Breeding in March
- Second round begins — first pairs already have 3–4 week old youngsters
- Ring youngsters at 5–7 days — the window is small, do not miss it
- Wean youngsters from the first round at 25–28 days
- Monitor youngster weight — a weak youngster indicates a problem with the parents
First Spring Flights
- Daily free loft exercise resumes — morning after feeding
- First week: short sessions of 20–30 minutes
- Local orientation training — releases at 5–10 km
- Young birds (from last autumn) — first training releases
Warning: Do not send birds on long distances until they are fit. The first spring outings are for reconditioning, not performance.
Health in March
- Preventive tricho treatment before the season — treat the whole loft
- Coccidiostats if the weather is wet (coccidiosis appears mainly in spring)
- Checking moult status — primary feathers must be complete
Feeding in March
- Increase the proportion of carbohydrates — maize, wheat 40–50%
- Reduce fats compared to winter
- Electrolytes after the first training sessions
- 3–4 week old youngsters — introduce solid feed next to the parents
Preparation for Races
- Registering with the club/race calendar for the season
- Checking rings and official documentation
- First group training (basketing) — young birds must be trained separately
Tip: First basketing training for young birds at maximum 30 km. Increase the distance weekly — 50, 80, 120 km — do not skip stages.
Common Mistakes
- Training too long too early — tires birds and reduces motivation
- Neglecting the second breeding round while focusing on training
- Skipping the tricho treatment — the disease explodes in the basket and destroys the whole team
Concrete Action Steps
- Week 1–2: preventive tricho treatment
- Week 2: first daily free exercise
- Week 3: first local training 5–10 km
- Week 4: register with the club + plan race team selection