Flying pigeons from loft NOT hungry

[LamarshFish]

My homers are now well settled to my loft. I fly them several times a week hungry (12 hours or more from last meal). They all return and trap back in. They fly all over the place, sometimes way out of sight, miles away. Presumably, they have routed the area and know how to get home.

My question now is, can I just let them out every morning, even after they have had an evening meal? Can I simply offer them an open door every morning without having to withhold a meal? I supposed a different way to frame my question, is: after the birds have settled and homed to the loft, does the "fly them hungry" rule only apply to tosses?

I would, of course, never attempt a toss without making sure they are hungry....

 

[sourland]

If you plan on racing your birds, you will want them to trap immediately upon coming home - flying 'hungry' reinforces this behavior. Also birds loafing around on the loft can become targets for hawks.

 

[Hokum Coco]

"fly them hungry" rule only apply to tosses?

I leave a treat of shelled peanuts in the loft for their return (enough to feed ½ the release) they are quick to realize the first home get the "LION" share and peanuts are devoured whether they are hungry or not. I toss my birds in a perfect world before 1000hrs hunger does not play a part in the equation once I know they are settled. I use the hunger angle as a tool only to get new birds settled.

I am now back up to 40 birds with 5 eggs and let my birds fly at large for the better part of 4 hours a day. Every month or two I may suffer a loss that is part of being a pigeon fancier that is willing to take that risk. My best birds always seem to survive. The young weak or injured are culled by nature. I know I have the best blood line I can afford.

NEVER TOSS OR RELEASE A PIGEON YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO LOOSE.

 

[LamarshFish]

If you plan on racing your birds, you will want them to trap immediately upon coming home - flying 'hungry' reinforces this behavior. Also birds loafing around on the loft can become targets for hawks.

I do not plan on racing my birds. My birds do loaf around my loft though, so that is a point well taken. I do, however, live in a pretty urban neighborhood, with a pretty large tree canopy that somewhat conceals my roof from a hark's eye view. To boot, although there are plenty of hawks in the region which I live, I rarely see them close to my neighborhood since it is pretty urban--I think they like to hang closer to the open areas like fields and golf courses.

I leave a treat of shelled peanuts in the loft for their return (enough to feed ½ the release) they are quick to realize the first home get the "LION" share and peanuts are devoured whether they are hungry or not. I toss my birds in a perfect world before 1000hrs hunger does not play a part in the equation once I know they are settled. I use the hunger angle as a tool only to get new birds settled.

So, you think I can just let them out now in the mornings, even after they had eaten the night before?

I am now back up to 40 birds with 5 eggs and let my birds fly at large for the better part of 4 hours a day. Every month or two I may suffer a loss that is part of being a pigeon fancier that is will to take that risk. My best birds always seem to survive. The young weak or injured are culled by nature. I know I have the best blood line I can afford.

That's great to hear. I remember you speaking about your losses to the predator that got into your loft. It's nice to know you have rebuilt your flock.

The more I grow fond of these birds, the idea of losses gets worse and worse, but I do try to keep in mind that (a) it's part of keeping homers, and (b) the losses mostly make my bloodline stronger.

 

[Hokum Coco]

you think I can just let them out now in the mornings,

Every loft and flock of birds have their strengths and weakness what works for me and my loft will not necessarily work for you and your flock. It is a learning process for all fanciers and some tips maybe universal but most learn through trial and error. Lofts predators and environments are not all the same. You have to make allowances and adaptions for your specific needs. I toss and train my birds before noon and free fly late afternoon in most cases. The desire to roost in safety is another factor to keep them from flying to far a field in late afternoon. That is what works for me personally in Canada.