Pigeons

I make no excuse for being a pigeon fanatic, my eccentricity commenced at an early age and it is not likely that an antidote will be found in time to effect a cure now.

I have been fortunate in having a wife who has always encouraged me rather than interfere in my way of life, for that is what the pigeon fancy has become for me. By far the greatest number of my friends are pigeon fanciers and my admiration of many of them, some long departed is very deep. There is every sign that the affliction is hereditary as my eldest son John has also been bitten by the bug and his sons have their own birds as well. I had pigeons of a sort from the age of 5, mostly Garden Fantails. But in 1947 I was introduced to Archangels, a breed that I kept for over 20 years. I was also attracted to the Holle Cropper after seeing them exhibited at the old Dairy Show in London in 1950 and took up the breed soon after, I was the Holle Cropper Breed Club Secretary from 1964 to 1974 during which time I built up a strong show team which won at most shows in the country. Holle Croppers stayed with me until 1975 when a change of address meant that I could not keep pigeons at the new home.

My Main Loft is a wooden construction which started life a 24 x 6 Racing Pigeon Loft, since then several extensions have been made. It now consists of a 14 x 6 Breeding compartment, two 6 x6 compartments a 8 x 6 compartment a 12 x 6 Penning Room and a 12 x 8 Aviary. The 14 x 6 Breeding compartment houses 16 nest boxes at one end and 9 larger boxes at the other. All boxes are built to the ceiling rather than on the floor, it gives more floor space and I think the bird like it better that way. All compartments can have access to the Aviary together or separately, more often that not it is cocks one day and hens the next, depending on the season. All floors and perches are scraped out daily, I have silver sand or cage bird sand on the floors which are melamine or chip board, the sand is sieved daily and replaced every three of four weeks.

The perches in all lofts are 3inch peg type over a horizontal board at a 45 degree angle, this catches most of the droppings and eliminates any fouling of birds underneath. A 2ft board runs the length of the aviary , I have no other perches in the aviary. The floor is concrete and sanded, the roof is of PVC which overhangs the front sufficiently to keep most of the rain out. The Penning Room which also serves as a corn store has 32 x 17" x 20" solid sided boxes. These serve many purposes, each box has a 1" x 1" twilweld frame under which I put a wad of Newspaper cut to size. also have another Loft which is 12' x12' with 15 large boxes in. this is the breeding loft for the German Modenas and African Owls. All birds are fed a Young Bird mixture to which I add White Dari, and Conditioner seed. I feed once a day in empty Pick Stone pots on the floor, one good hand full in each, one pot for each 3 birds in the compartment, this way I can measure out the feed accurately, The Modenas and Owls eat a little more than the Brunners. I also use P40 pellets in the breeding season fed in a hopper, and also used for the syringe feeding of any youngsters. I use six pint enclosed drinkers, one in each compartment, these get changed every other day, two one day and three another.

I hope that my ridged routine does not put anyone off Fancy Pigeons. You either love em or you don't. Winning at the shows is always nice, but you must enjoy your birds a home, spend time with your birds and handle them regularly, talk to them.

Brunners are a fascinating breed, they can become very tame and are easy to handle. They are a so called Blowing breed that will draw air in to the outer crop, it is a form of courtship action or ritual display. They feed there own young reasonably well and being rather high on the leg will keep their selves clean. There are many colours to choose from, Self colours in White, Black, Red or Yellow,. as well as Pied, Mottle, Gansel marked , Stork marked and Mottle versions of these four colours. There are White barred birds in addition to the Blues, Mealies, and Cream bars. I happen to be the Breed Secretary for my sins, If you are interested do email me tonyglew@ btinternet .com.

White Self. Red Self. Mealy. Black Tiger. Red Shimmel. Black Stork

Picture left is a 2002 bred Black Gazzi Hen that has done particularly

well at the shows this season.

The German Modena

I have only kept the German Modena for four years, they would seem to be in few hands in this country, although of course they are very popular in Germany and Holland.

I think the breed very attractive, easy to keep, far less troublesome than the English Modena. The few of us that show the breed have all shared its success at the shows but find the interpretation of the standard by many of the all round VPC Judges to be rather inconsistent. We select our birds for the shows by the Standard, and expect the better birds to win.

The interpretation of the Standard will always vary , that is what makes showing more interesting. from one judge to another, but I feel that some of the elected judges are following their own ideas of the breed which resembles a small English Modena rather than a German Modena.

The foremost requirement of the German Modena is the type, which has no resemblance the English Modena. A long neck and long legs are required, in fact equal thirds in height. One third Neck, one third Body and one third Leg. The neck should be thin, tapering up to a nicely cut out gullet. Not short and thick like the English. The head should rise quite sharply off a short beak, the head being curved andl showing a nice frontal. The body should not be too deep but nicely rounded and end in a short closed tail that is carried almost level to the back line. The Legs of almost all of our birds are too short, and breeders must bear this in mind when they pair up. but judges must help us by penalizing the obviously short legged ones. Pure Rich Colour is a requirement in the breed, and white flighted Mottles ( or Tigers if you will ) should not be tolerated. Insodently they are not Splashes either. Gazzi type must be correct in markings with no white flights.

Perhaps one day the British Modena Club may consider taking us under its wing. Then we may be able to form our own list of approved Judges, until then we are grateful to the VPC Form judges for taking on our breed , but please take a long look at the Standard first.

2003 Breeding results to-date,

In 1993 I wrote a book called "My Way with Blowers" all about The Brunner Pouter, Holle Cropper and The Voorburg Shield Cropper,

although written with these three breeds in mind, much of the content applies to most breeds of fancy pigeon and will be of interest to

all fanciers. This Book is still available direct from me at a cost of £10.50 including post U.K and E.C.C. countries only.

Other Overseas countries- £18 including post. (Cheque to be drawn on a British Bank). Please Email for further details.

I am now written another book called "A Lifetime with Pigeons", available from 31st July 2003.

Each book is a numbered limited edition of only 100 copies.

It is mainly an autobiography but does contains a lot of information regarding the way that I manage by Pigeons.

It has many coloured photographs and recalls many of the grand fanciers that I have met during my 54 years of Showing Pigeons.

I have written and printed this book myself , and it is only obtainable from direct from me The price is £12.50, including post, U.K only.

Overseas fanciers please contact me for postage rates. Email me to-day for further information. tonyglew@btinternet.com

Don't forget Reading Championship show January 9th-10th