"The most important thing no one should forget is that this is a hobby and a hobby should be for fun!
The pleasure in the hobby and the friends are more important than the quality of your birds."
Heine Bijker - 4 time World Cup Roller Fly Champion
YO-YO FEEDING
Exerpts from 2 different writings by Monty Neibel
I wrote an article some time ago called HOW I DO IT and it was recently done up by Carl Schoelkopf. He is sending out copies on request. I have made some slight changes in my program but still fly every 3rd day with day flown counted as day of rest. The rations are winter rations and I feed much less in summer. Summer more like 2 1/4 cups (20) day flown, second day rest 1 cup, 3rd day rest 1/3 cup. I no longer feed a mix occasionally as I found they don't need it if you feed very small amounts of MILLET. This stuff is incredible octane and must be used very carefully. Other than that they get straight wheat and small doses of mineral grit and Belgian Powder. All this applies to an established kit of performers not untested young birds. You must apply stress on - stress off. My birds ALWAYS WORK under this system.
For this competition I have held them one extra day. Day one of rest all they could eat (17 birds). Day two 2/3 cups of WHEAT. Pinch of red mineral grit day 3 and 4. Day three of rest 1/2 cup of wheat in morning and one teaspoon of millet at dark. Fly next day morning. Any bird that might look a bit off I will throw 10 peas into it. All this is up to you to make slight changes according to weather and reading the birds. You must be able to learn how to SCAN birds. I have 2 kits entered, one is mixed cocks and hens, other all hens, 17 in each kit. Normally I fly seperate sexas. Soon as they mature SPLIT the sexas for flying. Always work towards a kit of old hens. HOW I DO IT, Pages 108 and 109, May 1990 American Pigeon Journal. I have to fight bad lift conditions.
8. In the young bird fly between 1969 and 1984, I did not win many young bird flys but I was the big winner in the old bird flys. I only fly with old birds now in competition as there is no B.C. Roller Club at this moment. Young birds will not respond to my 3 day yo-yo system. Young birds should be fed even and flown every day until you get some quality breaks. Once they dress out or get close to it I like to fly them every other day. 20 birds about 2 1/2 cups and then 1 1/2 cup day rested. They should be yo-yo fed like I said but on not so dramatic a scale as you would the old birds. Old birds are a whole different ball of wax and can be abused much to kick them into gear. Young birds I find are usually are too frequent anyway. Old birds that are good deecent rollers know they have to do it so will uaually get out of the yard high enough to be safe and put on a good show even if they don't fly very long. Young birds if you get too tough with them might just circle low in the yard and quit.
Your friend in the fancy,
Monty J. Neibel