Electric-man
6 posts
Aug 18, 2006
7:48 PM
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A lot of people ask me why do they roll? Why did it originate. I've had people tell me that is was a genetic fault, I've even read that it was a defense mechanism to escape preditor birds, I figure that can't be right, I've lost to many to hawks.Would somebody give me an honest answer.
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
686 posts
Aug 18, 2006
8:38 PM
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I don't believe anyone truly knows with absolute certainty "why" they roll. We do know it has to do with the nervous system and is an impulse which effects their muscles.
A long time ago, probably a really, really long time ago someone saw a pigeon do a flip, captured it and over time tried to cultivate this "oddity". As centuries went on the "impulse to roll" was continually cultivated to the point the flipping turned into rolling. There are actually quite a few different breeds of performing pigeons which do a form of front flips, back flips, side flips and even screw type spins, which probably all are stimulated by a similar impulse that effects our rollers.
There are several species of wild and even domestic birds which flip.
When people ask me the question they asked you, I simply tell them it was something that developed in pigeons thousands of years ago and has been cultivated over time to the point we see now. I tell them it is more or less a controlled spasm engineered by man.
Brian.
Last Edited by MCCORMICKLOFTS on Aug 18, 2006 8:39 PM
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Electric-man
7 posts
Aug 18, 2006
8:54 PM
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I can certaily understand that, my wife has several (odities) but I haven't learned to re-engeneer them yet. But it does give me hope! Thank you for the answer!
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nicksiders
798 posts
Aug 18, 2006
10:08 PM
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Nobody has understood why rollers roll. There have been many who have specualed and then others will follow up to discredit thier speculations.
One thing I have notice is the roll will go away once they have been in the company of none rollers after awhile. I also did a little project a few weeks ago. I wanted to get a closer observation which bird was doing what. I flew then in 6 bird groups and they where extremely stiff. The next day I flew them all together and they rolled thier butts off..........same birds. I also know that they will not roll when evading a hawk...so I guess they can shut it off when nedded.
It is mystery.
This mystery is one of the things that draw us to them. The beauty and the unusualness of the roll. If Birminghams were not a kit bird and work as a team they would not have the appeal to me. I was in other breeds(performing) like Doneks and Oriental Rollers, but they are not kit performers and my interest twained.
I also feel that they will roll when something good is happening for them. When a family member absent catches up with them; either the joining member spins or the ajoined kit spins.....kinda like a celebration
Well, I rambled a bit and I don't care(LOL).
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Snicker Rollers
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Santandercol
257 posts
Aug 18, 2006
10:21 PM
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No,,,,Nick,I like your rambles.And Brian,When are you goint to write a book???
Health to the pigeons,
Kelly.
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
687 posts
Aug 18, 2006
11:20 PM
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LOL, no thanks on the book Kelly! I have to write articles every day at work.
Nick, I agree that rollers will roll less if in a kit of birds which don't roll. On the flip side one of my 06 young birds somehow took refuge with the big flock of commies that live in some barns across the street. The other day I saw them flying around and that one bird hit some nice spins.
Brian.
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parlorfancier916
141 posts
Aug 19, 2006
12:00 AM
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I hope this helps,
(a little peice of my schoolwork at the begining of the year)
"HOW DID THESE PIGEONS START ROLLING
why do pigeons roll/tumble? it's hard to find an exact explanation to why it rolls or why it originated in the first place.. I have been reading a few books trying to decipher the reason why these rare breed of birds do multiple backflips in the air... the data I am slowly collecting through the resources of the net and books here in the public library is only causing me to dig deeper to ask more questions about the breed.. If there was a way I could go to the beginning of the roller/tumbler.. it was believed that the first origination of the roller was the parlor roller/tumbler, a breed believed to be developed for the ability to do multiple rapid backflips on the ground by tying a string or rubberband from the neck to tail. The bird was a way to keep fanciers of a certain time, entertained... I do not clearly remember what year the book said that the roller/tumbler was introduced to the world, but I do know for certain that it was before the TV or any digital instruments were invented.. the parlor roller remained dominant for years until somebody or a group of people unknown to history decided to experiment the parlor roller, with a rock dove, which resulted to a bird that could fly and do multiple back flips in the air. I have experimented also with the parlor roller and a rock dove, and I have had many hybrids tumble and roll, even rolldown. From my studies, I believe this was how the tumbler and roller was born...."
written
04-12-06
Last Edited by parlorfancier916 on Aug 19, 2006 12:06 AM
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parlorfancier916
142 posts
Aug 19, 2006
12:11 AM
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I think....... the reason why the roller pigeon rolls is because people like us in the past promoted it (the roll gene) and it now dominates in the gene of the family of birds.
Last Edited by parlorfancier916 on Aug 19, 2006 12:16 AM
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