As
soon as a cock and a hen are mated, their first preoccupation
is to build a nest.
After ten days, the first egg is layed out by the hen. The
second is layed out 44 hours later. The cock and the hen hatch
alternatly during 18 days; the cock from 10AM to 5PM and
the hen the rest of the day.
The youngster receive its rings between the 6th and the 10th
day: The identification ring is fitted on one leg and the
adress ring on the other. The young pigeon will keep its rings
all life long.
These rings identify each bird.
The
parents feed their youngsters several times a day. A the beginning,
they received a special milk elaborated in the crop, then, since
the 6th day with seeds and water. The youngster grows very fast. From 12 grams at it's birth, it reaches 350 to 400 grams at the age of one month. After 23 days, it becomes independant because it knows how to eat and drink by itself.
When the youngster are weaned, they will go in the youngster's loft.
A the age of 3 months, they will be trained and will race according to the owner's management policy.
A
good loft must :- be dry
- keep the warm
- be well ventilated
The pigeons does not like humidity are more sensible to the lack of fresh air than to the draughts.
The lofts can be simple or sophisticated.
A simple garden shelter, fitted out, is enough to begin.
The garden loft is actually the most common.
