PIGEONS COME FIRST
The way to enjoy and do well with pigeons is to put them before anything else in your life. Wise to make decisions and adopt a lifestyle that suits the pursuit of the hobby. After say 25 years of this practice you may,if clever,develop some mastery of the art/science fusion of the sport. After 40 years and 65 years of a love for birds,i decided that with knowledge to write 3 books on pigeons and racing.Selling well they cover all aspects of my hard-earned knowledge and can be used as reference books on the subject. At 68 i now place an emphasis on the people and characters in the game,as they set the tone and context of the whole game. The top people have a fanatical focus to succeed,and normally reap what they sow. In your head,the sport is psychological -pigeons are an outward expression of a mans ego.
Jim Emerton.
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THE RETURN OF PESTS AND DISEASES EACH YEAR.
Many viruses and bacteria flair up in lofts every year,sometimes carried by the birds or dormant in loft structures. Perhaps triggered by stress in young birds,with overccrowding and training-many of these diseases run their course in the loft with some deaths and the bacteria may well show resistance to antibiotic treatment. Simple,deaths occur in colonies of pigeons ,no matter who you are ,your birds or lofts. Wise to concentrate on the birds left for winter. Mites and worms respond well to alternating medications,feed well at all times,with loft exercise ,fresh air aimed at health and some immunity. P and D will increase your anxiety level,and may harden you over the years, like birds of prey and other predators like cats.
Jim Emerton.
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MINDSET FOR THE SPORT
The whole game is deeply psychological and mind/personality based in the individual person. You can be only as good as you can become. It is helpful to set high eventual standards to your sporting prowess. I like those with ambitions and dreams who set out to realise them in terms of hard results,that are objective,and verifiable. It is in racing and breeding that tell the truth of your achievements,to be true to the essence of the sport. Like Bolt you cannot take it away from lining the history books. However bovine faeces and banter are all part of the game,with great characters adding to the atmosphere. Wise to be focused with a single mind,and maintain enthusiasm for many years,then an impact can be made. Mo Farah is a shining example of the will to win and Mark Gilbert in racing pigeons. Ego domination and transcendence are the nature of the beast-
Jim Emerton.
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CHILD GENIUS.
As a Mensan i do enjoy the show. Little Rahul is likely to triumph in the pressure cauldron,which produces some very able children and their demanding parents. Normally, i can spot the winner very early and then watch progress. It would be nice for some of the children to mature into giants of their specialist interests and impact on world knowledge in these fields. My nephew is a top professor and i watch his progress with a keen eye. The work ethic of these kids is huge along with the self criticism and they deserve what they aspire too as their egos inflate. From the human perspective,it could be perceived to be too demanding and exploitative of the children,especially on an emotional level of understanding.
Jim Emerton.
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WHY I HAVE GIVEN BIRDS AWAY.
Until 97 i sold pigeons to make a few bob,and because i enjoyed keeping up with all the calls and visits and to spread the strain about. Now,i make no money from bird sales,yet have supplied various people with well bred birds,and have been given some corkers. It is a bartering system and the contacts have been interesting. In reality a minority of men become marathon fanciers today,as it is so so hard for person and pigeon to achieve,inspite of some good birds that are in circulation. Men can but dream ,yet few will become legends and icons of distance/marathon racing. Most of contemporary culture and consciousness concerns itself with the gratification of sprint and middle distance racing. However UK Barcelona BICC nos have increased since i clocked 22 years ago. I do not house birds at home ,yet have an interest in many lofts in different locations. Giving birds away negates any commercial bias or money motivation,and is akin to generosity.
Jim Emerton.
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THE OLD TRADITIONS OF PIGEON RACING
Some fanciers young and old have maintained the basis of the tried and trusted methods of pigeon racing. You can still do well at all distances on open loft systems ,depending upon where your loft is located. Strain makers are rare now,as fresh birds are constantly obtained by most of continental origins under hype and clever sales. However some excellent supplements and medications have their origins in Germany/Australia etc. The secret is to know what are effective,and this knowledge can be esoteric. I do suggest a working knowledge of the scientific,nutritional needs of a racing pigeon,and basic insights into genetics. The old boys sent their birds along the prog up to 500 miles and natural ybs up to end of Sept. In 41 years i have never stopped a bird because it sprinted,yet have bred many a one that bred distance birds. These are discovered by entering them over 500 miles,and it as simple as that. I have ideas about a bird,yet the proof is the acid test of race reality. Today some specialists can get 7 to 800 miles,which is a realistic test of man and bird.
Jim Emerton.
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