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Murray wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2026 9:15 ampigeonrace.net

Thank you Murray.

Going back to Murray's photos, you see a lot of fanciers pulling out the wings of the pigeons, when their looking at the feathers of the pigeon's wings what are they looking for within the flight feathers sorry if this is a daft question but your answers will help me out loads.

There is a lot to see in a pigeon's wing, the shape of the primary and secondary flights can tell a bit about a pigeon's potential.
However in that picture I was just trying to look like I know what I am doing.
I'm just off outside to give them their breakfast but I might comment a bit more later.

Hi Tony,
The wing of a racing pigeon can be of great interest, and offer some indication of it's potential, or possibly lack of. But one must be aware that a pigeon is more than just wings. It is the sum of all of it's physical parts, plus the invisible bits, like character and determination.
You could write pages and pages about wing shape, this is not the place, obviously. There is plenty of information and one source I recommend is the book Born to win, by Dr Wim Peters. Published in South Africa in 2000 it is a small goldmine of information. You might find a copy online somewhere.

Any healthy pigeon has two wings and is capable of flying. Therefore it is worth training. As jockey I learned that some of the most unlikely looking young horses turn out to be good ones. They all deserve a chance.

I have a pair of stock pigeons which produce little blue chequer white flights in every nest. They all have little short wings. Not ideal, you would say, but from one pair, the cock, 580 won a 50 mile race at the start of the season, the sister, 581, went to another loft and was first clocked from 100 miles, was first from 300 miles on a tough headwind day, then went 500 miles to be pigeon of the year in that club.
Another sister, 569, named Free Beer, went to a One Loft race and flew the program, ending in two 420 mile races two weeks apart. We were looking for head winds, but got blow homes both times, not ideal for a little hen with little wings.

Now, you would not be aiming to breed pigeons of that "type", but they are what they are, not physically perfect but loaded with determination. Last season every week one of them would pop up on a result somewhere.

There is no "perfect" wing. One type of wing will excel in a strong tail wind, another type on a head wind day. Some will win short races, others long distance. Even a pigeon with a "wrong' wing can win if it's in super health and fit.

There are all sorts of "theories", eye sign, wing theory, throat theory, and there is absolutely some merit in all of them. But I hardly look at any of them. I believe in feet sign. The one whose feet hit the landing board first is the best one.

Thanks for clearing that up Murray and I'm glad you said you don't bother looking at the wings no more as I wouldn't know what to look for so if you don't bother and from what you have said I don't need to bother. As you say it is the first bird on the landing board to clock in.
all the best Murray and I will have a look for that boot.
If you know of any other books out there that might help me out and worth a read let me know please.

I agree with you Murray. Winners come in all shapes and sizes. My best pigeon is nothing much to look at or handle, nothing special about him. But he certainly has something and if had another half a dozen like him I’d be happy.

Thanks Andy

Well said lads but I'm sure you all have one or two little fads that you would look for if you were buying birds in.
I know I have a certain criteria (fads) that I like to see in a bird that makes it worthy of a place in your loft.
Some are in the wing and some are in the tail.
Yes they are fads and I totally agree that you can't see inside their heads and their hearts.

Thanks Dave, I'll just be glad to get the late bred birds in next month, I know they will only be very young birds so it'll be me getting use to them and them getting use to me and the set up.
Can I just ask, on feed for young birds what would be the best to get in for them
do they stay on the same feed for a while
how much do I feed them and is it morning and night or just one feed a day
anything in the water or just fresh water
Thanks all