Got late-hatched youngsters from a second round. They’re about 4-5 weeks behind my first round birds.
Worth raising them for racing or should they just be stock/sale birds?
I’ve heard late hatches never catch up. True?
Depends on your racing calendar and how late “late” is.
4-5 weeks behind isn’t terrible. They’ll moult later and might not be ready for early young bird races, but could peak for later races.
I’ve had second-round birds win major races. They can absolutely compete.
The “never catch up” myth is overstated. They mature on their own timeline.
For young bird racing, first round is usually preferable because:
- More time to train and condition
- Better timed moult for racing schedule
- Mentally more mature when races start
But second round birds often excel as yearlings and old birds. Don’t write them off - just have different expectations for their first year.
Raise them, evaluate them, race the best ones when ready.
Some of my best birds came from late rounds.
They didn’t shine as young birds, but by their second season they were outstanding. Sometimes the slower developers become the best.
Give them a chance. You can’t judge a pigeon until it’s been tested properly.