All the birds are exercising well at this time. We flag them for at least 1 hour and they seem happy to stay up for this amount of time.
Loft Floors
About 2 weeks ago we put down plywood over the wire floors and covered with ground corn cob. This keeps the cold winds out and makes it much more pleasant for the birds. Soon we will cover the dowelled doors with plastic. This will allow light in but eliminate cold breezes. The birds seem happy and comfortable with this set up.
Race Birds Health
We took this pic before we scraped the perches. As you can see the droppings are pea sized and bone dry with a little down. Without even seeing the 1 Loft birds you can suspect they are in excellent health.
2016 Race Bird Feed
This is the feed we are giving the birds today. It is a rich mix from Des Moines Feed Company. At this time the feed is mostly High Energy Mix (a strong feed) with added safflower seed, pellets, and paddy rice to lighten it a little. To this we added Herbots 4 oils and BMT Powder from Siegel’s Pigeon Supplies. I love these 2 products and have used them for years. Rich food with lots of energy!
2016 Race Birds
Some of the 2016 race birds outside enjoying the break in the hot humid weather we’ve been having. Many of the birds are finishing a heavy molt. The flights are growing out and soon we will start short training tosses. Good luck to all.
Queen for a Day
We just finished our Old Bird season. This has been a good bird. She’s out of the family I have been working with for about 13 years. She is just 1 of many birds that have flown well for me from these birds. She will be part of our family going forward. Thank you Bill Hill!
2014 AU AA 5350
“Queen for a Day”
SEX: HEN
FAMILY: Bobby Pollock/Bill Hill
COLOR: blue bar
5350 is out of 2 inbred families.
As a YB: 39th vs. 415 birds @ 101 miles,
E1st vs. 288 birds @ 130 miles, and E58th
vs. 979 birds @ 159 miles in the Tulsa
Federation (E2nd Combine).
As a Yearling: E26th vs. 210 birds @ 130
miles, E25th vs. 198 birds @ 159 miles, 9th
vs. 907 birds @ 269 miles in the Tulsa
Federation (1st combine), and 12th vs. 116
birds @ 346 miles. 5350 was the 33rd
Middle Distance State Ace in Oklahoma
2015.
As a 2 yr. old sent to 3 races: E11th vs. 131
birds @ 346 miles, 12th vs. 122 birds @
470 miles, and 2nd in the Tulsa Federation
vs. 231 birds @ 470 miles from Victoria
Texas (1st combine). She was the 1st place
hen, 1 of only 2 day birds, thus the name
“Queen for a Day.” This was the last
Federation race of the season so these
were the very best birds.