Why are we losing so many YOUNG
<= span class=3DGramE>By Bob P= risco
Everybody has a reason and idea of why the heavy loose= s and difficulty in birds finishing a race series in Taiwan. Most fanciers say it= is the difficulty of the race conditions (weather), others say the young age of the birds, others the frequency of the races and some the quality of the birds. Everyone is entitled to his opinion, but my opinion and reasons are complet= ely different.
I believe the major reason for the heavy looses is one= of the following or a combination of several of reasons below:
FEEDING
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A good handler or trainer provides his birds with more= than a water-grain diet. It has been known for years the standard grain mixture = do not contain all the nutritional value in sufficient quantities for young bi= rds to develop , breeders to breed successfully and for birds to complete a good health moult.
Since are birds are kept in an unnatural environment ,= a good trainer always makes sure his birds have a proper diet and ENOUGH FOOD= to compete at their highest level. Each bird is different and observation at feeding time shows individual birds will chose grains to meet their own nee= ds. Some eating more corn , others extra peas, some more safflower or rice and others more peanuts. The birds brain tells the bird its own nutritional nee= ds at the moment, the quantity and type of grains it should be eating .What is go= od for one individual bird may not be needed by another. This is why we must provide a feed mixture with various types of grains and in enough amounts t= hat our birds can select what it needs and the proper amount at each feeding. T= HEIR SHOULD ALWAYS BE SOME FEED LEFT WHEN YOUR BIRDS HAVE FINISHED EATING.
“MOTHER NATURE” has provided our birds with ability to select the correct grains when we properly provide enough of the correct feed and we must accept the fact that the birds know more about his= own nutritional needs then we do.
The basic grain diet should provide the following:
1.Before breeding season k= eep all breeders on a protein diet of 15-17 % grain mixture, plus electrolytes,vitamins , minerals in water 2 times a week. Give fresh grit as needed. 30 days befo= re breeding season add pellets to breeders diet ( separate container- free choice). 7 days before eggs hatch add Spanish peanuts (1 pound per 20 pair breeders) Continue to give peanuts to breeders until breeding season is completed. When youngsters are 14 days old increase peanuts (2 pounds per 20 pair breeders) Feed breeders 3 times a day on a regular schedule.
2. WEANING PERIOD ( YOUNGS= TERS 26-30 DAYS OLD) 15-17% mixtur= e, pellets, peanuts, safflower, rice , grit.&= nbsp; Vitamins, minerals,electrolytes in water= 4 days. Keep feed in loft all day – let birds eat when they are hungry.=
3. SETTLING and LOFT FLYING – continue the same feed as during weaning period. Feed 2 times a day Vitamins, minerals, electrolytes in water 2 times a week.
Use peanuts when training = birds to trap to loft. 80% feed mix, 10%safflower/rice . 10% peanuts. Fresh grit and pellet= s free choice in loft all day.
MEDICATION – Because= of Taiwan’s unique style of racing and its climate, the following pigeon diseases can be a problem - COCCIDIOSIS , CANKER , PARATYPHOID , E- COLI , WORMS , ADEN – VIRUS , PARAMYXOVIRUS , RESPIRATORY INFECTION , PIGEON MALARIA AND PIGEON P= OX.
Fanciers must medicate BEF= ORE and DURING the breeding and racing seasons.
I have read articles from = fanciers that say they do not medicate their birds and they win the large prizes. My only comment to these fanciers is that you are simply not telling the truth because you do not want other fanciers to be competitive or given a chance = to win. Every successful racing loft uses medication , it is as important as feeding and watering your birds.
You must understand that t= his is a preventative medication program and it is necessary due to the style of rac= ing and breeding seasons (3 separate racing and breeding seasons)
Fanciers must buy the best products for each of the diseases – buy each product individually from the manufacture and try to fine 2 quality medications for each disease.
STAY AWAY FOR THE PREMIXED COMOBO MEDICATION – medication that have3 or 4 medications already mixed fro= m a supply house. As I said before buy each medication separately, The fanciers must mix them yourself to guarantee proper dosage and the best medication f= or the problem. Also, stay away from the “hocus pocus magic tonics” they are a waste of money.
MEDICATION SCHUDLE - Before breeding season places your breeders on a medication program 6 weeks before= you want your first eggs.
We prefer water soluble medications and use the following combo mixtures that we mix ourselves:
1 GALLON OF WATER – = MIX – 5 DAYS COMBO MIX
a. = 1 tablespoon ridzol ( canker)
b. 1 tablespoon sulmet- aureomy= cin ( paratyphoid , coccidiosis)
c. = 1 teaspoon tylan ( respiratory)
d. 1 teaspoon vetisulid ( E.col= i)
e. = 1 tablespoon best vitamins – electrolytes
2 DAYS FRESH WATER than 7 days of
No more medication for br= eeders if they are only breeding 1 or 2 sets of young birds this breeding season.<= /p>
WEANING PERIOD 26-30 DAYS= OLD –add RIDZOL , AMPROL, SULEMET
TO DRINKING WATER WITH vi= tamins, minerals , electrolytes.
SETTLING –LOFT FLYI= NG – NO MEDICATION FOR NEXT 30 DAYS UNLESS BIRDS ARE MIXED WITH OTHER BI= RDS FROM OTHER LOFTS.
ROAD TRAINING –RACE= SERIES – 2 days before start road training give combo mixture for 2 days. Let birds loft fly and land – do not force them to fly.
Once you start road train= ing – combo mix EVERY 8- 10 DAYS for 36-48 hours with vitamins, electroly= tes, minerals. Light training loft fly or 2 short 10 mile tosses when giving com= bo mix.
Once race series starts- = birds return home from race – first 24 hours the best vitamins , minerals , electrolytes in water – along with all they want to eat. This first 2= 4 hours is an important time for recovery. The birds need plenty of rest and quality feed. NO TRAINING or loft fly= ing. NEXT 24-48 HOURS COMBO MIX.
LOFT FLY ONLY IF BIRDS LO= OK GOOD.
The days between COMBO MI= X and next race you can give some fresh garlic , sweet onions , honey , tea , lem= on , apple cider vinegar, lettuce, wheat germ oil, brewer’s yeast. Many ca= n be mixed with vitamins, minerals ,electrolytes in the water. ALL THEY WANT TO EAT.
EDUCATION – As pare= nts, we want the very best for our children. We send them to the best schools with the best teachers and equipment. We know education is important to help them achieve their goals and to succeed in life.
We must do the same for o= ur young birds in training for them to have the best chance to succeed and win the l= arge prizes.
When we settle the birds = to the flying loft, we keep it simple. Show them where to enter or trap. We place = them through the trap a few times by hand, VERY GENTLY. A few peanuts waiting for them after they trap will encourage them to trap quickly. This routine shou= ld never change. Always the same- loft fly or exercise, land, trap, peanuts waiting for them.
Road training tosses shou= ld not begin until the birds start routing.
We gradually increase the distances= of our training tosses from 1,5 ,10 ,20 miles. We stay at each location 3 time= s. On the 3rd toss we single toss each bird. We wait about 10-15 minutes between each bird. These single tosses force the bird to think on i= ts own and not to rely on other birds to follow home. This is the first step in teaching the bird to be independent, build confidence and navigate on its o= wn. After we reach the 40 mile toss location or the water, whichever comes firs= t, all training tosses are single bird tosses. The birds must learn to fly independently from this point.
Our training tosses are ma= de as close to the water as possible. Remember the birds will look for closet land first then home from that point. Make your tosses up and down the coast line near large land marks as birds will use them when coming off the water.
Another important area is = teaching the birds to eat and drink in the shipping crates. Obtain a crate identical= to one used by the club – size, color , same watering and feed locations= , train birds to eat and drink in them.
TRAINING – I have me= ntioned in many articles that fanciers over train and over work their birds before = the actual race series starts. This over training will cause the birds to ̶= 0; burn out or break down”. The birds reach their best performance level= too early, maybe even before the race series starts. Causing the birds to be too tired and exhausted ( mentall= y and physically) to complete the race series.
“ROUNDING INTO FORM&= #8221; or “ GETTING FIT” or “GETTING INTO SHAPE” describes= an athlete, human or animal, slowly reaching and progressing to his best performance level. BEING AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME, this takes place over time, through training, conditioning, and actual competition.
If we look at many of the = results from the past race series, we will see the same pattern or results. The bir= ds that finished in high positions in first few races never finish or complete= the series.
We have had great results = flying our birds every week (YBS. or OBS.) with very little training during the da= ys between races. We let birds rest first 2-3 days (giving medication, etc.) n= ext 3 days before we ship , we loft fly or 1 or 2 short tosses 10-15 miles Plen= ty of rest and food. Than right back in the race. This practices lets the bird stay in condition and to give his best effort each race. Once the bird qualifies for the first race and has shown he can handle the race condition= s, training becomes secondary to rest . A quality bird will stay in great shape racing every 6-7 days with just short loft flying time and 1 or 2 short tos= ses 10-15 miles. Give the bird at least 3 days to recovery from race – no training. If it was a real hard race, you may not train all week. Rest at t= his point is more important than training.
We must accept that each b= ird is a individual and train, feed, medicate and motivate according to each birds needs.
OVERCROWDING THE FLYING LO= FT – We as humans could not be productive or successful at our jobs or athletic events without the proper rest our bodies require, stress free environments at home and work and strong motivational goals to keep us focu= sed at our tasks. We must understand that we breed and train athletes. There is= no difference between training and coaching a human or an animal athlete. They both need the athletic ability, proper training and coaching before the competition, excellent diets , good health and hygiene habits, plenty of re= st , regular routine and a stress free environment to stay in condition and comp= ete week after week to win the large prizes.
If you believe what I just= said then we must practice the following rule:
ONLY THE BIRDS THAT ARE FL= YING THIS PARTICULAR RACE SERIES SHOULD BE HOUSED IN THIS SECTION. This is to gi= ve special attention to these birds at all times. The loft should have plenty = of extra room for exercise, extra perches and extra spaces for nesting and mat= ing boxes. Extra floor space for eating and drinking without struggling or figh= ting for food or drink is necessary. After cleaning the loft daily and training = for the day is over, the loft should be kept as quiet and undisturbed as possib= le so the birds can rest and relax. This also means that the fancier should st= ay out of loft – do not handle the birds or disturb them for no reason.<= /p>
Although the birds seem to= get most of the fame and credit, the trainer plays an important role in the suc= cess at end of a race series. He must know and study his birds to see how he nee= ds to train them. He must feed, medicate and motivate them to improve each race and finish the series. A fancier needs “GOOD COMMON SENSE”. He = must be mentally and physically alert, just like his birds. He must learn from h= is mistakes and continue to improve his own ability as a trainer. Accept that = each bird is a individual and train, feed, medicate and motivate it according to= its own needs. These needs will change on a daily bases and the trainer must observe them each day. A good trainer looks and listens to his birds, spends “quality time” with them studying their actions and behavior, t= reats each bird as a individual and learns what makes that bird happy. GOOD LUCK = .