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The Original All Roller Talk Discussion Board Archive >
C.P.R.C Show
C.P.R.C Show
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str8nfst
2 posts
Oct 25, 2005
8:38 PM
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On Saturday I had the opportunity to attend the C.P.R.C lawn show, the show was great; there must have been hundreds of fanciers there. What struck me most about the whole show was the amount of money being spent on the auction birds. Obviously the members of the C.P.R.C are greatly respected individuals who have worked diligently to obtain the level of success in our hobby. However as I sat there listening to the auctioneer call bids that reached several hundred dollars, I asked myself, “are these birds really worth that much”, my conclusion is that they are not. First I would like to make some points to those people who are interested in acquiring good quality stock. In reading various authors and their opinions in obtaining good stock they clearly emphasize the importance of observing the birds in the air. Secondly I was not sure about the authenticity of the birds themselves. By this I mean that I questioned the reasons for why the birds were being auctioned-off in the first place. Was it the member’s intent to allow prospective bidders to obtain good stock? Or, since all of the birds auctioned-off that day appeared to be mature breeders, then where the birds of no-use to the owner? So I pose this question to all my fellow fanciers, how do you feel about paying top-dollar for auction birds, on the sole premise of a reputable loft band?
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big al
143 posts
Oct 25, 2005
9:51 PM
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Hello str8nfst,
You've made some interesting points. Well here's my humble opinion.
You asked...
I asked myself, “are these birds really worth that much”, my conclusion is that they are not.
Str8nfst I think it depends on how much success you've had over the years. If you've been raising rollers with little or no improvement in your stock, just spinning your wheels and you desire to compete on the level these guys are competing on, then yes it's worth it. Whether you get the birds from CPRC or another reputable breeder it's worth it if you're not producing birds on this level yourself.
You asked...
"Secondly I was not sure about the authenticity of the birds themselves. By this I mean that I questioned the reasons for why the birds were being auctioned-off in the first place. Was it the member’s intent to allow prospective bidders to obtain good stock? Or, since all of the birds auctioned-off that day appeared to be mature breeders, then where the birds of no-use to the owner?"
Str8nfst, You were right when you acknowledged earlier in your post the reputation of this club and it's members! Over the years members of this club have won or placed in every major fly. There are Master flyers and a Hall of Fame member who fly with them, several others with great reputations. That being said, it would not be in their best interest to give away or auction off fair or poor quality birds and expect to maintain the reputation they have earned over the years.
In regard to birds being of no use to the owner, yes sometimes that happens when your breeding is taking you in another direction. This does not mean the bird in question is not outstanding. It just means that it doesn't fit into the current program. The key thing is what a person does with the bird they bought!! How well they use it and how compatible it is with the family you'll cross it in to if that's your intent.
Do I buy birds that are expensive? No. I'm working with my own family right now.
Would I buy birds that expensive? Absolutely if I needed them! Why not, if it would help get me where I wanted to be?
I hope I don't sound like the Ra Ra man for this or any other club but these are just my observations.
I too was at the show and met some of these gentlemen for the first time. Marshall Duncan I'd met previously and found him to still be a very cool down to earth gentleman. Brian MCcormick I met in person for the first time and we had great conversation I look forward to visiting him and Marshall. Antonio (Worm) I didn't get to meet but he talks to one of my closest friends regularly Richard A. and Richard has nothing but great things to say about him.
It was a pleasure to finally meet Jerry Higgins.
So yes you can get birds from many other sources that will be just as good as anything you could by from CPRC, but clearly I see no reason why a CPRC bird should not be an option when available. I'd certainly purchase one from them or any other breeder with a proven track record and reputation. Hope this makes sense and helps?----------
See you in the roll!
Big Al
"High Plains Spinner Loft"
Last Edited by big al on Oct 26, 2005 1:53 PM
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motherlodelofts
404 posts
Oct 25, 2005
10:11 PM
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Al not much more that could be added to that ,guys seem to balk at dropping money on a bird.
For the right bird a few hundred bucks is a steal , there is years of selection and breeding behind the right birds.
The question is though is it the right bird ?
Have I dropped that kind of money ? in the past I have dropped much heavier money than that , some were good investments some weren't.
Would I now ? no , I don't need to because I breed such birds for myself now. hint hint
Beg borrow or buy , do what you can to put the right birds in your loft , it is a long term investment.
Scott
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
216 posts
Oct 25, 2005
11:04 PM
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Al, it was great to meet you as well and put a face with a name. I believe you summed up the question very well.
Since I am President of this club, I would first like to thank everyone who did attend and I hope they had a great time. With that said, I would be remiss to not comment on the posed question.
The auction is something that a lot of folks come to the show for. For years it has been an event within an event, made that way by the folks who actually participate in the auction. There are no quarantees with any roller you purchase, even if you see it fly or see it's offspring fly.
One thing that is prudently stressed at our annual meeting is that every member of the club must donate a bird or pair to the auction, and even more importantly stressed, it has to HURT to give it up.
Now will the simple fact that a member decides he will let a good bird go to the auction guarantee that it will be a great producer for the winning bidder? Absolutely not. But obviously if the bidder chose to bid on that bird, he must have made a decision he felt confident with and ultimately, that is what truly matters.
Some of the members donated proven kit birds from successful teams, some of those birds some people in audience actually may have seen fly at one time or another.
One of our members donated a extremely well bred bird that placed 3rd in the California Classic several years ago.
Some donated young birds off of their best pairs.
Many who raise a particular family donated birds which either came from the kit box or from the stock loft which have pedigrees with numbers on them that A LOT Of guys seek.
One of our members is the only guy in the country with Heine Bikjer birds and he donated a pair which were right out of the kit he has been flying this past season, a good kit I might add.
My good friend Van donated a proven pair right out of his stock loft.
Personally I donated one of the Westfall cocks that Rick Mee flew in his kits with the sole intent of providing a well bred bloodline that no one else in this area that I know of has. Obviously the interest in that bird was quite high to my own surprise.
Will any of these birds do their new owners any good? That is up to the owner and their breeding selection and of course some good luck as well. It should also be said that over half of those birds in the auction come from one very popular base family that a lot of the guys in the auction audience currently have and continue to seek.
Then there are some people who just enjoy seeing if they can win a bid on a bird. Others are more methodical about it and studied the birds before hand and only bidded on the bird or birds they felt were the ones they would like to have.
There are no quarantees with any type of roller transactions. Some people are always looking for that one bird that will make it happen for them, and that bird might come from your own breeding, your buddy or even an auction purchase. You will never know unless you try, if indeed that is your mission.
Brian.
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big al
148 posts
Oct 30, 2005
12:03 AM
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Hey Brian,
You hit it on the head like I did in an earlier post regarding a person knowing what to do with a good bird when they get it! Many times a person will get a great bird, make a poor selection with what they cross it with, then look at you cross-eyed! LOL! Some families just aren't compatible. That's why out-crossing can be a tricky business.
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See you in the roll!
Big Al
"High Plains Spinner Loft"
Last Edited by big al on Oct 30, 2005 12:04 AM
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