getting started
Getting Started Breeding Show
Pigeons
by Guido Madrusan
The first step you must establish a good home for your pigeons (The Loft), it does not have to be fancy, but it must have several key points. #1 Must be predator proof, #2 Try to face it south so plenty of sunshine can be enjoyed by your birds, and also will keep the floor dry preventing sickness.#3 Must be well ventilated, you should not smell the pigeons at any time.#4 Install a fly pen, off the ground with wire bottom. #5 Feeders and water containers must be covered and off the floor to prevent contamination, also feeding and watering will have to be a daily routine, twice a day if possible, also keep your loft clean and dust free. When your loft is completed you will be ready to purchase your first breeding stock. When you decide on the breed you want to raise, contact the top breeders in your area, study the breed standard and go visit as many as you can, ask a lot of questions ,does not matter if you feel they are stupid, any reputable breeder will help you with pleasure if you show genuine interest. Start with two pairs, the best you can buy within your budget. Start with the same color or same color family, example: blue bar, check or grizzle, or recessive red and yellow. Stay away from buying dozens of five dollar birds, quantity does not count in this hobby, quality does! Try to get your new birds in the fall, it will give you the whole winter to gain experience with management of your loft/ birds and also lot of good birds are available at this time of the year at a better price. Learn the basic color genetics, know your dominant and recessives, intense and dilutes, patterns etc. There are some good and simple books in the market, like Axel Sells " Breeding and Inheritance in Pigeons" or Joseph W. Quinn " an Introduction to Pigeon Science". When March comes around you will be ready for your first breeding season, make sure each pair has a nest box, big enough to hold two nest bowls filled with nesting material, shavings, pine needles, hay which ever one is readily available to you. Do not expect instant results the first year, be patient and stick with it, concentrate on the little things , the big things like winning shows will come on their own if you do all the little things right. Inbreeding will be necessary when a novice, you are still evolving that family. Inbreeding should not be practiced for more than one or two generations. Do not be afraid to keep birds for breeding with minor faults, but excel in other features ( Stock Birds). Once your birds start improving in type discard of the older inferior stock instead of breeding it back to better young birds, which would erase the progress you have made. Keep accurate records and pedigrees they will become very useful as you gain experience. And do not forget to have fun.
Guido Madrusan AKTC/NPA Master Breeder.