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SAHPA 2016 Year Book Page 20
My strain of birds is a direct result of selective breeding for distance performance over a
number of years with the main influences being five pigeons as noted above.
The stock has definitely improved. Five years ago I removed all non consistent breeders from
my stock and concentrated on birds mainly from the five birds mentioned above and I have
noticed improvement each year. I would go to Trevor Grillett and borrow proven birds that
had raced the current season. I would than mate them to my family and race all the
youngsters. If any of these youngsters performed they would then be introduced
Pairing is done at the completion of racing.- usually early to mid October. No more than 100
are bred each year.
Stock sense is a skill learned.
I do breed off older birds until they stop producing performing youngsters
The loft
Approx 9 metres long, 2.5 metres deep, 2
metres high divided into 5 sections with the
trap facing North East. I keep around 120
pigeons to start racing but have 280
perches available. Stall trap with bob
wires.
General training and racing
I definitely place more value on the slow
race winner. Birds are never separated.
Towards the end of the season they are
often raced to eggs. I try not to de-motivate
them by allowing them to nest and not
force flying them. I try to achieve
condition by regular tossing.
I like mid to long distance races - anything above 400 km and probably on the east line. I
look at the breeding and the race / training form to select my race birds.
All birds are tossed at least twice a week from around 70km. Birds are exercised once a day
for 45 mins to an hour depending on my
work commitments. They are not forced to
fly but are locked out for this period. This
year due to unforeseen circumstances the
birds had their first toss on Wednesday
from 60km prior to racing on the Saturday.
Normally I would like to start 5 weeks
prior to the first race at 15km, than 25km
for about three tosses than onto 60km.
Later in the season from about 75km.
Exercise is once a day, usually in the
morning – depending on the peregrines.
All birds are trained together but the late
breds are raced only later in the season
with their first race often at 400km. I
definitely prefer hens for the distance races
and cocks for the early short to mid
distance races. Some birds are definitely
smarter than others.
Blue Bar Hen BH-2014-351 1 - First Kyancutta (575km),
First Cobar (418km) and First Nyngan Produce (546km)
Blue Bar Hen BH-2014-1299
First Delungra Championship (930km) – winning
margin 2.5 hours, Second Nyngan Produce (546km)
and flewNundroo (871km) as a yearling.