Breeding Tips

[Diamond Dave]

Tony, do you know what the birds are that you have already been given - sprint, middle distance or one loft birds.....?

[Buster121]

I would be careful breeding from unproven pigeons that you don't know much about personally. I'd be looking to buy some youngsters from a successful loft or see if anyone can help you out with some. What type of racing are you into? We don't have many inland pigeons now but anyone who knows me know we buy the best we can, I might be able to sort you out with a couple and I've a mate who flies a very good pigeon inland he would do the same I'm sure. You would need to pay carriage but I'm sure we could sort you out with half a dozen around start of April. Totally up to you no offence taken at all if not

Great and generous offer there, if it was me I would take it in fact I would snatch his hand off

[Tony-P-]

In your position I would certainly just let them pair up the way they want. At this stage as you say you know nothing about their ability so you can just go with it. Next year you’ll be in a much better position to select yourself.

Absolutely, Andy.
And Tony, be aware that "love matches", where they pick their own mates often produce the best youngsters.
One of the best fanciers in the world, Ad Schaerlaeckens, is a great believer in letting them pick their own mates.
I do, in fact I encourage it. If I see two pigeons take a fancy to each other and I like the look of that as a pairing I give them a nest box quickly.
It's only if they are too closely related or don't seem well suited I'll intervene and find a different mate for them.

Thanks for the heads up Murray, I will keep watching the birds as there are a few who are starting to chase the others showing themselves as cocks which is good to see.