Autumnand Winter Study

AUTUMN AND WINTER STUDY

 

At this time Nick and I focus with a keen eye on pairing our 879/844 and 700 plus Barcelona bloodlines that we are breeding to maximise the potential. There will be the 40th year of inbreeding and with some out breeding, yet concentrated breeding to marathon origins. We like nice lookers, yet the main criterion is the ancestry at all times. Breeding a top one is a rare consequence of intensive planning and cogitation. It maintains a nice buzz of interest at this time, before racing begins later. I always look out for expert books and DVDs, yet our system of action is pretty stable. Breeding and racing are like a box of chocolates -- you never know what you’re gonna get next. Study of the birds is a nice distraction for the fanatic, as the years roll by and can be enlightening.

 

Jim Emerton

 

 

ESSENTIAL WATER

 

Good clean water is a must for all the birds, in the lofts, transporters and when racing home. The pigeons see it and sense it and will actively seek it in lakes, rivers and streams on duration flights home. At the old cottage my birds bathed on the edge of a pond and in the rain water on the flat roof as happy as larks. Water is a fine medium for liquid feeding supplements and medications for the birds. A shortage of water will initiate dehydration, stress and organ damage. More will be drunk with YBs in the nest. YBs in the baskets sense it and may be drawn to the drinkers. Pigeons are often very tolerant of impure water in gutters and puddles. With top food and clean water you are well on the way to creating condition in the team. I like my birds to take a walk on the wild side.

 

Jim Emerton

 

 

KEEPING COSTS DOWN

 

There are some ways of reducing overall costs of the sport. For very many years, in my village the birds would field and return to hoppers of layers pellets which are good and reasonable from the country store and birds will perform well on these as a base, along with hard grains and supplements. We would by SS-Swainstons foods in bulk and share it out. When I started it was on bags of mixed corn from the pet shop. The modern, specialist mixtures are expensive, yet good grains to mix your own can be had from some farm outlets. Fresh birds can be very costly, yet good ones can be given or exchanged amongst like-minded people of friends, without losing an arm and a leg. A shrewd person may spot bargains at an entire clearance sale, as loft items and sundries. Avoid expensive supplements, unless they work and reduce your numbers of birds down to the quality via racing. Join only the organisations in which you will race. A very good way of paying off costs is to sell a few young birds each year, as many people own well bred birds-it will ease cost worries of keeping the birds.

 

Jim Emerton