De Zutter pigeons have great orientation capabilities, but if any pigeon’s winning streak is unexpectedly taxed by a sudden change in the weather it may not cope. If a bird finds itself off-pace it will ultimately stray.Fitness can also be ruined before a race by ill-considered changes in the road training programme, and/or omissions in the birds’ diet.
General fitness is achieved through regular exercise. If, say, a training programme consists only of daily home training of less than 60 minutes and isn’t supplemented with, perhaps, two road training flights a week, then don’t expect your pigeons to be ready for race competition.
But general fitness is only the foundation. Generally, fit pigeons that aren’t prepared for strenuous competition will lack the strength to score, because they can’t keep up with the leaders.
In other words, in addition to general fitness, we need race condition and peak form.
Race fitness
Racing pigeons need to be exposed to strenuous exercise from time to time to advance their general fitness to top form. This also helps improve the bird’s mental readiness.
You need to determine the average time the pigeons are expected to spend on the wing, by analysing the distance to be flown and the expected weather conditions of the race event. The training programme must then be formulated to meet these demands.
Peak form
Peak form can be expected when a race team is pushed a little harder in training two to three times per week. It’s about providing a burst of energy and an explosion of strength.Peak form in racing pigeons can be reached repeatedly during the same season, while certain pigeons can maintain top condition for several weeks.
When it comes to short to middle distances, one should prevent pigeons from spending too many hours on the wing during all training sessions.
If they’re allowed to run away in the middle of the week, form will be lost by Saturday, the day of the race.Over-training
A willing racer of superior quality can fly in front for several weeks and appear to be in peak form all the time.But if its winning streak is unexpectedly taxed by a sudden change in the weather it may not cope. If it finds itself off-pace it will ultimately stray.
In other words, if a multiple performer scores week after week in fast-paced race speeds, make sure you don’t indiscriminately entered it into a race with a low speed against a cruel head-wind – it may not have enough reserves and stamina to endure.
However, a racing pigeon that peaks in winning a blow home can be doubled back into a headwind the next week providing it had a break from racing in the weeks before being doubled back.
- Too many good pigeons are lost because the fancier’s ego demands a place on the score-board.
- Extended home or road training should ideally be arranged on Saturdays for those pigeons not entered into the race and then again on Tuesday and Thursday.
- Extended feeding and general supplements must be added to provide extra fuel for the extra workload.
- Well-timed additional exercise followed by rest and supplementation just before a race will help the team fly faster and pace itself better during the races.
- Where middle- to long-distance race events are concerned, we can’t train our pigeons strenuously during the week and still expect them to fly to the moon on Saturday.
Hello. We received the two boxes today with the four Hansenne pigeons. Arrived in excellent condition.
She is SOOOOO BEAUTIFUL! Thank you guys for looking out for me. Can’t say enough about how much I love the bird and birds you have sent me.
Thank you so much, i got the bird! He's so beautiful, pin tail apple body, nice wing :)
Hello there, My name is Mike and live in Az, I had racing pigeons when I was young and now Im not young haha 61, Semi retired and determined to move to a place where I can fly birds again, want to get my grandkids involved. Anyway as a kid I flew some Sions and really enjoyed your website. When Im ready would love to get a few Sions again and see how they do. Any advice for an old newbie? lol
Hey Donnie, Saw your Birds on Ipigeon and must say, those are some Beautiful Heitzmans. They are very true to what I called the real thing. Beautiful Hansennes as well. Take Care, Chuck
Hi
I have placed the pigeon recieved from you recently in a priority express shipment back to you in same box recieved. Bird was beautiful and healthy but we realized it’s nature is such that it needs to fly and be a racing pigeon. We can’t offer that life to it and realize it was a mistake to try this based on our situation
Bird has had not been outside and has been confined indoors in isolation since recieved.
Please give it the home it deserves.
Appreciate the care you took getting it to us!!!
Need some color on my team. Had some sion couple years ago when i had a partner who sick and could not care for his own birds. He liked sions so i bought some from you on pigeonauction.com. We alot of fun his sions against my team .He has since past on. His family called me and thanked me for letting fly with me he really looked forward race day. HE WON EVERY WEEK
Path: https://www.clayhavenfarms.com/pigeons/for-sale
Thank you guys so much for allowing me the opportunity to love these birds.
Thanks again for the most beautiful Pure Paul Sions pigeons ever!! The loft is full of happy sounds from the birds strutting around in their new home. Y’all were so easy to work thru my problems of birds I chose.
Thanks a million times over Pam and Donnie. Your friend Jimi
Good evening
What a surprised New Year’s gift from you guys
I received the very nice young pure white hansennes hen this pm.
I was not aware that you sent her already/
Thanks for sending 12046
I really like her.
Please keep me posted when you have bastins availabe
Wishing you a safe, healthy and prosperous New Year.
Thanks so much
I received the birds this morning.
As I expected, they are all very pretty and healthy.
I need a nice sion cock to pair up with my almost white hen.
I believed, I inquired a white splash white sion cock,
Not sure if he is still available, trying to breed out pure white sions
From your loft.
The Hansenne cock, very handsome, pls keep me posted for a solid
White hen. The hen very beautiful, can’t
Wait what they will yield.
Thanks so much
I’m super stoked for new birds!. Second new loft in Austin Texas. I’m really looking for 4 to 5 pair.