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Picking mates.
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2026 9:20 am
by Murray
I mentioned on a different thread that I have a cock bird off imported Eijerkamp pigeons. Stunning blue pigeon, bred down off Eijerkamp's National winners.
But he's a bit fragile, a bit flighty and nervous. Probably bred into him.
He was paired to my Free Beer last year, the youngsters go alright, but something is not right.
So I've put him with an inbred Heremans hen, sister of the Big Heremans cock who was father of 153, who was third in the Horsham Open race the other day. Very fast pigeons.
I think this is half the trick. It's like breeding racehorses.
The Eijerkamp cock is not leaving pigeons that win at a distance. That's why he was sent to me. But I think that paired to something a bit speedy he might leave fast pigeons. He has that edgy look about him.
I reckon picking your pigeons is more important than pedigrees.
Re: Picking mates.
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2026 12:24 pm
by Devo1956
I have just come back from my mates loft, I took young Scott to get some more birds. He picked up some nice birds, combine, Fed winners and a very nice hen out of the North west Grand Nat winner. She is a fed winner too. he will have a great foundation in his loft. He will have one more visit, then he will have 6 pairs of top quality birds. A great start for him.
Re: Picking mates.
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2026 12:26 pm
by Rdhd Danny
@devo definitely a fantastic start
Re: Picking mates.
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2026 12:38 pm
by Devo1956
Rdhd Danny wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2026 12:26 pm
@devo definitely a fantastic start
Yes Danny, He picked up 6 today. The 2 gold dust cocks he got last week, so he has 6 top quality cocks and 2 hens. So next visit Brian will pick out 4 hens for him.
Re: Picking mates.
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2026 1:23 pm
by Buster121
Devo1956 wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2026 12:24 pm
I have just come back from my mates loft, I took young Scott to get some more birds. He picked up some nice birds, combine, Fed winners and a very nice hen out of the North west Grand Nat winner. She is a fed winner too. he will have a great foundation in his loft. He will have one more visit, then he will have 6 pairs of top quality birds. A great start for him.
Well done on helping him, I hope he ends up with a loft full of winners
Re: Picking mates.
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2026 1:30 pm
by Devo1956
Buster121 wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2026 1:23 pm
Devo1956 wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2026 12:24 pm
I have just come back from my mates loft, I took young Scott to get some more birds. He picked up some nice birds, combine, Fed winners and a very nice hen out of the North west Grand Nat winner. She is a fed winner too. he will have a great foundation in his loft. He will have one more visit, then he will have 6 pairs of top quality birds. A great start for him.
Well done on helping him, I hope he ends up with a loft full of winners
Buster they are top quality birds, I only wish i was taking them home.
Re: Picking mates.
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2026 1:35 pm
by king
Murray wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2026 9:20 am
I mentioned on a different thread that I have a cock bird off imported Eijerkamp pigeons. Stunning blue pigeon, bred down off Eijerkamp's National winners.
But he's a bit fragile, a bit flighty and nervous. Probably bred into him.
He was paired to my Free Beer last year, the youngsters go alright, but something is not right.
So I've put him with an inbred Heremans hen, sister of the Big Heremans cock who was father of 153, who was third in the Horsham Open race the other day. Very fast pigeons.
I think this is half the trick. It's like breeding racehorses.
The Eijerkamp cock is not leaving pigeons that win at a distance. That's why he was sent to me. But I think that paired to something a bit speedy he might leave fast pigeons. He has that edgy look about him.
I reckon picking your pigeons is more important than pedigrees.
To be honest Murray if I had a bird and thought 'he's a bit fragile, a bit flighty and nervous' I wouldn't breed off him, no matter how well he was bred. As you said yourself, it was probably bred into him. Don't you think by breeding off him you are just passing this fault into his offspring? nervous, bad trappers, breed nervous bad trappers. And the more generations it is allowed to happen the longer it will take to remove this trait.
Re: Picking mates.
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2026 2:31 pm
by Rdhd Danny
I agree with @king those traits "fragile flighty and nervous" are not character traits I allow to stay around and definitely don't see the breeding loft @murray
Re: Picking mates.
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2026 2:46 pm
by Tony-P-
well done Devo on taking the lad to get some good quality birds mate, that will set him up for breeding some nice quality Y/Bs for next year.
Next time you go see if your mate has a spar Hen as I have a spar stock Cock I know cheeky gitt but if you don't ask and all that mate
Re: Picking mates.
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2026 2:51 pm
by Devo1956
Tony-P- wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2026 2:46 pm
well done Devo on taking the lad to get some good quality birds mate, that will set him up for breeding some nice quality Y/Bs for next year.
Next time you go see if your mate has a spar Hen as I have a spar stock Cock I know cheeky gitt but if you don't ask and all that mate
No problem Tony, I will get Brian to sort one out for you.
