Moulting Coverts

It is never possible to get a good performance from a youngster moulting its coverts (small feathers overlapping the joint of the arm and the fore-arm). This moult generally takes place when fifth and sixth flights are dropped.

Discussed in The Practical Side of Pigeon Racing

by Leon Petit

May 1952

Stay In

If cold or wet, the exercise period is cut down. In fact, if cold, windy, and rainy, they stay in.

Taken from Widowhood Flying

By Mark Gordon

Twenty words or less TCC Loft series

Rotondo's Eye Vs Ear Theories

"Many think the eyes of a bird are very important. Some have made a lot of money writing about eye signs and eyes. Although these same men are very unsuccessful when racing pigeons, their 'eye' books sell like hotcakes. It is the same old story of the average fancier looking for instant success and he'll usually try anything no matter how ridiculous. The eyes must be bright and have plenty of color or pigment. They will get brighter as the bird reaches peak condition and will become pale and lose pigmentation when the bird loses condition or gets sick. The pupil should be located in direct line with the split of the beak so the wattle can protect the eyes from the elements. Penn State University of State College, Pennsylvania has conducted some interesting experiments with homing pigeons.

One of these experiments dealt with testing the eyes and the theories connected with the eyes. The students obtained a group of 20 young racing pigeons. After getting the birds settled to their new home, they began to exercise and train the team. They took the group of birds about 20 miles from their home and released them. All homed in good condition. After many similar tosses, the team was equipped with contact lenses, but these lenses were different from others. They were clouded and colored so that the birds could only see for a distance of six feet. The team was again taken 20 miles from home and released. Again all arrived in good time even though the birds were almost blind because of the lenses. The lenses were all removed from the bird's eyes and then wax ear plugs were inserted into the bird's ears. Again the team was taken to the 20 mile release point and liberated. Not one returned home that day. After a few days, some of the birds returned because the wax plugs melted and fell out of the bird's ears. Eventually all the birds returned but only after the plugs melted. Not one bird returned while the plugs were still in the ears. It is safe to assume that birds need their ears more than their eyes to home successfully. Isn't it strange that there are 'eye theories' but no 'ear theories?' "

Taken from

Rotondo on Racing Pigeons

Joe Rotondo

1980

Jealous Birds

Expect something good from a jealous pigeon; it won't let you down.

Twenty words or less TCC Loft series

W. S. "Billy" Pearson

Widowhood Old and New

Edited by Colin Osman

Cocks Cavort

Often we choose our pool birds watching the cocks cavort. A particularly sharp cock will fly in the window, land on his nest, look around, and go shooting right off again. But while their actions outside display lots of pep and fire, in the loft they should lie quietly on their sides, so to speak, resting on one wing.

Taken form Widowhood Flying

by Mark Gordon