All the fighting is why I hate open loft breeding after I went to breeding pens it made my life so much easier and knowing the parents for sure is a big reason also no nest jumps.
@@scottreese4854 cock’s that cause trouble don’t get let out. Next year I’ll be redoing my boxes so I don’t have to let anyone out if I choose not to. New pairs don’t get let out until I see the cock Jump the hen regardless and this it’s supervised for a few days.
Individual breeding pens are definitely better, not only for pedigree control, but also disease control. Or at least it's better until it gets cold enough for the water to freeze. It's not there yet here, but I'm not looking forward to going back to breaking ice in 25 extra waterers each day. Having used individuals for 20 odd years, I will say that there's a tendency for pairs to slow down after the second round unless the individual is loft sized. I use 36" individuals, and I think even as large as they are, the birds sock fat on from lack of exercise and their drive to reproduce drops. I thought it was initially lack of social competition resulting in the cocks driving less, but I have one pair in an 8x8 on their own and they breed round after round and never slow down. If I had my druthers (some day), every pair would have their own Individual 6 x 8 or 8 x 8 loft compartment.
@@scottreese4854 some birds are problems and other aren’t but I get it. As I explained in another comment I don’t room to store those cage breeding pens. I don’t have a garage. And to kerbys point I also don’t have time to defrost 12 or more waterers before work, last week was in the 20’s at night and everything was frozen by morning. It was a nightmare. Next year I do plan on building larger boxes since I just got new fronts from a retired fancier. Some cocks are an issue for sure, they just don’t come out and if they do it’s supervised to stretch and get some sun. I also don’t think being locked in a cage all day for months is good for them. It definitely increases stress levels. Some birds do not want to be confined and some are ok with it.
@@DanzaLoft Yes it gets very cold here also so I understand what you are saying my breeding pens are larger with a lot of room I have 3 sets of waters for each pen so it only takes me 5 min to switch all the waters out in the morning and again in the afternoon. I only breed out of 12 pair at the most so it isnt really hard for me to handle. I also let all the hens out twice a week for baths and time in the sun pens while the cocks are setting the eggs and then when the hens are setting the eggs I let the cocks out again twice a week this really seems to help keep them in shape but again this works well for me you have to do what works best for you
@@Satan-xq6go I love mucking around. But in all seriousness I don’t have room for individual breeding pens. I don’t have a garage so I have to store all the pigeon stuff in my work shop in the basement. I can’t have 12 pens down there in the off season. What I am doing this spring is building all new and bigger next boxes so they can’t stay in them if need be.
Awesome! Looks like things are going relatively smooth so far with only a couple of glitches that worked out ok in the end.
Healthy looking birds mate👍🏾
@@smallracingpigeonloftuk816 they look good! Thanks for watching
thanks for the update... liking the pairs. good luck bro!
Appreciate it, thanks!
All the fighting is why I hate open loft breeding after I went to breeding pens it made my life so much easier and knowing the parents for sure is a big reason also no nest jumps.
@@scottreese4854 cock’s that cause trouble don’t get let out. Next year I’ll be redoing my boxes so I don’t have to let anyone out if I choose not to. New pairs don’t get let out until I see the cock Jump the hen regardless and this it’s supervised for a few days.
Individual breeding pens are definitely better, not only for pedigree control, but also disease control. Or at least it's better until it gets cold enough for the water to freeze. It's not there yet here, but I'm not looking forward to going back to breaking ice in 25 extra waterers each day. Having used individuals for 20 odd years, I will say that there's a tendency for pairs to slow down after the second round unless the individual is loft sized. I use 36" individuals, and I think even as large as they are, the birds sock fat on from lack of exercise and their drive to reproduce drops. I thought it was initially lack of social competition resulting in the cocks driving less, but I have one pair in an 8x8 on their own and they breed round after round and never slow down. If I had my druthers (some day), every pair would have their own Individual 6 x 8 or 8 x 8 loft compartment.
@@scottreese4854 some birds are problems and other aren’t but I get it. As I explained in another comment I don’t room to store those cage breeding pens. I don’t have a garage. And to kerbys point I also don’t have time to defrost 12 or more waterers before work, last week was in the 20’s at night and everything was frozen by morning. It was a nightmare. Next year I do plan on building larger boxes since I just got new fronts from a retired fancier. Some cocks are an issue for sure, they just don’t come out and if they do it’s supervised to stretch and get some sun. I also don’t think being locked in a cage all day for months is good for them. It definitely increases stress levels. Some birds do not want to be confined and some are ok with it.
@@DanzaLoft Yes it gets very cold here also so I understand what you are saying my breeding pens are larger with a lot of room I have 3 sets of waters for each pen so it only takes me 5 min to switch all the waters out in the morning and again in the afternoon. I only breed out of 12 pair at the most so it isnt really hard for me to handle. I also let all the hens out twice a week for baths and time in the sun pens while the cocks are setting the eggs and then when the hens are setting the eggs I let the cocks out again twice a week this really seems to help keep them in shape but again this works well for me you have to do what works best for you
@ I’ll try this next year when I get my bigger boxes made for sure. I’m always down for new ideas that may be better
Stop mucking around and making things hard for your self have individual breeding pens
@@Satan-xq6go I love mucking around. But in all seriousness I don’t have room for individual breeding pens. I don’t have a garage so I have to store all the pigeon stuff in my work shop in the basement. I can’t have 12 pens down there in the off season. What I am doing this spring is building all new and bigger next boxes so they can’t stay in them if need be.
@@DanzaLoft I admire your dedication to the sport and I can see all the hard work paying off you'll be a better flyer every year.
@@Satan-xq6go thanks man. I’m really trying. There is no point to race if you don’t want to put the effort in.