Flyin Hawaiian
151 posts
Apr 18, 2007
3:55 AM
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Breeding season is upon us and for some well on the way. For the old veterans in the stock pen it is rountine. For those who have just been introduced to the rigors of the breeding season it is a new experience. Our criteria in what we have invisioned is now put to a test. Will these potentials that we desired reproduce themselves and be the future of our endeavors. Characteristics are learned and inprinted by our environment. Genetically traits that are of utmost importance will have to be bred for. Long Gevity, Nuturing, Temperament, Egg production, Incubation, Socialtivity, Strength in depravation of Disease, Commitment to raising young, Feeding young properly nutritional wise and volumn and last but not least DESIRE!
The ultimate in a stock bird doesn't necessarily restrict itself to aerial performance alone. This is the priority but the other enhancements will include all that is mentioned above. I mention this as I tend to see many breeding away from this by using foster parents and pampering with sympathetic reasoning to compromise a certain pair and or bird. I used to have carting MORGAN horses. Did alot of park shows (halter events). These animals are very beautiful to look at and some may say in viewing them I bet they get alot of pampering. Quite the contrary if you breed for stock that is tough enough to take the elements and conditions irregardless of how they may look to the the viewer the basics of good hearty stock takes care of itself. My question is by pampering are we perpetuating a weaker set of genes and not allowing those weaker genes to reveal themselves by doing so?? This may sound like its kinda off the wall but in today's enviroment with all the predators around we may have to breed a bird that is dual purpose in the air. Knowing when to roll and knowing when to haul ass LOL!! Just was thinking about how we improvise and compromise why we should not CULL and move forward!! Has the thought ever crossed your mind??
Ivan K Hanchett
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motherlodelofts
1746 posts
Apr 18, 2007
7:04 AM
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So they have to spin, and they have to do it right, and they have to kit, and roll only when they are supposed to.
And then on top of all of this they have to be good overall pigeons ? man thats a tall order LOL LOL
Scott
PS good point , many think that all they have to do is roll and that is all that matters .
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Missouri-Flyer
499 posts
Apr 18, 2007
1:34 PM
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So there is more to the bird than just the roll?....Crap, and I thought that since all of mine appear to atleast roll, that I had this pigeon raising stuff kicked in the bud!...LOL
Guess I will read and learn what to look for next, since I have mastered the roll.
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Jerry
Home of "Whispering Wings Loft"
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Electric-man
243 posts
Apr 18, 2007
1:46 PM
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Their supposed to roll?
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Velo99
1056 posts
Apr 19, 2007
5:10 AM
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Cull,
Whats a cull?
Every bird I raise does it right why should I cull? :)
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V99
Flippin`The Bird!
http://www.bluedotloft.50megs.com
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MILO
320 posts
Apr 19, 2007
8:49 AM
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Ivan.
I think about it a lot. Indeed, by pampering birds we are selecting weaker characteristics in our breeders. I constantly hear guys say, this bird or that bird is getting old, only to find out it's in it's 6th or 7th year. I am amazed by this trend. What happened to the cockbirds and hens that could push the 10 - 15 year PRODUCTION mark? I have some. I am not talking about the anomalies either, the program that can produce these fertile birds regularly is what I'm getting at. You can blame overmedication, or whatever, but this "pampering" of weak natured breeders is surely a contributing factor.
c
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Velo99
1058 posts
Apr 19, 2007
5:35 PM
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I believe that also Milo.I don`t pamper any bird.
Weak birds,are just that weak birds. Circumstances do dictate some times.
The closest I came to pampering this season is moving an egg that was ready to hatch and the fosers were off time. I had a hen with a single egg about to hatch. I stuck it in there.
One other time this season,I had a chick offtime with the fosters and they didn`t have enough milk and I moved it to a single chick nest. Other than treating for the occasional illness thats about the extent of my pampering. In a hardy breed of bird like the pigeon,weakness should not be tolerated.
jmho
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V99
Flippin`The Bird!
http://www.bluedotloft.50megs.com
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