AT HOME WITH ELIMAR

What's happening in the loft this week

with Les J. Parkinson

Years ago for club racing there was no point in leaving the pigeons at home because I only raced the club and the birdage was good. In the modern day of racing pigeons they don’t have too many outings because they are prepared for specific races as an alternative to sending them week in week out. If we were just club racing then I see no reason why a pigeon should not be able to go more or less right through the programme to 400mls or if they are going to Niort leave them at home for the previous week. If the constitution of a pigeon is good then there is no reason why it should not more or less complete a club programme. Our own pigeons are now prepared for specific races and that is the way we prefer to do it, if they don’t come then the question has to be asked “Why not”. First of all you can take a good look at the pigeon on its return to see if there is any damage. Then if it is all right and handles well you can look at the preparation to see if something has not been done right and then of course the weather en-route after all anything can go wrong over a 500ml or so distance. One thing is for sure we make mistakes in life so why cant a pigeon. The next time the same pigeon makes a mistake you check and make sure that you had everything right and then if it does not do its job then it has to go. No one can spend their time preparing a pigeon that is always going to let them down. Rest is very important when you are preparing pigeons for the National races because you don’t just pluck one off the perch and send it, you prepare it to do a job. If it was a case of just sending them without any additional care and attention the big club winners would also win the National FC races but as we are all aware that does not happen.  

This is the time of year when many fanciers start to increase the feed to their birds on a heavier mixture because of the preparation for the longer races but that should not be the case. For many years we used Versele-Lage super widowhood all the year round and the only addition for the breeders would have been a few additional peas with a touch of pellets. All our birds were given supplements because we believe that they all need to be healthy. Before going onto what we use and how we do it I must once again stress that other companies do make a good range of products, these are what we use. Over the years we have tried most of the supplements on the market and are always trying something new that may appear, that is the only way that you will keep abreast of what is happening on the health front. In 1999 we used Comed and nothing else, then in 2000 we moved over to the new products on the scene from Interlabo. Where there is anything to do with pigeons you must keep an open mind if you are going to take your pigeons forward. We then moved back to the Comed range and our pigeons never ailed and always appeared to be in the best of health and that also applies to when we changed to the Interlabo range. Do not be fooled by winning fanciers who say they use nothing, we have met such fanciers but they prefer to keep what they are doing to themselves. To be honest there really are no secrets to winning with pigeons, it’s just common sense and hard work; anyone can win with pigeons if they try hard enough. In weeks gone by I stated that we have used only one brand and for the last few seasons and they are the Bifs range and are very pleased with them. We now use the full range as recommended by the Bifs Company. If you are to keep your pigeons in perfect health then you must keep them on a regular system and stick to the recommendations. When a company produces a range of products they are perfected to work together and bringing in any other product defeats the object of getting the best out of the pigeons. There are several good ranges about, you choose the one that you prefer and stick to it for that year and you may find another product for another year so you must keep an open mind. I was talking to a fancier who uses the range of products from the editor and is pleased with them and he like me sticks to that range. Fanciers use a range for their own reasons and they are always different. I use Bifs because the vet who produces them is a friend of mine and through many visits I have faith in what he does. I am a firm believer that products used correctly will get your pigeons home from the harder races much easier.

The corn has also changed over the years for instance in the 2003 season we used the Gaby Vandenabeele mix for all racing and I mean all from beginning of the old bird season to end and the young birds. I have stuck to that kind of mix ever since and been pleased with it. I also like to use Red Band every morning during the racing but mix it in with the corn out of season. Because I expect them, to go right through the programme I do not break them down at anytime of the year, I always give what I consider is the best of everything. They need feeding just as well in winter as summer; pigeons need looking after 365 days of the year. It's surprising how many fanciers will have a good season and for no apparent reason will not be seen again on the prize list for a few years and they wonder why, it is generally down to the way the pigeons are being looked after. Any loft can have a good season but when it comes to keeping it up the birds need looking after all year round and they will respond year after year. What you will find is that when the birds are in good condition they will eat less and that is why they the old bird racers are fed in their own box. We also take care with certain pigeons because some will require that little bit more than others, not because they are greedy but because their body make up needs it. Another point is that Seed Company’s make mixtures for a reason and that is not so that a particular pigeon can eat maize alone, a balanced diet makes a difference. What else do I like to use at this time of the year, well there are always peanuts at hand and I do mean at hand because I am always handing them out from my pocket. These are used because of their storage food value for the longer races. What I will add is that I watch them eat before giving them too many because I don’t want them thinking if they leave the corn they will get more peanuts pigeons are not stupid. I have never really measured the amount they are fed; more a case of working on what I feel the individual requires to be at it’s best. As already mentioned I do like to feed them individually in their boxes and have done so many times but on the other hand we have also fed them in a communal hopper. The one point that I always consider is that when you feed them as individuals you can make sure that they will get a better mix of food and not just picking out what they want. It is also handy to tell you when they are in better condition because when they are right they will eat less. Some pigeons will eat far more than others, some are just plain greedy so fed as individuals is always going to be the better option. When you feed peanuts they really do need to be of good quality, the red skins being my preferred option. If the peanuts are not of the best quality you are inviting trouble into your loft so make sure they are right. With the increase in distance it is this time of year when the users increase how many they allow each pigeon to have, the greater the distance the more they get.

Everything that you give to the pigeon is important and because I have one aim then they do get away with a bit more. At one time I used to put grit and minerals in occasionally but what happens when you do that they gorge themselves and many bring it back up which is no good to them whatsoever. I leave a mixed pot in front of them all the time now and they only go to it when they think their body needs it. By the way it is not the same pot as I only put so much in and change it on a regular basis.

The trainer (Elizabeth) has done a good job with some good training tosses and even though I say it myself they have been coming very well, perhaps I better give her a rise. While Elizabeth is away I have had the opportunity to go around the loft and do anything that I think is needed even spraying the lofts or burning them out. These little things are important and need to be kept on top of and this is a time when I can take on such tasks. We shall also be thinking of the first race with the NFC on the 24th so a few things will be changed to suit over the next 10 days. There are also the BICC Nationals that we want to have a go at and next weekend sees the clubs second race from Falaise and we are hoping to send. With the new Northern section the club has now become the next big National to the National FC where anyone in the country can compete, which is what makes it so exciting.

Les.J.Parkinson, Elimar, 11 Rushton Drive, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10 ONJ. Tel/Fax; 01606 836036. Mobile 07871 701585 les.Parkinson@btinternet.com or Elimar.pigeons@btinternet.com web-site www.elimarpigeons.com