Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Super-Good Health

Health isn't something you create and furbish with good feeding, hygiene and such-like mechanical processes. Good health is born, not made. The super-good health that is imperative in the breeding of a future champion is the legacy only of a very exceptional hen.

Taken from The Strain Makers
by Old Hand

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Quality Feed

Quality feed is dry, not dusty, and does not smell. A handful of mix doesn't float in a water glass.

Twenty words or less TCC Loft series

Look Up! There's a race going on

Brian Moxey, elected "Life Time Club Member" of the Barrie Racing Pigeon Club, has always positively promoted our sport of Pigeon Racing to the general public. He has appeared in many newspaper articles, and is well known within his community. Hat's off to Brian!

This article first appeared in the 'Barrie Advance' in 1990. Brian lives in the heart of the City and has never had complaints from neighbours about his pigeons. If fact, neighbours have been keen to direct prospective fanciers to Brian.

A typical race day - Pigeon Racing
By Al Brown: Staff

The first two pigeons sweep in from the south and circle the back yard. Brian Moxey, seated nervously on his back porch, is concerned as they circle, then land and walk about the roof of the loft. "Its all costing me time", he says without taking his eyes off the birds. "This is one way to lose a race".

Finally, thankfully, the birds slip through the tunnel on the roof and into the loft. Moxey is off the back porch like Ben Johnson from the starting blocks. His hat flies off in the wind as he races to the loft. A  moment late, more relaxed, he emerges from the loft and begins again to scan the skies looking for those birds yet to make an appearance. For all the care and hard work of raising and caring for racing pigeons, the actual race day excitement is over in minutes.

Every Saturday from May 5 to the first week of October, there are at least 20 pigeoners in Barrie locked in competition with each other and dozens of others around Ontario. The races vary in distance, but the inner workings and detailed rules and regulations remain the same. Racing birds from seven different clubs are sent via truck to various locations up north. The truck is provided by the Toronto Federation of Pigeon Clubs and every Friday goes north to places such as Sudbury, Timmins, Long Lac, Hearst and Burk's Falls.

The birds are released at 9:00 AM, Saturday, and the race begins. Now, however, is when it gets complicated. Unlike most races, there is no common finishing line. Each group of pigeons is headed for its own loft and all are located at different distances from the starting point.

Each bird is banded by the home club just before it is sent to the starting point. In the tunnel to the loft, meanwhile, a special clock timer complete with roll of adding machine paper and small drum is set to go. When the birds finally return to the loft, the pigeoner rushes in, takes the band off the bird, puts it into the clock timer box and pulls a lever to get a set finishing time. These times are then mailed to Mark Brown in St. Jacob's, Ontario. He is the only person authorized by the Canadian Racing Pigeon Union to measure for velocity and ultimately declare a winner.

He calculates the velocity of each bird based on the exact latitude and longitude of the release point, the home loft and the times registered. "A lot of things are figured in, even the curvature of the earth and how many seconds individual clocks are off", said Moxey, a long-time member of the Barrie Racing Pigeon Club. "The highest velocity wins the event".

As Moxey watches the sky, the last of his birds makes a graceful appearance. It has been about 20 minutes since the first two birds appeared. For Brian Moxey, and hundreds of other pigeon racers around Ontario, a full season of 38 races is just beginning.


Feeding time: Brian Moxey spends a great deal of time taking care of his pigeons. Feeding them is part of the daily job and all part of getting the best times from his flock.

Barrie Racing Pigeon Club:
35 years of tradition

The Barrie Racing Pigeon club is one of the oldest organized sports clubs in Barrie, yet it is also one of the least known. Founded about 35 years ago, the BRPC has a clubhouse on County Road 56, off Highway 90, and currently has about 20 members. Each week from May to October the BRPC gets together with other clubs from across Ontario to race some of the finest racing pigeons in the world.

Racing, however, is only a culmination of the hard work and effort each of the members puts forth throughout the year. "There is taking care of them (pigeons), exercising them and training them", said Brian Moxey, a member of the club for 25 years. "I like the spring when the youngsters are born and you have to attend to them."

Moxey is typical of most of the members. He got hooked on the sport many years ago and has gradually built up an impressive loft of racing birds. He has about 80 and continues to look for ways to upgrade his loft with better bloodlines. The pigeons, many of which can be quite expensive, are purchased at auctions and through other pigeon fanciers.

There are pigeon shows, young bird auctions, buy, trade and sell shows and many other ways to acquire new birds or better birds. It costs $10 a year to join the Barrie Club and a further $15 for membership in the Canadian Racing Pigeon Union. There are also additional costs such as truck fees for transporting the birds to starting points for the beginning of races.

Although it is a sport that only pigeoners seem to understand and enjoy, Moxey said the Club is always looking for new members. "Everybody is welcome to check it out," he said. "The sport is secondary to the birds and I think it's fair to say we (pigeoners) are all animal lovers first."

The competition side of things offers some fun and excitement, but pigeon racing is first done for the sheer love of animals. For more information, call Jerry Wegman, Club Secretary (also, elected Life Time Club Member).

A little bit of history

It may not be a highly publicized or well-known sport, but pigeon racing is steeped in history and has more participants than most people realize. According to the book 'Pigeon Racing' by F.W.S. Hall, there is evidence the sport began 3,500 years ago. Pigeons were used by many Middle East nations and Roman lords such as Julius Caesar. The sport is now believed to be enjoyed by some 7-million people worldwide, and there are organized pigeon racing unions throughout Europe, Japan, China, Soviet Union, Australia, Canada and the United States.

In total, there are more than 150-million racing pigeons bred every year and these thoroughbreds of the pigeon world are certainly worth more then mere chicken feed. Prices ranging up to $50,000 have been paid for a single top racing bird. These top birds are well worth the price to pigeon racers. Racing pigeons can reach speeds of more than 60 mph and a few have been known, under ideal weather conditions, to surpass 90 mph.

The sport has reached such a level in Europe that one race in Britain offers prize money of about $125,000 to the winner, while another in France pays more than $140,000 to the winner. It may not be well-known, but not many sports can boast that somebody, somewhere in the world is participating in them on virtually every day of the year. Pigeon racing can make such a boast.

Taken from the Barrie Advance, Wednesday, May 9, 1990

There have been many changes to the local sport since this article appeared in the 'Barrie Advance' some 20 years ago, such as electronic clocking and the organization of the Up North Combine. And Al Brown stated only a few minor errors such as the reference of Mark Brown and the calculation of velocity. However, the Pigeon Racing story, and the meat and potato's of the sport was portrayed well.

Anyone interested in entering the sport anywhere in Canada can contact the Canadian Racing Pigeon Union.

(P) 519-842-9771
(F) 519-842-8809



Past sports promotions
Pigeon racing

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Will Offer TASKER On Choice Pigeon

On November 25, 2010, I will offer on Choice Pigeon
CU 02 BAR 1041 Dark Chequer TASKER Cock
Starting Bid $500.00 Canadian

Bred by Tony Paszterko directly off his FRANK & ANN TASKER imports. I'm having a hard time giving up this cock. He's a favorite, and was a gift from Tony right out of the nest. I expect all my cock birds to protect their nests. However, 1041 although a good neighbor, would challenge me while scraping common areas in the loft.

He is a medium-large, out-front bird with a very strong, broad back, and quality eye. He is an inbred GRAND SON of Frank Tasker's CHAMPION "FILMSTAR" GB 83 Z25196 - 26 x 1st, 12 x 1st Federation, 2 x R.P.R.A. Awards, 1st Ace Pigeon 1986 All England R.P.R.A. Distance 0 - 250 miles, 7th World Championships V.L.

These "PAUL HAELTERMAN" based birds  have performed well for many fanciers including Frank Tasker's friend Geoff Kirkland. All three of these gentleman have been featured in Jim Jenner's "Secrets of Champions" video series. HAELTERMAN's "Halve-Fond" family of pigeons is bred mainly around one Champion, "JONGE KORTE", who won 712,000 B Francs ($23,000) in his career!


Sire: GB 00 A96300 Chequer - A direct Son of CHAMPION "FILMSTAR" GB 83 Z25196 - 26 x 1st, 12 x 1st Federation, etc, mated to Frank's Golden Hen "Whitenose Limoges" GB 94 V58031, Dam to 1st National, as well as sister to 2nd National 1994, 7th National 1999, and many more high performance winners. "Whitenose Limoges" was the result of crossing Frank's Haelterman CHAMPS to Andre Dierick's famous "SULTAN" lines.



Dam: GB 99 X99229 Blue Chequer - off performance parents, including wins, 1st Open Peterborough & District Berwick, and 24th Open N.R.C.C. "229" is Grand Daughter of the "FILMSTAR", a breeding hen directly out of "ZWARTE HOUBEN", a Full Brother of the "SULTAN", and a Daughter of the "SULTAN", 11 x 1st. A Classic Pedigree!

Speed

When we need birds for speed, we must make an effort to get  a loft full of pigeons from one to three years old if we race them the year of their birth; in other cases between one and four years. No exception to this rule will be allowed unless we have something really exceptional or unless we want a few old cocks to which we will apply the widowhood system at early spring.

Taken from The Practical Side of Pigeon Racing
by Leon Petit
May 1952

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Young Bird Schedule

In my viewpoint, if all young bird schedules consisted of two 75 mile events, two more from 100 miles and two from 150, I thinks that less youngsters would be lost and for that matter, less old ones also. However, the trend is the other way. More, and more long young bird races are being scheduled all the time. More and more fanciers, who cannot seem to learn to do well with old birds, are concentrating on their young birds ...

Taken from Widowhood Flying
by Mark Gordon

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Adenovirus Symptoms

Adenovirus Symptoms not limited to:
  • Foul-smelling, bright green excreta
  • Vomiting
  • Loss of condition
  • Variable respiratory symptoms
  • Mortality's, 0 - 20%
  • Poor race results
  • Increased losses from races
Recovered birds can remain carriers! Watch for Secondary Ailments.

Taken from Fit To Win
by Wim Peters

Monday, November 22, 2010

Remate a Cock Bird

If you want to remate a cock, remove his hen and youngsters and in 48 hours he will be more than anxious to mate. The hen you have chosen for him should have been away from her mate for at least a week.

Taken from Widowhood Flying
by Mark Gordon

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Lighting

Manipulate lights within breeding loft at least one month prior to early breeding.

Twenty words or less TCC Loft series

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

The Cross

The 'cross' invigorates the blood and if both sire and dam are the products of top-ranking line-bred strains the production of quality racing progeny should be a matter of course.

Taken from The Strain Makers
by Old Hand

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Drinking Fountains

The drinking fountains are responsible for spreading or controlling most diseases in the loft. Water containers, like grit containers, should be made of plastic or earthenware rather than metal because some of the medications and vitamins that are put in the water also cause chemical reactions on metal. When water freezes it expands, so an earthenware container will break or split when the water freezes but the plastic vessel stretches. All water pans should be sponged each time the drinking water is changed. Once a week all fountains should be cleaned with Clorox. This eliminates all algae and bacteria that has collected in the seams of the vessels. And, too, when placing medications and vitamins in the water, the pan should be absolutely clean before starting each new medication.

Taken from Rotondo Racing Pigeons
1980

A Classic book

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Diatomaceous Earth

Include Diatomaceous Earth in feed barrels, mixtures, nests, and floor dressing to control worms, parasites, and insects in the loft.

Twenty words or less TCC Loft series

Product Label
Red Lake Earth - Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is a pure and natural product with no chemicals or toxins. It is a light-coloured porous rock-clay based mineral composed of the shells of diatoma (microscopic one-celled or colonial algae, having cell walls of silica). It is in effect, a pure organic mineral with fine sharp crystalline structure that pierces the wax protective finish of the skin of insects and parasites but is Safe for larger animals and birds.

  • Insect free grain storage - 1/2 to 2% of the weight of grain (1/2 to 2 lb into 100 lb of grain) with no toxins being used (malathion, sevin) plus it will work for an indefinite length of time.
  • Eliminating intestinal worms and parasites - feed 1/2 to 2% of the weight of grain or feed mix (same as storing grain). It can be used for pigeons, poultry, dogs, cats, sheep, goats, cattle, horses, and  an other animals.
  • Mineralization - purely organic broad spectrum mineral containing calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphate, sodium, titanium, potassium, plus many others.
  • Deodorizing/absorption - Neutralizes and absorbs odours and moisture.
  • Insecticide dusting - Sprinkle on the floor of the loft and in the nests to control insect infestations, absorb moisture and odours at a rate of 500 gm to 2 kg to a 10' x 10' area.
Precautions - Avoid inhaling dust. Avoid contact with eyes. Use of a dust mask and appropriate eye protection is recommended. Wash off powder if on skin

Stupidities

Away with the theory of the black tongue, the feathers on the legs, the black nails or toes, the perfect eyesign, the wanted iris, etc. Old, is the theory requiring a mealy to have as mate a blue hen and also finished is the other which defended two white eyes to be mated together. Real sporting and psychical qualities are worth hundred times more than all these stupidities.

Taken from The Practical Side of Pigeon Racing
by Leon Petit
May 1952

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Flock Treatments

Except for parasite control, avoid flock treatments in young pigeons, only treating unwell individuals so as not to interfere with the developing natural immunity of the team as a whole.

Taken from The Flying Vet's Pigeon Health Management
by Dr Colin Walker

Sunday, November 7, 2010

A Good Moult

A good and complete moult is not only a sure symptom of the good condition of the bird at that particular moment, but in normal circumstances, after an intense racing period, it is an infallible guarantee of health for the following months and the approaching winter.

Taken from The Practical Side of Pigeon Racing
by eon Petit
May 1952

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Loft Security

Watery droppings in the early morning may indicate overnight stress caused by loft intruders.

Twenty words or less TCC Loft series

Thursday, November 4, 2010

The Wing & Vitality

The pigeon's wing color (pigmentation) will quickly show the trained eye the birds health & vitality. A worn out racer is also a worn out breeder, and you can't manufacture the missing vitality required to breed a Champion.

Tail Grand Dam

Old Hand says,

 The most important bird in the breeding subsequent to the Foundation is the Tail Grand Dam (Dam's Dam). This is where you should introduce your breeding 'Cross' into your pedigree.