White toe nails

[CHARLTON34]

A lot of my best birds (say maybe 7 of the best 10) all went to the same buyer in the NW of England.

so have the buyer carried on winning with those introductions since Mike .

[king]

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 prefer birds with white toe nails, makes clipping their nails safer. As for pairing never given it a thought. But colour wise I avoid pied to pied or white grizzle to white grizzle as they only produce birds that are more white.

[king]

I prefer birds with white toe nails, makes clipping their nails safer. As for pairing never given it a thought. But colour wise I avoid pied to pied or white grizzle to white grizzle as they only produce birds that are more white.

I guess that's where we differ then really King

See, if my best cock was a Pied and my best hen was also a Pied I'd have no hesitation in putting them together

Might they breed even prettier? Very probably

But if the offspring were winning I'd happily have one looking like Mr Blobby if it was a real good pigeon.

Genetic & performance wise it not a problem. And you're right a good pigeon can't be a bad colour. I remember going to LPW in the early 70s and they still had the old 'Snowball' family, in the days before they had single pens. There was a section full of these gay blue pieds, they looked like seagulls on a cliff face.
My birds breed the odd pied or w/f, but their more w/f with a bit of white around the head.

[Bowbroom]

White toe nails? Really?

[Bowbroom]

What should I Google Neil?

[king]

White toenails on pigeons are often a genetic trait, caused by the expression of the pied bald gene (pi gene), which leads to a lack of pigmentation. This can occur in any pigeon, regardless of its feather color, as the gene can be carried in a pigeon's background genetics and expressed in the toenails even without visible white feathers. The presence of white toenails can indicate a strong genetic lineage, especially in racing pigeons, where it's sometimes associated with champion breeders. Causes and meaning Genetic expression: The pied bald gene (\(pi\)) suppresses pigmentation wherever it is expressed, resulting in white nails .Carried but not expressed: A pigeon can carry the \(pi\) gene without it appearing on its feathers or nails, or it can be expressed on only the nails and not the feathers. Inheritance: A pigeon with white toenails may have inherited the gene from its parents, even if they don't show any signs of it themselves. Association with champion breeders: In racing pigeon circles, white toenails are sometimes seen as an indicator of a strong genetic background, with some champion breeders having white toenails. Appearance Full white: Some pigeons may have all-white toenails. Mixed: It's also common to see a mix of black and white on a single toenail, or some toes that are white and others that are black.No white feathers: A pigeon can have entirely white toenails but show no other white feathers on its body. 

[Bowbroom]

Could you tell me what to look for and where please I’m always prepared to look at any ideas that could have a bearing on my varied pigeon breeding interests

[king]

Could you tell me what to look for and where please I’m always prepared to look at any ideas that could have a bearing on my varied pigeon breeding interests

Theory as far as I know is if you have say a blue or cheq with white toe nails if has potential to be a breeder
It in Mikes case a racer
I was told some years back if you like two pigeons but only can take one take the ones with the white toes if you can find them that is
I just did a search to remind myself one guy on South Africa came up and the American guy mentioned it

I totally disagree with this theory Neil. It's one I've never heard before. I've chosen birds on colour before, but not on toe nail colour. I've posted the reason why some pigeons have white toe nails. It's genetic, it's related to the birds colour. A birds colour is NOT related to performance or breeding potential.
White toe nails in a plain blue or cheq just indicates the bird may breed w/fs or pieds without being one themselves. Birds with black toe nails can also breed w/fs and pieds.
Some of my stock birds have white toe nails some don't, I only prefer the white ones because, it's the stock birds nails I have to trim now and then and being able to see the blood vain makes that much safer to do.

[Anthony webster]

Known about it for years never looked at it loads
My no1 family are mainly cheqs or red cheqs 7 out of 10 will have white toe nails n it's blue cheqs that have em not counted the reds ,,my other family's don't really have many with white toe nails I expect pied n meleys n so on to have white toe nails .

[justalad982]

Neil..look up Jap van allsen....think he made reference to birds with white beaks/toe nails in one of his old y/yube posts