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Re: White toe nails
Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2025 5:05 pm
by Steve Howells
NeilA wrote: Sun Nov 16, 2025 7:51 am
Anyone select breeders using white toe nails and if so do you select avoiding a pied or white flight with white toe nails and just pick plain coloured birds with white toe nails
I remember hearing this years ago, then heard Frank M mention it on one of his videos, and if I’m honest it kinda put me off listening to him. If white toe nails was an indicator of a higher breeding potential then it would be linked somewhere to a genetic marker. There are now around 8 genetic markers that have been proven to influence racing/breeding performance much better to test for them I would have thought than use something that has nothing to back it up.
Re: White toe nails
Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2025 5:30 pm
by king
MIke Lycett wrote: Mon Nov 17, 2025 5:14 pm
I paid no attention to it whtatsoever; and to be honest the only policy I have any time for is
"best to best" because it makes logical sense to me.
"Best to best" based on performances on a race day and that's it - doesn't need to be more complicated than that.
I appreciate not everyone can win - but everyone can
"try" their best to win - and that's where I used to upset the old brigade when they congratulated each other on being 20 minutes behind on an 85 miles race.
If I was 2 (not 20) minutes behind from 85 miles and someone said "well done" to me I'd assume you were taking the pi$$
Best to Best is certainly the soundest PROVEN road to success.
Re: White toe nails
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2025 9:57 pm
by PeteDerby
Me and Lloyd (loft manager) joke about the white toenails thing, largely because we don’t know whether it’s a thing or not? Frank McLaughlin talks about it and he says it can be a sign of quality, but how much science or evidence there is behind it I don’t know?
When our youngsters were bred this year I’d always say “here’s a champ then” if it had white toenails. I’ll just have to wait and see won’t I.
Re: White toe nails
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2025 1:45 pm
by Bowbroom
Dead right, back to Ken Hanbys foot sign, the one that gets its feet on the landing first is the best
