Top performance lofts and their great results are displayed throughout the various racing publications around the world. These fanciers have become famous for their outstanding race achievements as both young bird and old bird flyers. Their training, feeding, health, medication programs, loft design and other techniques have been put on tapes (audio & video), with books written and sold for all to enjoy and learn from the “MASTERS”. “They have opened the doors to their lofts and the secrets to their successes”.

These collectibles cover every aspect of our great sport. Many of the fanciers travel around the world to give seminars on their successful methods and offer advice to all who will listen. These methods to success and fame vary. Some fly the Light System, others the Dark System, Natural System, Widowhood, Double Widowhood, etc.

Their feeding programs and feed types vary even more than their training systems. The medications and additional supplements programs that the “MASTERS” use range from those that contain NO medication to those that require the knowledge of a self proclaimed doctor or veterinarian.

The same broad spectrum of techniques vary from fancier to fancier in loft design, breeding, eye sign, wing theory, old bird racing, etc.

No wonder a new fancier, or even an established one, becomes so confused. There is so much information out there today: tips, tactics, vital secrets, facts and information for success. How do we see, “BEYOND THE HYPE” and “IDENTIFY THE GENUINE TRUTH”, to determine what we really need to know?

You must separate fact from fiction to seek the truth. There must be some things that all these WORLD PROVEN CHAMPIONS have in common to bring respected success year after year. To be sure, without these common ingredients there would be no “WORLD FAME or MASTER TITLE”:

1.A Source of Quality Proven Stock – either from their own breeding loft or someone else’s.
2.A Training System that works for them and their birds;
3.Excellent Health Practices and Loft Hygiene;
4.A Trapping System that is quick and efficient;
5.A Medication System to keep the birds healthy;
6.A Quality Feeding Program and Supplements to aid the birds’ performances; and
7.A Loft that is functional and properly positioned for their locations.
Improving any one of these 7 items will definitely help any fancier. However, it may be necessary to make a few improvements in all 7 areas to create results. You need to take a strong, objective look at each area to see if you can improve your methods.

Beyond the Hype; Identify the Truth By Bob Prisco

Ed: A lot of good information here and I intended to read it with my coffee at my kitchen table but I cannot take a print of part 2 for it doesn't print.. Part 1 did print and I am reading that now and I might have some comments later or not---just wanted you to know that it was not wrote in vain...c.hert

Ed: Well I read the material and must tell you I am not a racing person for I am just too sensitive about pigeons. If any should get lost to a hawk then I would cry....I would really like to know more about the natural system for I am interested in this...and how successful has it been over the years. I have racing friends and have been to one loft races to see the pigeons come home. I do have one pigeon with a pedigree from Belguim and a very good history. So I call this bird Pedigree and it is a male that is about 3 years old. It's a beautiful flyer and a silent one--gorgous blue bar.....My loft is a closed one that houses about 67 pigeons and I have them separated on each side--males on one side and females on the other side. I do this for health reasons for the females to get them out in the sun more and to bath as they wish without being driven by the male to get back to the nest. My loft is 12 feet by 24 feet and my fly pen is about 8 feet by 24 feet jotting out about 5 feet in front which is the bathing area and concrete. My pictures are on webshots and someday I will transfer them to this pigeonchat for you all to see. My pigeons are spoiled to say the least and I take in pigeons that I know need the help. I do not breed and put plastic eggs down but happen to have two oops babies right now. Just wanted to give you some background and my dream would be to open up a pigeon sanctuary supported by a idea of mine that has been laughed at over the years especially from racing people. This dream I realize is just a dream and probley won't happen for I am just getting too old now. I love pigeons and all birdies and over the years little by little I have built up my loft little by little and always wanted to move to a more country place so that I could have my real loft...But now I am enjoying life and would like to know about the natural system and how successful has it been. Thanks for the time in putting the information together and it was nice reading....c.hert

If you are racing your pigeons on the natural system, and a hen and cock show signs of pairing, separate the two for a couple of days and then put them back together for about thirty to 40 minutes just prior to crating them. The hens cycle will be dissrupted because of the separation, and this will delay the laying process. The separation will also increase both pigeons desire for one another. Letting them see one another for just a few minutes before basketing will increase the bond and also strengthen their desire for home.

Here is another natural system tip. When a pair has laid and has been sitting for several days, try adding an egg to the nest every other day until they are sitting on 5 or six eggs. Then take the male pigeon and place him in a box or spare cage so that he cannot see his loft, his mate, or his nest. You should do this the night before basketting. Let me explain,if you basket on Friday night, take the cock away on Thursday night. The female won’t realize that the cock is isn’t there until it is his time to care for the nest the following day. She will be extremely reluctant to leave the nest, or even to eat, because of the added eggs and the fact that her mate is not available to take his turn, so she will become even more attached to the nest than normal. You may have to physically take her from the nest and feed her in a separate box so she can drink and eat.

When I take the female away, if time permits,I like to let the cock into the loft. He will see that his nest is unprotected and will hurry to take his turn on the eggs. I let him settle on the nest for a few minutes and then take him away PRIOR TO allowing his female back into the loft. Both birds will race extra hard to come home to protect those eggs when a question has been put into their minds regarding their responsibility for the nest!

Another trick when racing pigeons on the natural system, when a pair starts to nest, take away one of the mates. This can be either the male or the female, but I like to take out the hen.Let the cock take another mate, and then take out that mate. When shipping day comes,let both females in with the cock for twenty to 30 minutes, but don’t allow the hens to begin a heavy battle because they could lose form. Ship them all to the race. This trick can be used all season long to motivate either or all of the pigeons at different times.

Natural System Racing Tips by Ed Minvielle