MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Location: file:///C:/D05654F3/Whattolookforinaloftbeforeyoubuytheirbirds.htm Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" What to look for in a loft before you buy their birds

What to Look for in a = Loft before You Buy its Birds

By: Bob Prisco

 

Taiwan Fanciers import thousands of birds every year, = hoping to find the right birds to handle the difficult and challenging style of the country’s young bird racing.  The selection process varies for each buyer or fancier.  Some use eye sign, body type, race records, special strains, pedigrees and ancestry to determine which birds to buy.  The rivalry and competit= ion among fanciers is great.  What= type of pigeon will it take to win the glory, fame and large prizes that every o= wner seeks?  Each fancier has many different ideas and theories about what qualities he needs in his pigeons to gain the fame and fortune.

 

I have always believed you should select the correct l= oft / seller first and then which birds to buy.&= nbsp; The fancier should look for certain requirements or results from a l= oft first.  If the loft has everyt= hing he is looking for, then he should look at the selection of birds the loft h= as for sale.  Here is a 10 point = check list that each loft should have before you consider buying birds to import = for the unique, tough style of racing in Taiwan:

 

  1.   These birds must have shown a hist= ory of successful young bird racing in the past.&= nbsp; The loft we seek must have a family of birds that it has bred for years.  Generation after gener= ation of young bird winners is the key.  We believe in the simple principle of genetics, “Heredity is handed down from one generation to the next”.  Genetics also has proven “LI= KES BREED LIKES”.

     

    1.   T= hey must fly on natural ability and self-motivation at this age.  This mental maturity and intellige= nce is overlooked many times, and not even considered by many fanciers when buying birds.  Birds flown on the “natural system” develop their own intelligence, orientation, navigation ability, motivation, determination, desire and heart.  Lofts that consistently breed gene= ration after generation from pigeons that possess these internal qualities intensi= fy and fix these characteristics in their birds, so they will reproduce themse= lves in their youngsters year after year.

       

      1.   If this loft has been successful o= n this type course for several years, then its pigeons have no trouble finding the most direct and easiest routes home, and they are able to adjust to differe= nt types of weather conditions, similar to those in Taiwan.

         

        1. &nb= sp; It is more important to know the various speeds and distances of the races than it is to place the emphasis on the position that the bird finish= ed or the number of birds it competed against.  The bird’s ability to handle different types of weather conditions and its endurance ability to fly spee= ds necessary to compete with the leaders of the race shows the type of versati= lity needed to win in Taiwan.  The = chance of producing the birds we desire is greater by breeding the same qualities together.  That is why a famil= y of birds is important, because it has been proven and selected for years to produce the same results.

           

          1.   Each bird must be an individual thinker, not a follower.  When a loft has a difficult location off the line of direct flight, = the birds must be intelligent and have the compass, homing instinct, navigation skills and confidence to fly by themselves or alone for long distances.  If a pigeon cannot home individual= ly, how can you expect it to win?  In many countries, birds fly in so-called “bowling alleys”.   All of the birds stay close together on a narrow course or valley and just follow each other.  These birds do not navigate home, = but just stay straight.  The faste= st ones win.  They cannot get lost because there is only one way to fly home.=   The course is over a flat terrain, and speed is the only quality that they possess.  These types of = birds (bowling alley birds) are of no use to the Taiwan fancier.  Not all birds have the ability to = adjust to various conditions and speeds during a race.  Many are suited and bred for just = one type of race and cannot handle changing conditions over the racecourse. The= se birds are easily lost.

             

            1.   Birds that have flown various distances at wide ranges of speeds and won, show the birds ability to handle different types of weather conditions= and their endurance ability to fly week after week.  When lofts win these awards every = year it shows that they have birds that have a strong history of successful young bird racing, generation after generation of young bird results in tough hard races at distances of 100-350 miles.  Lofts that win the big money races, futurities and large numbers of = diplomas every year can show you the results.  We do not have to spend large sums of money to buy the CHAMPIONS of = the loft, because many times the champion is not as good a breeder as its broth= er, sister, cousin, grandchildren, etc. Over the years we have raced or bred ov= er 50 champions, many were great breeders, but many were not.  However, their brothers, sisters or other close relatives were great breeders.=   That is why we want the bloodlines of the fancier’s loft, with great success generation after generation.=   You never know what pair will produce the champion this year, because they all have the potential and the bloodlines to breed success.

               

              1.   Loses are = few, and their birds are very dependable on race day.  Their birds do not quit when condi= tions get tough.  These birds will b= e able to stay in flight for several hours non-stop, possibly as long as 10 plus hours.  They think clearly and= make the correct decisions when tired and fatigued.  These types of birds possess vigor, strength, stamina and the endurance to fly a series of races in a short per= iod of time.  They need the fierce competitiveness of a great athlete to endure such mental and physical conditions week after week.  A= loft that breeds birds for “ QUALITY over QUANTITY” has a family of birds with success. We are not looking for a loft that raises 100-300 young birds every year, with the hopes of getting one or two good pigeons in their lofts.  The loft that breeds l= arge numbers of birds is breeding “just feathers” and “numbers”, with no special breeding program or family.

                 

                1.   Th= ere can be no sound foundation without it.&nbs= p; Healthy pigeons produce healthy young that will race well.  It is a known fact that Performance Enhancing Drugs in racing pigeons will cause the following side effects and health problems:

                   

                  PREMATURE STERILITY, LACK OF ADEQUATE FEATHERING, IMMU= NE SYSTEM BREAK DOWN, SUDDEN DEATH, SHORTENING OF THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THE B= IRD BY SEVERAL YEARS, LOSS OF EFFECTIVE BREEDING POTENTIAL AND DAMAGE TO THE LI= VER AND KIDNEYS.

                   

                  With the use of drugs, we know that the bird did not accomplish these records with his own ability.  The buyer expects the birds he buy= s to produce sound healthy birds.  = This breeding potential and the expectations to produce strong racing stock for = the buyer will never happen because of the performance enhancing drugs the loft= has used, past and present.  “BUYER BEWARE” is important advice to all buyers.  To spend thousands of dollars and countless hours on birds that have no potential to produce quality offsprin= g, and that weaken your breeding program for years, is foolish.  Know your seller.  Understand his style of racing, an= d what is legal and illegal in his country.  Investigate how the bird achieved its race record and under what conditions.  YOU MUST FEEL THE FANCIER IS HONEST, FREE FROM SUSPICION AND DOES NOT USE PERFORMANCE ENHANCI= NG DRUGS TO ACHIEVE HIS RESULTS BEFORE YOU BUY HIS BIRDS.  If you buy from a fancier that uses performances enhancing drugs, you are going to be very disappointed in the birds you breed and have many drug related side effects.

                   

                  1. =   These race results and special accomplishments should be recent.  We want a fancier that has a histo= ry of selling good quality birds from the bloodlines that are winning for him tod= ay and in the past.  We want to b= uy the bloodlines of the family of birds he has bred for years.  Generation after generation of win= ners is the key.  The names and str= ains of the birds are really not important, just the best birds and the desired results.  The best performance= lofts never worry about the name of the family or strains of the birds, they breed for results from the best birds.  It is very important to always go to the original fancier or source for your birds.  He has a good and hone= st reputation.  The integrity of = his good name and his birds is always more important than the money.  You cannot buy an honest reputatio= n you must earn it.  It is very impo= rtant to a loft and its owners / sellers to keep their good name.

                     

                    1. &nbs= p; You should receive this special attention from all involved with the loft and never be pressured into buying the birds or made to feel uncomfort= able during negotiations.  Seek out= a loft that takes pride in being a true ambassador for the sport, one that always = has made itself available to all who may need assistance, information, advice a= nd that shares its experience and good birds.

                       

                      Be patient and find the loft that meets all of the abo= ve requirements before you invest your money.=   Keep your mind clear and buy on information and results, not emotion= and fancy advertisements.  This wi= ll ensure you the best opportunity for success.