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The Original All Roller Talk Discussion Board Archive >
Why Rollers?
Why Rollers?
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Fr.mike
1 post
Aug 18, 2005
10:56 AM
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Iknow I am starting in on a touchy subject but i am looking for some practical answers.It has been about 10 years since i have had pigeons-at that time my son and i raced homers.thatis until he found about girls.We were never very good because we could not afford the cost of top quality birds-it was just alot of fun.Now I really want to get somemore birds-but I am alittle double minded on what type of pigeons-SO here are some questions 1.Are you in to rollers because there is less cost --clock--shipping--etc.2.you dont like the raceing scene 3.rollers are a better sport -if so why?Do any of you do both?Tell me why you picked rollers over all the other pigeon sports--tipplers-raceing hommers etc. I really like the idea of competing Ihave allways liked the idea of owning rollers--I guess i am just looking for good reasons to go one way or the other.I love the birds its just what kind?
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REEDM
1 post
Aug 18, 2005
12:56 PM
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Fr Mike,
I think rollers are the best breed out there. Homers are ok but you have to take them away from home all of the time to train and then when you race you only see the bird when it is almost home. Tipplers get too high to watch. I am sure they are exciting but how does it compare to seeing your bird rip a 40 foot roll with super velocity over and over? That is exciting. And if you have a whole kit of them then you are in for a real treat. The cost is low like you said. You only have to buy feed and pay an entry fee for a competition if you choose to compete, which I highly recommend. You usually can get some excellent birds from a reputable breeder for free once you have shown him that you are serious. You need to watch his and other birds fly before getting them and go on some of the flys in your area. You can find out who to get in touch with at http://www.nbrconline.com/event.htm
Mitch Reed
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J_Star
34 posts
Aug 18, 2005
1:25 PM
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Let me also add that when they fly, they fly above your house and circle around and don't go far away like homers do. You will sit and watch them do their tricks the full half hour. They are very tame and timid, not like the racers, jumpy and fly at you. You will enjoy the breed in a way that is soothing and relaxing. Their housing is also simple and if you live in an area like me where there are only few who fly rollers, it will be a treat to the people around you to watch their performance. Good Luck...
Jay
Last Edited by J_Star on Aug 18, 2005 1:26 PM
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Velo99
71 posts
Aug 18, 2005
4:50 PM
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Hey Fr Mike,
I made the switch from homers in school to rollers as an adult.Rollers are much more managteable and exciting to watch. There are several performing breeds but rollers are the best.
When a kit goes up and swoops into the wind. It slows to a hover as they prepare to turn.Suddenly, there is a rain of birds falling from the sky, spinning, falling like a ball dropped from a second story window. Faster and faster,30,50,75 feet flash by. As they fall for more than 100 feet, wings come out and the birds bank up to rejoin the kit. They form up again, turning in endless cycles as they swoop and bank seeking the best angle to approach a breeze they can only feel as it lifts them like a mother rocking her baby in the crib.
yits
v99
Last Edited by Velo99 on Aug 18, 2005 4:52 PM
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motherlodelofts
240 posts
Aug 18, 2005
4:58 PM
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V99, Where is "that" kit that you described LOL
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highroller
45 posts
Aug 18, 2005
5:09 PM
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It should be in the WC!!
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Velo99
72 posts
Aug 18, 2005
8:06 PM
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Geezly crow guys!
we`re trying to get us another rollerguy. SHHHHH!!
yits
v99
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nicksiders
180 posts
Aug 18, 2005
11:42 PM
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Another great and impressive thing about the roller hobby is that when just two roller guys get together there are always atleast three or four opinions about just one topic....LOL
They are the most fun; the most agravating; the most pleasing of all performing pigeons. The are truely the jewel of the performing breeds.
They are a lot smaller than the racing birds.
Find a good breeder and if he has some available for sale, pick them out of the air based on their performance only.
Last Edited by nicksiders on Aug 18, 2005 11:43 PM
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Alohazona
43 posts
Aug 19, 2005
2:21 AM
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Fr Mike,I have 3 performance breeds at my place,Birm.rollers,Racing homers,and Parlor rollers.I gave up fancy pigeons for the performers,for years I had croppers,archangels,capuchines,I liked the croppers they were clowns and made me laugh all the time,not bad flyers either.My first pigeons were white flying rollers,the guy I bought them from flew out of a gazebo loft in Mesa.Arizona,they were low flying,very active birds, he flew about 50 at a time,every time you looked up there was something to see,I still keep a small branch of that family and are still a low flying active performers.Later I witnessed deep performers,who were based off of the champion"WHITE HEAT",they were very small birds and man did they ballup after that I was hooked on performance pigeons,they fancys would not do.
I also keep Racing Homers,I worked sideby side with Rudy Medrano for years,Rudy, a single man had pigeons all his life,and was champion loft in Phoenix countless times I also still have his pigeons as well as birds from Chris Peeman,Mike Ganus,and Don Paltani.I do not raise homers,I raise RACERS,and they are supporters of my loft and its operation and fund my obsession[its more than that,lol] with performing rollers.Racers are extremely intelligent,strong and hearty,wind,rain snow,vast stretches of land and water.
Where I live in Hawaii,is a bird paradise,I do have some minor predator problems[falcons] but minor as a whole,the garbage can takes its fair share.
Parlor rollers are a fun and safe breed of pigeons,because of where I'm situated,close to the ocean and close to the mountains,overflys can be a problem and it helps having the other breeds when the weather conditions are condusive to an overfly.The parlors donot fly,I let them out in the yard and they rome around like chickens and when an oddball bird lands in the yard,they roll in different directions some long some short.The Parlors I have definetly have the ability to roll long on the ground,they are from the Rich Walter and Paul GAMINO strainand have cousins to the 300 ft record and 600ft+ record holders.Parlors come in a variety of colors,almond,opal lace,kite,golden dun,etc.,very pretty birds.
Hope this helps you decide,find out what you want,construct loft that properly suits the breed or breeds,and go find ya some.BTW,ALL these pigeons are fed, handled,and housed differently.ALOHA,Todd
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Spud
2 posts
Aug 19, 2005
8:18 AM
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It seems to me that the Homers are like the great Nordic Cross country racer, the thrill is at the finish line. Rollers then would be compared to the Snow Boarder, the thrill is in the performance! Both have their place, just depends on what you like.
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birdman
44 posts
Aug 19, 2005
12:06 PM
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Hi Todd,
I'm curious as to how you go about road training the racing pigeons. It would seem that everything on an island would be a short toss.
Also, what's the farthest race in Hawaii and how do the birds get to the release point? Boat? Plane? Dolphin with customized release trailer? LOL
Russ
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Fr.mike
2 posts
Aug 19, 2005
12:10 PM
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Thank you--Spud-Reedem-Jstar-nicksiders--and Alohazone-by the way aloha-I spent my summers on the Ilands my grandfather lived at the foot of diamond head near doris dukes place my distant relitives are the cook famaily -big money-but-they dont remember my name HA! I am almost there with the Rollers? anyone else out there with some sage advise that will push me over the edge towards rollers
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highroller
46 posts
Aug 19, 2005
12:54 PM
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Just what Nicksiders alluded to when he said the rollers are smaller than the racers........a lot less pigeon poop to clean up!!!
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Velo99
73 posts
Aug 19, 2005
1:01 PM
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OK Mike ,
How about this, We would like to have you join this fraternity of rollermen . A close knit group for the most part whose passion is the roll. We support each other,both physically and emotionally. If one is in need,one of us is always there to support our brother. The cameraderie here is unlike anything I have experienced in my 43 years on this earth.
yits
v99
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Mount Airy Lofts
35 posts
Aug 19, 2005
8:23 PM
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Fr.,
All I can say is once you have seen a Birmingham Roller in the air, there is no stopping you from attainning one just like that. With more visits to other lofts, comes more knowledge in quality. Once you see that one Roller that simply just stops your heart when it performs, you won't stop for anything less. That's when you really can join the big boys.
There is non a better performance breed than the Birmingham Roller.
Thor
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Alohazona
44 posts
Aug 20, 2005
1:11 AM
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Howzit Russ,our races out here are between 75 and 300 miles,youngbird,yearling,and old birds,80% of what I race is the money races,thats my focus,as this is were the sport is going.
Yes,my road toss's are short,about 15 miles to Makapuu point,after that my hat starts to float[lol].Once to Makapuu point,its 26 miles across the Molokai channel,which is the next visible Island and there is about 2 or 3 points from Molokai,we fly them there,they are loaded in a truck to the release destination.The Dolphins are making to much money at the hotels to bother with pigeons[lol].My pigeons have flown from Molokai,Maui,and Waimea and Hilo on the BIG island of Hawaii.
Interesting enough,they fly low over the water till they reach land.I train them to fly over the water along the shoreline as there are more distractions/temptations to fly them in land,there is a turning point thatI spend a lot of time familiarizing them with,they make their turn and pour it on to home.
There is a 288 mile race from Poipu,Kauai to Kona on the BIG island that I am focusing on now and hope to win that one too.ALOHA,Todd
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Alohazona
45 posts
Aug 20, 2005
1:50 AM
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fR Mike,Good to hear your familiar with the Islands.If you find yourself visiting or staying again be sure to look up the Hawaii Performing Roller Club,we will tour you around and make sure you see some good kits,we have a link on the NBRC world cup website to contact us,
Mike,the best thing I can say is find some roller flyers close to you and get together with them.If you can obtain proven breeders from them that would be my first choice,it can save you a season flying out youngbirds to breed from.No matter what,you have to start with something,if a breeder sees you are serious and have done your home work,he will feel better about letting some good ones go.If a breeder has been in the sport awhile,he will have some pairs that will be a stepping stone for an enjoyable kit of rollers you can be proud of.Hope this helps.ALOHA,Todd
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Fr.mike
3 posts
Aug 20, 2005
7:29 AM
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thanks to all Hey-MT.airey--Would that be Mt.airey Maryland--if so you are about 30 min. from me?
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big al
98 posts
Aug 20, 2005
7:30 PM
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Hey brother,
v99's last post said it best!!
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Big Al
"High Plains Spinner Loft"
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Mount Airy Lofts
36 posts
Aug 20, 2005
8:23 PM
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Fr..
No, it's just a name. I fly with the Minnesota Flying Roller Group. That will be residing in Minnesota...
Thor
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upcd
12 posts
Aug 24, 2005
2:19 AM
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Fr.mike Hello, I am into rollers because they roll and they have some nice colors. They are easy to breed and they love a good fight. Nice little birds. Tend to have less diseases than show birds.
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maxspin
1 post
Aug 24, 2005
7:35 AM
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Fr Mike,
I raced homers for 4 years, then quite because I did not have the time. All Summer I would lose both Friday and Saturday waiting for birds to come home or running back and forth to the clubhouse. Also several time a week up and down the highway taking birds on training tosses. I was constantly fighting health issue with the birds due to the exposure they had every week in the shipping box.
I was out of birds for 2 years before I got into rollers. I enjoy watching the birds fly and planning improvements in next year’s birds. I have had no health issues, and the cost is much lower. Best of all I am in my back yard with my family enjoying the birds.
Keith
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birdman
50 posts
Aug 24, 2005
10:08 PM
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Fr Mike,
Once you see a kit of quality rollers for yourself, then you will know why we choose rollers! We can try and describe with words but honestly you should try and find a reputable flier in your area and pay him a few visits and watch his birds fly.
Trust me, a picture is worth a thousand words!
Good Luck!
Russ
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Vibey
30 posts
Mar 07, 2006
7:27 AM
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In the 35 yrs ive raised pigeons , i have had several breeds come and go through my lofts , but the one breed that always ended up there permanently was rollers and or tumblers. Everyone has their own preference , but in my opinion , you just cannot top a good quality roller. I could sit 4ever and a day watching my rollers fly around the neighbourhood.They are personable , come in an awesome variety of color patterns, and are easy to train if you treat them well. When we have company over , and are entertaining in the backyard, chewin on a couple beers , and i cut the birds loose , i get some wicked oo's an ahhh's when the people look up and see them dropping from the sky. Ive had people say , ohhhhhh man , i think someone just shot your bird...lol. When you explain to them that this is just what they do , some aren't easily convinced , until they see it a few more times , but i guess what i am trying to say is they make great conversation pieces. Even my neighbours are impressed ...THANK GOD...lol, as we all know , neighbours can make or break your roller hobby. To make a long story short , ROLLERS are by far the best breed of pigeons to get into raising...in my opinion.
Happy Breeding kids
Vibey
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ROLLERMAN
32 posts
Mar 07, 2006
7:55 AM
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Got my 1st pair of rollers in 1945. And still have them to this day. It,S Like haveing a movie theater in your back yard with a great movie playing everyday. The little bird with a lot of class
AL
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