Lipper
GOLD MEMBER
134 posts
Jan 20, 2009
10:03 AM
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Mike Trevis
The Bigger the Dream the Bigger the Leap
I have read the debate on breeding 100's of rollers to get a few worthwhile birds. Maybe this should have been posted there, I will leave it up to Tony. I will raise 150-200 birds this year, heres why.
I have been out of birds for quite some time now. I have had them off and on all along, but am now serious about them again. I have paid top dollar for birds and have paid as little as a couple dollars. I have seen good and bad birds out of both groups. I have had most good ones come out of the lower price range, because I had more of them to work with. I also feel that these birds came from very dedicated "backyard breeders". The thing to remember is that the percentage of good quality birds in any loft is low when it comes to offspring. This being stated, your chances of getting really good birds from a loft that is selling many is also quite low no matter the price.
There are many different ways of breeding rollers out there. Getting one or two pairs of top rollers and breeding from only them, using one or two cocks on a number of hens etc. So what I am doing is just another way, and should be taken for what it is worth. I do believe it will add to your chances of success in raising quality rollers, and get you there more quickly. You will have to pencil out the costs, advantages and disadvantages to your own situation no matter what you decide. Cost of birds, feed, space, time are some things to consider, the main consideration is what birds to start with. You should have no problems finding good birds locally. Look around and go see these birds in the air, price should not be a consideration in quality, if you like them get some even if they are free.
Here is what I am doing:
I have 5 families of birds here, I call them families because the lofts they have come out of have been raising these original lines without adding to them. I have so far paired these birds up within each family with the exception of one pair mated between two families. I have thirty pairs right now and can put another dozen together if I choose too. Having a large number to start with will give me better odds of getting what I am looking for. I have mated them together by family to get an idea of what I will get by family in regards to strength and weeknesses, and am sure I will break up pairs, make new pairs and cull birds. Each family of young birds has its own kit box starting out. I myself like to see my young birds start at about 5 months and progressing from there. There is culling at this point forward and a kit box for the best of them. By this time I have two rounds from each pair and will have a good idea of what I am going to get family wise.
At this point I have seen what is coming out of the breeding lofts by family and individual pairs. I may break up pairs and remate, or cull certain pairs all together, but will have a good idea of what is working and what is not. The birds that are performing well but not producing will be put back out to the kit box of holdovers. Here is where I will start interbreeding between some of what is left of the families. I have one family that is quite small and very typey. I have another family that is a little larger than what I like and not so typey, but good spinners. Over the next couple of years my kit boxes should show a uniform mix of all families advancing towards my goal. Flying top spinners is my goal and only goal. I do not care if a bird is feather footed or what color it is. I am not going to keep two excellent pigeons apart because I might get a feathered foot or a dilute color. These cosmetic features have no consideration in my loft records other than identifying features.
As I said earlier, you can take this for what it is worth.
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spinningdemon
211 posts
Jan 20, 2009
10:15 AM
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Mike,
Thank you for your comments. I am in the same boat and playing with several families. Your words just put it out there better. Altough I know of one family that is showing more promise then others and so I will be fostering a crud load of the this year. That is about the only difference.
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David Curneal
www.freewebs.com/dcurneal
www.saltcreekcustomstone.com
In the air since 1973
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maxspin
337 posts
Jan 20, 2009
10:16 AM
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Mike,
If you have the time and dedication to raise and keep notes on that many birds. More power to you. I deliberately kept the number of kit boxes that I have to four. It helps me to keep my life in perspective. Family comes first for me. At time I do not have the time to fly out what I raise. There is no way that I could fly out 200 young birds and know what was going on. I also have a BOP problem. If I were to try to fly out that many young birds I would be nothing but the local diner.
We all have to make choices based on our lifestyle and environment.
Have fun with them
Keith Maxwell
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spinningdemon
212 posts
Jan 20, 2009
10:22 AM
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Keith, thats true also. I only want to raise maybe 100 I do not have time to fly a lot of kits either. I am doing it mostly to evaluate what I have and what family is going to perform for my goals. Plus the other types of birds I keep takes time also. So this will be a big learning year for me.
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David Curneal
www.freewebs.com/dcurneal
www.saltcreekcustomstone.com
In the air since 1973
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Lipper
GOLD MEMBER
136 posts
Jan 20, 2009
10:37 AM
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Mike Trevis
The Bigger the Dream the Bigger the Leap
Keith,
The above can be used as a template for any number, the numbers used are my numbers. Knowing what I am looking for and culling will diminish this number greatly. I intend to use 8 kit boxes..As far as the hawks are concerned and being able to fly is a consideration each individual will have to determine. I dont have the BOP problems many of you are faced with.... I am sorry that so many of you do.
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Scott
1477 posts
Jan 20, 2009
11:15 AM
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Man Mike that is a lot to try and figure out from,good luck !
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Just my Opinion
Scott
Last Edited by on Jan 20, 2009 11:15 AM
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PR_rollers
GOLD MEMBER
2339 posts
Jan 20, 2009
11:23 AM
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Yeah Mike you going to be real busy ..good luck..
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Ralph
Last Edited by on Jan 20, 2009 11:24 AM
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Lipper
GOLD MEMBER
137 posts
Jan 20, 2009
11:41 AM
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Mike Trevis
The Bigger the Dream the Bigger the Leap
The work is the fun part of it, it's a hobby...
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Scott
1478 posts
Jan 20, 2009
11:45 AM
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No, that one is going to be a near full time job LOL
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Just my Opinion
Scott
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Lipper
GOLD MEMBER
139 posts
Jan 20, 2009
11:51 AM
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Mike Trevis
The Bigger the Dream the Bigger the Leap
Hey Scott,
I have been taking care of over 200 birds in -50 degree windchills...Building kit coops in my basement..It has been a lot of work but I really enjoy it :)
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PR_rollers
GOLD MEMBER
2341 posts
Jan 20, 2009
11:56 AM
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When you love something you do it no longer feel like a job..and you really enjoying it that's what count.hey if I was near you I probably ask to help out I'll enjoy every minute of it..
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Ralph
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Lipper
GOLD MEMBER
145 posts
Jan 21, 2009
8:16 AM
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Mike Trevis
The Bigger the Dream the Bigger the Leap
This will be my second time building a family this way. I have been fortunate to be able to get these families. The folks that had them put much time and effort into what they currently are and keeping them pure. I will use these families to compete this year as they are. I will also work on a new strain using all or some of these families. I know its not for everyone....
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