Murray wrote: ↑Thu Oct 05, 2023 8:26 am
Andy, a few years ago I would have agreed with you about developing your own family. Now, not so much.
Have a look at the pedigrees of the pigeons coming out of the top European lofts. They are sold as a "direct Van der Hum", but if you look at the pedigree, 2 or 3 of it's grand parents came from other top flyers.
I did that, I had a shed full of pigeons which were a 'family'. They were so inbred you could hear the banjos playing in the background. They were identical. And, what they were was what they would stay.
The last two or three years I have crossed them with some 'modern' pigeons, and it's like they are from a different planet!
Forget about 'a family' of pigeons. Keep looking for pigeons that are better than the ones that you have.
That's what the champions do
I do agree Murray. But I would look to just bring in the odd new birds to hopefully enhance my own family. I done that when I brought the Van Hee’s in back in the 90s. I think it is very difficult to continue improving a family if you don’t have any of the parents or G.parents of top pigeons. I am still trying to find a few good birds to found the family with. I have got some birds here that are looking promising. I will be breeding from these ones next year and hopefully will find a future champion and Sire or Dam of the loft
Back just enjoying club racing for the time being.
Devo1956 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 05, 2023 11:29 am
I have been given a price of £400.00 per youngster for Gunther Prange lines of Ringlose. I think it is a very good price. Just waiting to hear about Leo Hermanns 003 youngster price. Lets wait and see.
carry on doing what you enjoy Dev. Take no notice of me just a different approach.
Yes mate, we all do it differently. But the health of the birds is paramount. Andy this sport never leaves you, it's always on to the next chapter.
A pedigree is only as good as the fancier.
And the fancier is only as good as he selects. Not many average pigeons stay two years in the champions' loft.
Keep it simple lads if there's not 6 winning pigeons in first 8birds in pedigree leave it alone,
You can pair paper together it's as honest as man writing it out, iv handled thousands with good pedigrees most handle poor normally really long more like a helicopter to hold than a racing pigeon, I hear lads say all shape n sizes win but there's a shape that wins most these never seem to gain weight and fill like there carved out one piece.
Personally tho if you pair winners to winners and winners to children of winners you be very hard to beat over the course of a season.
They were identical. And, what they were was what they would stay.
