Parkinson. Les J.
There is always something to look at when delving into the amount of material that I have either on paperwork or computer files. Over the years with the help of others a lot has been transferred to the PC but there are still numerous articles that were put together the old pen and paper. It’s a long time since I have written anything on eye-sign but a subject that is always there in the back of our minds. As I have said before the problem is not a lot of fanciers get to grips with the subject so brush the theory to one side, or should I say brush the facts to one side, that all depends on how you look at the subject. There are so many aspects of pigeon racing that are of interest to fanciers one way or another, it’s a case of what subject each fancier prefers to spend more time looking at. Plus it is what each individual fancier believes in but from my own point of view as always I am keeping an open mind on all points of pigeons no matter what the point may be. Everyone has their own opinions as to what they think is the way forward, whether they are right or not is another matter. What I have noticed about eye-sign is that different families have different characteristics. The old Krauths that was one of my first families and I mean nearer to the originals were a very strong eye with plenty of depth to them. I believe that the strength is down to the fact that they were good pigeons from the longer races and we flew them into the Cheshire from across the water down to 700mls. They put up some real good performances but like all families of pigeons they get watered down with different lines brought into them and let’s be honest we never know whether anyone has put a cross into them. The Jan Aardens are also a good strong eye but I feel they are too strong but make a good cross into other distance birds. Here are a few eye shots to take a look at.
No.1
Number 1. Is a very good Krauth hen who won 3 x 1sts and 1st fed plus other prizes. She had a real good eye with a lot of depth and the layers flowed through from the adaptation to the 5th circle. She bred some good pigeons including “Elimar Joe 90” a super racing cock winner of many prizes and the Ace Pigeon of the Mid Cheshire Fed, I think in 85. There were three cocks off this hen in the race team and all three were good pigeons and they were with different cocks.
No.2
Number 2. Is a son of number one and was overshadowed by his half brother “Joe 90” but nevertheless he won a few prizes and when we moved he was sold and from the information I received he turned out to be the best breeder of them all.
No.3
Number 3. Was the Ace Yearling from Nantes 412mls in the Mid Cheshire Fed, in those days there were good entries in the channel races and fanciers expected their pigeons to race up to Nantes and not just a few short races. The late Denis Gleave had three young birds off us in the 80’s one he lost off the loft another won many prizes being bred off number 3 and the other off his mother that bred winners. Like many fanciers Denis was never one for saying where some of his pigeons came from.
No.4
Number 4 was a half sister to number one but there were 7yrs different between the eye shots being taken so I am sure that is why this one has the stronger coloured eye and her sire was a full green as well.
No.5
Number 5. When I first came across the Janssen’s they were more or less all pearl based eyes’ but like all other families fanciers put crosses in but don’t admit to it and then we end up with all sorts of colours and makeup of the eye. Number 5 is one of the early Janssen’s I had and she bred a cock that topped the fed for us in the 90’s she was bred in 88 and was good in the stock loft but took days to come from less than 100mls.
No.6
Number 6 is another Janssen who I believe would have made a good channel pigeon but because she bred a couple of good pigeons in her first nest as a yearling she was never sent across. You can see in her eye the breeding potential is spot on with the adaptation colouring going right through to the 5th circle.
No.7
Number 7. Is a Red Janssen but does have the typical Janssen make up in the eye with good features from the pupil to the adaptation, then the coloration and Iris with the 5th circle also showing up well. This pigeon bred a few real good pigeons for its owner and when you see the makeup of the eye you can understand why. This is one of the very few Janssen’s in the early days that I saw with the yellow/orange eye colouring.
No.8
Number 8. Is a blue Dordin cock who was 45th and 175th Open Pau National 684mls in successive years? His nest mate went with him and he was also in the first 500 of the first race they went together. In the second race they went together his nest mate was reported up in Yorkshire the following day and if he had called here first he would have done better than his nest mate. When the fancier reported him I asked if he could liberate him next morning if the weather was good. With him being the other side of the Pennines he did not think he would come but I had confidence in him and said he would. I was walking down the garden from the lofts next morning and I saw this pigeon heading my way out of the North East and said to Elizabeth this is the Dordin cock coming home. Sure enough it was him and I phoned the fancier concerned and thanked him, he was surprised that he had returned and in such good time. They were a good pair of pigeons with this one having by far the stronger of the eyes.
No.9
Number 9. This is a real good Dordin that bred many good performance pigeons including 5 x 1sts section winners in the Nationals for the fancier who I bought him off me. He came back to me at 12yrs old and still bred good pigeons across the channel and lived to 19yrs. The old original Dordins and Krauths always seemed to have a good strong constitution and they were not all that easy to lose when they were sent further afield. Both families always looked the part with a good head on them. Both families would also win in the show pen and that suited Elizabeth because at that time she would be keen to go to all the local shows and no end of red cards are in the boxes. The one thing wrong with all these eye shots is they were taken inside which is why the pupil is so big, they would show far more sign taken in brighter light outside. No doubt there will be more wanting details on the eyes but I suggest you look at your own and judge for yourself because each family or line can be different. This is just a one off to refresh the mind and I will not be going into articles on eye sign any further at the moment.
Les J Parkinson. 11 Rushton Drive, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10 0NJ.
Tel 01606836036 Mobile 07871701585.
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