Golf and Pigeons? What have they in common I expect you are thinking. Well quite a lot actually and I shall explain...
I have never played a lot of Golf but I do understand the game. I especially like to watch the professionals on the TV playing high profile tournaments. For these Professionals it's a game of decisions, strategies and skill that can bring great accolades as well as financial rewards. They will study the Golf Course in great detail, play a few practice rounds and hire the best Caddy to assist in decisions to be made whilst playing in the competition, decisions like the distance of the shot, which club to use, what is the wind direction, where the bunkers lie ect and then its up to the skill of the player to take his shot as straight as possible.
So how does Golf compare to Pigeon Racing, well firstly we should study the line of flight our birds (should) take, take into account the wind, and just like choosing the right club to make the shot, feed accordingly.
To give an example, I enter my pigeons into the National races based on the racepoints which will give me a choice as to the line of flight and I calculate their feed based on an average speed of 42 mph. Falaise is 266 miles to my loft and at 42 mph the birds should take 6 1/2 hours, so my feed is calculated to give them enough fuel to fly the hours comfortably. Then as the race approaches I study the weather forecasts on the internet, like the Caddy walking the course and make subtle adjustments as the race approaches.
Pigeons use 3 to 3 1/2 grams of fat as fuel per hour. Top quality feed companies give the fat percentage of their mixtures so it can be fairly simple to feed according to the distance to be covered. No more and no less. Then its up to the quality of the pigeon to shine, to fly a straight a line as possible, at the highest possible speed, and at least I know I have given him enough fuel to do so.
Feeding is an art, but no secret!
I have never played a lot of Golf but I do understand the game. I especially like to watch the professionals on the TV playing high profile tournaments. For these Professionals it's a game of decisions, strategies and skill that can bring great accolades as well as financial rewards. They will study the Golf Course in great detail, play a few practice rounds and hire the best Caddy to assist in decisions to be made whilst playing in the competition, decisions like the distance of the shot, which club to use, what is the wind direction, where the bunkers lie ect and then its up to the skill of the player to take his shot as straight as possible.
So how does Golf compare to Pigeon Racing, well firstly we should study the line of flight our birds (should) take, take into account the wind, and just like choosing the right club to make the shot, feed accordingly.
To give an example, I enter my pigeons into the National races based on the racepoints which will give me a choice as to the line of flight and I calculate their feed based on an average speed of 42 mph. Falaise is 266 miles to my loft and at 42 mph the birds should take 6 1/2 hours, so my feed is calculated to give them enough fuel to fly the hours comfortably. Then as the race approaches I study the weather forecasts on the internet, like the Caddy walking the course and make subtle adjustments as the race approaches.
Pigeons use 3 to 3 1/2 grams of fat as fuel per hour. Top quality feed companies give the fat percentage of their mixtures so it can be fairly simple to feed according to the distance to be covered. No more and no less. Then its up to the quality of the pigeon to shine, to fly a straight a line as possible, at the highest possible speed, and at least I know I have given him enough fuel to do so.
Feeding is an art, but no secret!
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