UkPigeonRacing

I'm inclined to agree with that Andy. I have had much the same stock birds for some 8 or so years. I knew they were all good birds when I got them. For most of that time they didnt breed that much, then 2 years ago it clicked and I got most of the pairings right and finally found what I've been looking for.
Having said that though, I will be breeding more of the same now, so not sure which camp that puts me in, yours or Murrays?

You picked up the glaring error in my comment, Andy.
You are of course absolutely correct. What I meant, and should have said was, you can spend a long time and may, or may not, improve average pigeons by testing and selection.
Another way, which may give better results more quickly, is to obtain the best pigeons your means allow you to.

I just think that we should be looking to breed better than what we have each year rather than just breeding the same. That’s why I think it’s important to be breeding your own family of birds that you have tested and selected. I agree with Neil that there is no point in looking back more than the grandparents and brothers, sisters, half brothers etc are irrelevant.
There is a massive difference between pigeon racers and strain makers. Pigeon racers rely on the strain makers for their success.

Diamond Dave wrote: ↑Sat Jan 11, 2025 8:49 am I'm inclined to agree with that Andy. I have had much the same stock birds for some 8 or so years. I knew they were all good birds when I got them. For most of that time they didnt breed that much, then 2 years ago it clicked and I got most of the pairings right and finally found what I've been looking for.
Having said that though, I will be breeding more of the same now, so not sure which camp that puts me in, yours or Murrays?

I think you’re going the right way Dave. It’s now a case of looking at what pairings have clicked and use these as your foundation. Start paring the offspring that are doing the best from these pairs either together or back to their parents. A mixture of both is the way I would go. I wouldn’t necessarily be keeping those pairs that have clicked together. Because by doing this you are still only breeding what you already have. You need to be looking at getting an improvement, however small that might be. Breeding a consistent family takes time but in my mind is far more rewarding than winning races with pigeons that someone else has bred.

You see to me breeding is comparatively nothing. I never enjoyed breeding. Breeding is a means to an end.

I needed to breed in order to supply the loft with Youngsters to race, and then the best of the YB's made the OB team

I wouldn't be congratulating myself when I got into bed if I was in the middle/lower end of the sheet and saying to myself "I bred that. That's my family. I did that"

Cos I can tell you now, first light wouldn't come soon enough - I wouldn't sleep with a performance like that.

I was never in Pigeon Racing to breed. I was in it to Race. To race is everything.

That's my mindset

That’s just where we are so different Mike. After years of breeding all sorts of livestock and getting to have one of the best dairy herds in the country and being top flyer in a couple of clubs over the years is much more fulfilling to me knowing that I got there through my own dedication, selection and breeding and not someone else’s.

We're different yes

But my Gaby's have been winning for close on 30 years now and my Van Den bosche even longer, so the method in the madness can't be far adrift and the true test of my pigeons is that they go into others lofts all over the UK in all different hands and areas and win.

Andy how would you progress the team if for example you just started up again say had 4 pairs of stock you selected and after 3 years of changing pairs still hadn’t won much at all or even a prize card
Would at that point new birds be introduced or would you carry on with the plan of improvement from what you had
Just say it’s now 5 years into the project all pairs swapped and there progeny bred from and still no red card
Does thee come a point where you give it up as a bad job and start again

Andy wrote: ↑Sat Jan 11, 2025 9:53 am That’s just where we are so different Mike. After years of breeding all sorts of livestock and getting to have one of the best dairy herds in the country and being top flyer in a couple of clubs over the years is much more fulfilling to me knowing that I got there through my own dedication, selection and breeding and not someone else’s.

I understand your way of doing things Andy and I can appreciate that you want to develop your own family of birds and not bring in other pigeons.

That being the case I can't understand why you chose to accept the 4 pairs of Lambrechts that you were offered

(I think that was the correct move if you want to progress in the shorter races - but seems to oppose your core way of developing your own family)

That’s answered my question
Good luck with the birds Andy I forgot you added some new ones