Birds that are on the Darkening System mature much faster than
natural birds. This lets me use the Widowhood system. I fly the
first race
with all the birds together. After this first race, on Saturday evening,
I separate the birds by cocks and hens.
The birds are on 16 hours of light at this time. They have been for
two weeks. Their body clock perceives that it is around June 21st
because there is so much light. This means they want to mate. The
birds stay separated all week.
On Friday, after they have been fed and watered for the race, I open
the door between the pens, so the hens and cocks can get together.
The first time I do this for half an hour. Each race after that,
I do it for only 15 minutes. This is just enough time to get them
motivated.
When they get home, they are allowed to be together for 2 or 3 hours.
It depends on how tough the race was. If it was a hard race, I leave
them together for a longer period of time.
I fly a mixture of hens and cocks in both races each week. I always
have extra birds that I don't send on the race, so when the birds
arrive home, there are birds of both sexes in the loft waiting for
the ones that have raced.
Old
Birds
I fly both hens and cocks on my old bird team. I set up the hens
just like I do the cocks. If I am sending a hen to a race, I will
put the cock in the nest and bring the hen in to see her mate for
a couple of minutes and then she is basketed for the race.
The first couple of weeks, I put the nest bowls in with the cocks
for 20 to 30 minutes before I basket them. This really winds the birds
up. Then I bring the hens that are going to the race in and let them
go to their nest without the cocks there. They stay for 10 to 15 minutes,
then they are basketed for the race.
Breakaway Loft offers an unconditional guarantee on all pigeons
we sell.
If you are not happy we will replace the pigeon with another of
equal or greater value to make sure you are a happy customer.
