The Roller-Pigeon.Com Blog

My World Cup fly time is May 6 at 3PM and 4:30PM. I am not particularly happy with these times. I am hopeful that maybe one of my two teams will do well despite the afternoon winds and gusts and possible bop. These are certainly not optimal conditions for THE premier competition fly. I usually like to fly my teams in the morning before 10AM. But it IS important to support the WC.

Recently it has been windy and cold. Birds had been on an all wheat diet for WC training. I can see where the mixed grain diet I normally use on the kit birds would be better for them in the colder weather, so I have put them back on mixed grain. (for now) I want to keep my team around to fly another day rather than only focus on WC preparation and risk losing a team or two.

Virtually 99% of the birds I am flying are 2006 birds. A couple are older hens that do not lay eggs any longer. I have several good birds from this group that deserve a shot in the breeding pen and it brings no joy to risk them in order to compete in the WC… 

As for training, not really getting a chance to fly them as much as I would like, been too windy. I put them back on mixed grain and let them feast on it, kept in for 2 days and the third day let both kits out. They were excited to be out and feeling better with the mixed grain.

Watched lots of action, good deep rolling and birds flew for over 30 minutes. Rolling quality was good and lots of scorable turns. Kitting was good.

Upon release, I had a red check roll down and hit the loft roof with a loud bang. Got right back up and flew with the kit, did not see any problems with it afterwards.

The recent severe change in weather from 60 degrees to dropping into the low 30’s in 1 day does influence kit well-being and behavior. Getting the feed right when dealing with these kinds of conditions will be a little challenge I am sure.