First race with late breds yesterday

[Devo1956]

i have to say, when you say modern day pigeons, can i ask what you mean? Harry pigeons still winning big races, Gabys still winning worldwide. It depends where you buy them from i would say, track down a flyer who is performing with the birds you wish to buy. It's not a case of just buying on line.

[Anthony webster]

i have to say, when you say modern day pigeons, can i ask what you mean? Harry pigeons still winning big races, Gabys still winning worldwide. It depends where you buy them from i would say, track down a flyer who is performing with the birds you wish to buy. It's not a case of just buying on line.

Devo what I mean the pigeons that are fashion now ,,I only buy of top lofts I'm giving no names but these pigeons are pure shxte pal weak as pixx ,my pal breeds me 9 baby's n 7 win n there's 2 good ones in that kit of 9 n these pigeons u buy 20 plus n there mainly all shxte ,I say mainly because I've not selected n one might shock me pal.

[MIL]

I can agree with some/lots of what's been said

My family of Gaby's have been winning weekly for 25 years now and I don't really see any reason why that should change in a hurry - as long as the basic principles are followed. By that I mean test, test, test and only work with those who prove themselves. Excuses are excuses.

There's many "modern families" that don't float my boat - but by the same token there's plenty of good pigeons out there if you know your pigeons, your lines and your source. Here's 1 example and I'll choose "Best Kittel" only because Tony made reference to them earlier. I recommended a mating at Central Lofts to Lee Painter and Lee will always take my advice because he trusts me. He purchased a cock and hen (full brother and sister to each other) and they've both bred 1st Federation winners inside 2 years in good healthy competition

As for "distance pigeons"... Every fancier keeps and races whatever he chooses to race, and these pigeons are kept to try and compete in that chosen discipline. We've "broadly" lost the art of the all-purpose pigeon it seems these days. One thing I know FOR SURE is that if you come to my Club, and I don't care how good you are, if you wanna send distance pigeons to sprint based events then that's fine but you'll go home nigh on every week with a large dose of Fanny Adams in your back pocket because they cannot compete with a good sprinter. No distance pigeon ever beat me at 150 mls or shorter.

[Murray]

As for "distance pigeons"... Every fancier keeps and races whatever he chooses to race, and these pigeons are kept to try and compete in that chosen discipline. We've "broadly" lost the art of the all-purpose pigeon it seems these days. One thing I know FOR SURE is that if you come to my Club, and I don't care how good you are, if you wanna send distance pigeons to sprint based events then that's fine but you'll go home nigh on every week with a large dose of Fanny Adams in your back pocket because they cannot compete with a good sprinter. No distance pigeon ever beat me at 150 mls or shorter.

I have to agree with you, Mike.
The old idea that you can send any pigeon to the short races and get a card is gone.
To be at the top of the sheet in sprint races you need pigeons that are bred for the job.
Racing sardines.

[Devo1956]

i have to say, when you say modern day pigeons, can i ask what you mean? Harry pigeons still winning big races, Gabys still winning worldwide. It depends where you buy them from i would say, track down a flyer who is performing with the birds you wish to buy. It's not a case of just buying on line.

Devo what I mean the pigeons that are fashion now ,,I only buy of top lofts I'm giving no names but these pigeons are pure shxte pal weak as pixx ,my pal breeds me 9 baby's n 7 win n there's 2 good ones in that kit of 9 n these pigeons u buy 20 plus n there mainly all shxte ,I say mainly because I've not selected n one might shock me pal.

Anthony i can only say, it must be very hard, when you have gone out and bought a team of birds. Only to find out the results you say, i only hope things improve for your loft.

[Murray]

I still think that a lot of these modern day pigeons are bred down from generations of unproven pigeons and treated with all sorts of medication so have a weak constitution. I don’t treat for anything. Any that go sick are just disposed of. I also think too much emphasis is put on sprint, middle and distance families. The so called sprint pigeons are generally just those that haven’t got the constitution to fly any sort of distance. The winners in our club this week, all be it from very good fanciers being the Staddons, were distance pigeons. These were ones sent to this short race because they were injured earlier in the season.

While I think like you about breeding from unproven pigeons and birds that have been filled up with medication every year for generations, I do think pigeons are becoming more and more specialized. The specialist sprint racers have a totally different type of pigeon. Nothing like the pigeons I had 20 years ago, big muscular things they were. They would be too slow now.

I do agree that breeding youngsters from two parents that never raced, and maybe their parents never raced, is going to reduce the chance of getting a good one.
I have an old pigeon, The Diver, who had 3 races as a young bird/yearling, and won each one. He's about 3/8 Jansen and 5/8 Van Loon. I have bred from a lot of his daughters, mated to all sorts, Heremans, Thone's, Van den Bulcks, Van Loon x Thone, etc. They seem to go good and get home. The old Diver was a real racer, he won a race by nearly an hour. That determination to get home seems to be bred down.
The flash big name strains are all well and good. I have some very nice ones. But first of all they have to have the drive to get home. The old families still put that into them.

[Devo1956]

My own thoughts in breeding, i have always thought that Harry of Jan Hoyman and Rudy of Gaby Vandenabelle. It is a very good cross in breeding youngsters, I would say very good middle distance birds, but like i say that is just my views.

[Anthony webster]

I've a good g dtr of Harry here she was 2nd national for me n now she's breeding super racers one son won he's 6th or 7th first last week, I've a brilliant van loon hen n 2 old jansenn as well but from over 100 birds fetched in its these 4 old strain pigeons that stood up ,,the modern in fashion pigeons n I buy the best I can that cost a lot of money but I race em not stock em and there junk pure junk .

[Mark69]

Very interesting reading guys