Just got one back!

[Bowbroom]

Well done Trev, if everybody did as you do the game would be far better

[Bowbroom]

I couldn’t do that Trev sorry Bowbroom but strays are not for me
Reporting them yes then dealing with them after but strays are not joining my team

As we've always said Neil, each to their own, we all have our own goals and methods, and none of us has the right to criticise or judge others for their choices, our own conscience is our judge.

Totally agree, each to their own, no one has the right to force their opinions on others, if people are satisfied with the way things are then so be it enjoy it while it’s there to be enjoyed

[Bowbroom]

That’s the problem with remote exchanges, misunderstandings can occur

[king]

I couldn’t do that Trev sorry Bowbroom but strays are not for me
Reporting them yes then dealing with them after but strays are not joining my team

Once many years ago in the early 80s, (1981 I think) sending to GNEFC Clermont 352 miles. At the time a well supported club, if I recall over 160 members sent. I had the first to birds into York finishing 15th & 31st open and won a watch BOTH birds I clocked were STRAYS, one was an escaped stock bird, that went on to card a few times over the channel including Poitiers 514 miles, the other a sprint bird a Karl Herman which was actually a stray for a club member who give her to me. She went on to win some 15 club cards, and bred Winners for me. This hens nestmate, a cock won 30 x 1sts for the original owner.

[Diamond Dave]

I reckon that you guys would know if the bird was half decent whether in a sale, in an auction or if it came in as a stray!
I dont have that skill to know what I'm looking for yet.

[Bowbroom]

The two most important things about a performance pigeon will never be discovered by handling it or looking in its eyes, throat or at its wings and that is what it has in its head and heart.
Talking of strays, wasn’t one of the parents of Ron Greens Champion Breakaway a stray?

[Bowbroom]

Just looked it up, he was bred by Stan Walker for Ron from a Gorin Cock and a stray Dutch hen picked up at Arthur Beardsmores factory, this pair apparently bred several good birds

[king]

Once many years ago in the early 80s, (1981 I think) sending to GNEFC Clermont 352 miles. At the time a well supported club, if I recall over 160 members sent. I had the first to birds into York finishing 15th & 31st open and won a watch BOTH birds I clocked were STRAYS, one was an escaped stock bird, that went on to card a few times over the channel including Poitiers 514 miles, the other a sprint bird a Karl Herman which was actually a stray for a club member who give her to me. She went on to win some 15 club cards, and bred Winners for me. This hens nestmate, a cock won 30 x 1sts for the original owner.

For every good one there are a 1000 plus crap ones King
Nothing will change my mind on that
If it’s your thing good luck to you all but it’s not for me I move every pigeon on here that hasn’t scored in the fed 2 times min as a yearling so they thought of keeping a stray isn’t in my management
I gave 2 fed winners away this year a cock last year with 5 fed cards so allowing a box for a stray isn’t in my thinking I just can’t consider it as a positive move forward
Like Trev said we are all different and if racing a stray is what you like to do who am I to say it’s wrong for your system

I agree Neil.

One thing that cannot be argued with is that a stray is a pigeon that has failed to have the mental capacity to return to its natural home

Now if that’s the foundation you want to build your loft around then I wish that person all the very best of luck - he’ll need it

I believe strays fall into 2 categories, those as you say that don't have the mental capacity to return home & and those that don't have the physical condition to return home. The 2 are totally different.

[Diamond Dave]

While I am very happy to have this bird back, I dont think I would entertain a stray.
When I helped my son get started, we had birds from here there and everywhere and when he left me with the birds, I spent the next 5 -8 years trying to sort them out.
I know what I have now and dont want to have to carry on trying to prove stock birds.

[king]

But the physical ones are blatantly obvious

To be honest not knocking the lads that keep strays but we only hear of the good ones there are 1000’s of shit that stay shit and putting them in your loft is just looking for a needle in a haystack n the hope you find a ace
Not you Trev as I know you are not always race focused and you like you distance stuff and having the birds how you want them
But If flying to 350 miles which most in the country do in feds now Just move on every pigeon at the end of the yearling stage that hasn’t met your grading system
Next year make your grading system harder to meet
It’s a lot easier and quicker to find the good ones than keeping strays

I totally agree with you Neil. I don't think any one is suggesting that keeping strays is a way to improve your stock. I myself have only transferred and kept a handful in my 50+ years of racing. Your right you only hear of the good ones. But that's true with the majority of racing pigeons in general. I've yet to meet ANY fancier no matter how successful who hasn't lost birds so every fancier has produced strays at sometime, no matter how good they thought their birds were when sending.
Back in the 70s & 80s when racing it was common to get 3 or 4 strays in EVERY week. But back then there was probably 4 times as many fanciers and birds racing back then. In the last few years I raced I had hardly any strays in. Probably due to more BOP and less birds racing now.
I don't believe there are many fanciers who keep strays, I did have a clubmate, a very good friend who did later in life like to try a stray, thinking it maybe the one. He did top the YMR Fed in the longest YB race from over 200 miles back in 1977 with a stray he found at the side of the road