| Author: Bob Rowland | Title: New Flyers and Getting Birds |
| Date: 2003-12-12 21:26:12 | Uploaded by: webmaster |
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Below is a question that was asked of one of the lists I write for and thought this fitting for an answer:
Question:
To the list
I read with great interest the recent discussion on sampl about aquiring breeders as a new flyer. Some said gifts could be the answer, but that only seems to apply to those who have long time pigeon connections and are trusted friends. Most seem to say to buy "the best you can afford". Well, if that amount doesn't come up to thousands of dollars, what will you get?
Answer:
As a long time pigeon fancier having flown my first race in 1959, I have a lot of insight on this discussion of getting good pigeons. You will be surprised that there are many that could be available if you make the plan early. Waiting til after the young bird races are complete or just before the breeding season means you must go to the people that have set up to supply pigeons to others and this generally means the cost will be higher.
Good pigeons are available from many people BUT THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE FACT THAT THE GLITTER IS NOT ALWAYS THERE ON THESE PIGEONS.
I have bought pigeons from some of the best lofts in the country and did not have to pay a fortune for them because many times this top fancier is not selling pigeons. Generally that is because they keep only what is good and this means they do not have enough to supply others with PROVEN PIGEONS!!!!
If you want good pigeons, go to the best non-selling loft in your area and ask how much for a complete round of late hatch pigeons from their stock loft. These are pigeons that in many cases would never be hatched as a non-selling loft generally will not breed these late hatches as they are throwing out eggs.
Speaking of eggs: How many of us have asked a top loft to buy their late round of eggs from their breeders?? probably very few and yet this is a common practice in Europe. Each year we all throw out eggs and some of those eggs are from very good pigeons but we want our best to get a good moult and plenty of rest so we do not breed that last round or two.
This past year a group asked me to do a seminar and have an auction so I bred 20 late hatch pigeons specifically for this auction and they were out of my best. They went relatively cheap and the fact that they were never raced or tried as breeders meant that the absolute best breeder I may ever have produced could have been one of those pigeons. Once we know a pigeon is very good, it is usually not for sale!
To help yourself with a quality issue, buy only young ones as they have never been tried so they are an unknown commodity as to their potential. Naturally, the better the parents are, the greater the opportunity to get a good breeder from these late bred pigeons.
In conclusion, you don't have to spend a fortune to get a good pigeon but if you need one with a fancy pedigree and the latest hit name craze, then the price escalates quickly. The odds of getting good pigeons increase when you look at a pedigree or history of the pigeon and it's ancestors, and the more spaces that can be filled in with winners, the better the possibility that the young one from them should be good.
Stay away from pigeons that show many pigeons bred for stock as even our best pairs do not produce good pigeons so when one is put aside without proving the performance gene of that pigeon, your chances of it being a good one will slide downhill quickly.
Again I say 95% of the pigeons we will ever own will never make a significant impact to our loft and the same is true of every other loft too. Some lofts just have a higher level of performance of their 5% of their pigeons.
Bob Rowland
SpringHill, FLorida
USA
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