Dark System Racing.. Mistakes and Secrets!

This Video will explain Racing Pigeons on the Dark System and the biggest mistakes most fanciers make. Racing Pigeons on the Dark System has many advantages and this video will help you eliminate all the disadvantages.
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For More information See mclaughlinlofts.com/
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[@glennjustus9839]

Thank you for the excellent pointers and advice. Even if a person doesn't use the system, the knowledge you share about the biology and the why is priceless....

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

It helps to understand why this works and why we can use it to our advantage. Glad you like the video.

[@hennessyloftnewyorkpigeonr9848]

Another informative video thanks

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@mariolategan6616]

Hi Frank. Thank you for the information, much appreciated Sir 🤝

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

You are very welcome

[@TravelwithRomer]

Thanks for this wonderful information Frank

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

Glad it was helpful! I appreciate you watching!

[@patrickmcgorman3274]

as always great advise frank

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

Much appreciated

[@RonEvans-ul5ym]

Brilliant advice

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

Happy you enjoyed.

[@DaveysLoft-jv7fz]

I can understand now how it works great explanation on they whys and how`s. Cool. Frank.

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

Thank you. I like to look at 'why' and how something benefits before I use it.

[@whitehomer7527]

Thanks for good tips on dark system

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

Always welcome

[@dakineloft3925]

Thanks Frank

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

You are welcome.

[@PaulJohnson-kp2fy]

@@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons 8:48

[@Markye21]

Hi Frank, thanks for the information again. In the UK our race program is from the end of July till the end of September, if I wean a team of youngsters on the 1st of May, how many weeks would you leave them on the darkness. Many thanks

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

I would start them on the Dark 1st of May and keep them on the dark until the half way point of the race season. At the mid point go to 17 hours of light. You can start training the young in early July and have mature babies for the young bird season.

[@ditty96]

Great video Frank! Are you planning on doing a "Light System" video next?

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

I have never messed with a light system but may do a video on using lights to maximize form for a big race.

[@quinteroloft9530]

Nice video as always. Here in NJ we are not allow to do the dark system. I am not sure why but probably they want all the flyers to be at the same level. I am trying the light system this year because it is allow. Last year I have a lot of birds going into the moult in the middle of the season. Hopefully you do a video about the light system soon and I can perfect my. Thanks

[@racingpigeonstexas492]

That sucks. Look at the information that Dave Shewmake has out there for the light system. Alex Bieche also has a video out there but I have not seen it. We have used the lights in the past but you have to be careful not to stimulate a second body moult.

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

What are the rules the combine has on the Dark System? I thought this was over 20 years ago. It will be interesting that maybe they have a five flight rule or something? I bet fanciers are using the dark and pulling flights or starting the dark system after the birds have molted flights.

[@quinteroloft9530]

I think they check the wing for the flights. That is a good point of going into the dark system after they start molting the flights. How does that work? I do the same thing that you explained in the dark system, I just start later?

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

I feel if there are a few fanciers dominating they are working around the rules the combine put in place. See if you can find the rules. It would be interesting to see what they are.

[@quinteroloft9530]

@@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons will do and let you know 👍

[@pavolholka8185]

Hello. I have one question. How fast I can extend the daylight? One hour every day or less? I mean how to switch from 9 hours a day to 16 hours a day? Thank you very much.

[@oconnorlofts7519]

Hi Frank, my first round are flying well. I can see the molt happening. Am I okay put them on the dark now for 9 weeks? Or because I bread early birds weaned in January will I let them naturally molt out. My race season does not start here in Ireland until July.

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

If it was me I would train them out to maybe 25 miles over the next few weeks and then put on the dark system. Your pigeons will be molting the power flights in July without the dark and the dark might be best for you.

[@iosifborta7455]

Salut 👍🙏🏽

[@user-ww2kd6pg3k]

Iv got some late breeds that I’m going to race as yearlings this year they didn’t melt very well can I put them on the darkness? To get them to malt properly.

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

The late breds will molt the body naturally and should be okay to race old birds. You will not gain anything by putting the late breds on the dark for old birds. Once the molt starts they may double drop flights and put them at a disadvantage.

[@user-ww2kd6pg3k]

@@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons thank you

[@Rev792]

So you would say the darking system is more for fanciers that breed later in the season?

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

You can use the Dark System for later bred birds. If you wean your team early you do not have to worry about a system.

[@DadandKidsPigeons]

Hi Frank. When youngsters are in the dark system, can I road train them or I can only loft fly them until they completed their body mold? If I can road train them, how far can I take them to given they are molding fast? Thanks

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

If the babies are in a heavy body molt you should wait a couple weeks to train. You can certainly train them or educate while on the dark them by taking them short in different directions to build a nice foundation on them. See this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHSUp6lmqpeHo7M

[@kevinburnett1475]

Good evening Mr mclaughlin can you do a video on the process on line breeding inbreeding and do you outcross thank you.

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

Try this one. I will do another focusing on your question. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHe8ioWNbtWGb6c

[@kevinburnett1475]

Also Mr mclaughlin I have three pairs that hatch they eggs on day 15th is it that something to pay attention to this is my first year breeding pigeon whats your take on that thanks.

[@hamiltonliu3617]

How many weeks the YB should or can be darken as you said they can be darken till the middle of the race season also.

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

You can keep them on the dark as long as need but I suggest starting a little later and keep them on the dark system until mid way through the young bird season.

[@micolecastro1849]

sir frank you mentioned in dark system the birds dont drop flights, but is it possible to force molt the flight specially the 9th and 10th flight so they have fresh flights in the race

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

The dark system stops the wing molt so you do not have to worry about the ninth and tenth flight. You may need to cut and pull the last couple flights to get them through the molt after the season. The other option is to start early and pull the last couple flights and let them molt naturally.

[@franciscojaviercruz4372]

Frank i assume if i take them out in thr middle of the seasson i have to turn ligths on 17 hours right away till the end of the seasson right?

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

That is correct. Mid season go to 17 hours of light and keep 17 hours of light until the end of the race season. Have a normal sunrise each day.

[@stevenbell6680]

Hi Frank when will you do your feeding system for feeding young birds for racing 👍

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

I will do a video on my thoughts on Young bird feeding. I switch the young birds to my feeding program about a week before the first race. During training they may get a percentage of barley say 30% and eat once a day until they leave barley.

[@DadandKidsPigeons]

Hi Frank. The club I'm in the YB race season is late August to early October. Do you recommend keeping the dark system in place into September given the race season is only about a month long? Is there any truth to that pigeons lose some of their homing abilities when they mold around their head/ear area? Thanks.

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

With such a short race season take the birds off the dark a week before the first race and extend the day. I do not think the head molt effects them but the ears must be covered. If the ear openings are not covered the birds will have problems homing and racing.

[@DadandKidsPigeons]

@@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons Thanks so much Frank. Our season is Aug 31st to Oct 5th. After that its the money races which I will not participate. Doing this with my 2 young kids aa a hobby. I'm not looking to win races but just enjoying it with my kids. Is extending the day with light after darkening for performance or to control flight feathers molding?

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

When you extend the day it slows the molt but with your short season you can race natural. Concentrate on feeding and you can beat fat pigeons your competitors will ship. kzbin.info/aero/PLfjpm1Kc9E0UkXcdnfTrnV_VKTkfNozbt

[@DadandKidsPigeons]

@@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons Can I continue to road train the pigeons when they are in the dark system heavy molding or should I just keep them in the loft the first few weeks? Thanks again.

[@keti7337]

Hello I have a question: what about if you don’t use darkening system but leave the lights on 24/7 until you start and finish the races , are they going to drop the flights?

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

I am not sure how that will effect them. I do not like 24 hours non stop for racing., They should have a natural sunrise so they can home correctly.

[@NelsonNelsonNelson44]

Do you put in darkering system the youngsters before you send them in OLR?

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

Hello Dardi, Because the One Loft Races are not on the dark system I do not darken the birds before shipping to the race. If you are sending to races in a different hemisphere you may want to think about this darkening to control the molt.

[@kerbyjackson88]

Frank, do you think it's a necessity to go forward and force molt young birds if they won't be raced until they are yearlings? Here locally, they do not race young birds anymore, so needless to say, all my 2023 birds will be basically just training until May of 2024. Are there any advantages to darkening them between now and then?

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

Do not darken them. You may have problems with the molt as yearlings. Just leave them on natural light and educate them as youngsters.

[@kerbyjackson88]

@@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons That is what a thought, but thanks for clarifying.

[@frankbellinger605]

This is extremely interesting! Question...if you're doing this to freshly weaned birds, they'll still drop their baby feathers for adult feathers??

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

Hi Frank, You can wean them right into the dark system and they will molt the body feathers and mature like crazy.

[@frankbellinger905]

Very interesting!! Thanks Frank!!

[@micolecastro1849]

Hi sir frank if your pigeons been in darking system too long will it double molt them?

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

You do not have to worry about them double molting being on the dark system a long time. I have not heard of the pigeons going into a double body molt while on the dark system.

[@Rev792]

How would you use this system when you cut flights ?

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

You can either cut and pull fights or use the Dark System,. In many cases the pigeons will be finished with the body molt and you only have to worry about the last couple flight on the wing molting during the most important races. If you breed early and race later into the season the dark system is not needed. You are trying to prevent the body molt during the race season. If the pigeons are finished with the body molt naturally then you have decide on the wing molt.

[@mariolategan6616]

Just a quick question. Flying the birds on your feeding system of 80 % barley. Won't the birds start vading out on the longer distance race? Say 700 km and up?

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

Hello Mario, Switch to more long distance feeding here for the longer races. See what you think? kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqfSnWl9irpoiqc

[@mariolategan6616]

@@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons will do thanks 👍

[@cascadeloft8960]

Hi Frank, great video as always. Thanks for your advice I'll be trying out your methods here this year. Do you sell birds privately? I was hoping to get some late hatches shipped here into Canada. I love your videos and your birds so I thought it would be nice to get some from you> Whats your email?

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

I am happy that you enjoy my videos. Check out my website at mclaughlinlofts.com/ We can certainly work something out on late breds and get them up to Canada. You will love them. My email is [e-mail]

[@cascadeloft8960]

@@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons email sent

[@GuardianAngel..]

I know you might not believe this but at 3:05 in this video I saw a ghost walk into your living room.

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

The Ghost was my son. He made some cuts for me.

[@kerbyjackson88]

​​@@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons Some of the video cuts are definitely weird. There's one point where you wave your hand and you go transparent! LoL

[@Rev792]

Lmao😂😂😂😂

[@Rev792]

I don't think ghosts have cell phones in the after life 😂😂😂😂😂

[@franciscojaviercruz4372]

Do you thing have them 9 weeks in the dark is enough?

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

It takes about 9 weeks for the pigeons to finish the molt. You must keep them on the dark right into the race season or they will start to body molt before the end of the race season.

[@franciscojaviercruz4372]

@@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons Because of my work I can't do that I. I'm not gonna make it to put them in the dark. Starting from the sunrise so what I'm doing I have them in the light 11am till 8.30 pm Maybe next year I will buy something to close the curtains automatically or something like that

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

Being on that clock will make training hard but you can do it if you work within those hours.

[@eydelolmos489]

Hey frank what if we split sex to they them on celibacy

[@FrankMcLaughlinPigeons]

No need to separate the sexes on the young birds. Adds too much work and very little if no benefit.