CULLING PIGEONS
Pigeons are born and bred to be tested in racing and if you follow this to the marathon level, then no culling is necessary. I am unimpressed by big kits of pigeons at the end of the season. Distance and marathon events will manifest quality birds, and these are the ones to breed off. Expect about 10 percent to return home to the UK from Barcelona International. All a mixed bred bunch, put a value on the ones in the clock, with latebreds out of them, paired together. Simple logic, yet very onerous to do in practice. Wise to be meticulous in preparation for these speed/endurance races. Old champions earn retirement, yet terminally ill birds need to be culled.
Jim Emerton.
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INSPIRATIONAL FANCIERS AND PIGEONS
Two key birds of the 60s that I used as gene makers in my strain were Faith -2x 1033 miles and Champion Woodsider. Birds of this calibre are very rare today and the men who fly them. However today in 2017 we are using the son of a Polish Barcelona National winner at over 1000 miles on day 4. It makes the strain unusual with the popular accent on short distances-I am quite happy to use 800 to 1000-mile blood, as I started in this way. Expect some sprinters to be produced as the type produced is not fixed or constant for a certain distance. Faith raced in 1960 and was a lovely grizzle hen, raced by Davidson-an iconic figure. Woodsider was raced by Jack Paley and I held this mealy cock. In the olden days I observed the stuffed remains of Hudsons King of Rome. All these birds ignited the fire of my imagination -great stuff!!
Jim Emerton.
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CERTAIN CONDITIONERS FOR PIGEONS
Some liquid feeds and solid feeds will assist race condition of your candidates. Peanuts/Tovo/ Hormoform/Hemp/Oils/Yeast /Sunflower hearts/Eggfood/Pellets will all change the eye/feather and vitality and reserves of energy. All these are proven by our Barcelona birds and at other distances. A course of Vydex Supersix and then Blitzform in the water will further activate all the ingredients. Simple to put into practice, all these feeds are effective in practical racing. Men and birds get to the top because of good reasons and I know what they are-
Jim Emerton 71 to 879 miles.
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BEST BRED PIGEONS
I like an attractive pigeon with good looks, confirmation and handling qualities. However, the chief factors of interest, like any other creature are internal. These are the brain, muscles, heart, lungs genes etc. Internal are the drive, desire to home and the navigational ability with the condition reached for racing. All these traits can be managed and developed by the expert fancier, then it is down to race reality my friends. Yes, I look for birds in which I am confident that they are bred for purpose at the type of distances that I need to cultivate. I prefer marathon bred birds, then there is a chance of some stamina and navigational ability in some of the offspring. I would source these from the top boys of the times who I know and read about, yet you must breed some good ones yourself. Nick and I have a great stock loft.
Jim Emerton.
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THE PURE SPIRIT OF THE SPORT
The essence is to cultivate racing pigeons that will achieve great things in actual racing. The entire human focus needs to be on this central objective. Money and commerce are values which need to be secondary, after the needs of the birds are catered for. The great traditionalists, who are now icons created their own families and strains of birds of a similar type. There is much pleasure to be had in your own birds that are from the sweat of your brow. Why buy a load of fresh birds when the answers lie in your own loft and practices? I am trying to inculcate good methods, confidence and self-reliance of the pigeon man. Races over 500 miles are pure and true to the spirit of the old masters.
Jim Emerton.
