considerably better than my hens. Having said that, there seemed to be an overall decline in the performance of the A race birds overall, and I always put my hens in the A race and cocks in the B race, so not really sure if it was the A races in general, or the cocks.

All the birds that I would call my best, have been hens. In both young and old bird racing. One reason why hens could possibly do better than cocks, is because we all know what the boys do while they're in those crates. Fight, fuss, and more fighting The hens typically don't bother anyone unless they get too close for comfort. So they have a little more energy reserved for the race the next morning. BUT, regardless, I don't really think you can say one sex is better than the other. The bird either has it or they don't. If you only fly cocks or only hens, I guess you'll never know if the ones left at home are actually better or not. Also, depending on how you condition and motivate your birds, you may have one wanting to come home quicker than the other.

Very well put Becky. Dave

Becky said it, other then who's going to lay the eggs, sex doesn't make a difference.

I think European fanciers noticed that hens outfly cock on the longer races or extreme races.

RodSD said:

I think European fanciers noticed that hens outfly cock on the longer races or extreme races.

Click to expand...

Probably has something to do with more energy then. Cause if you have a bunch of birds that are equally capable of long distance or hard races, then in theory, all should be just as good as the other. Unless one is more tired than the other.