Article Provided by Bob Prisco
In both the racing and breeding loft the true value of a pigeon will be found only by actual results (good and bad), either by flying or by the quality of the young it produces. If a bird cannot help you to improve your results in the flying or breeding loft, it is of no value to you and you should cull it.
Remember, you must stay focused on your goals. There are only two kinds of birds: GOOD ONES that can help you improve and BAD ONES that will cost you time, money and aggravation with negative results. When deciding to cull or cut back, forget all about names, fancy pedigrees, strains, cost, feelings (yours or others); just look at the results. IF THE BIRD CAN HELP YOU MOVE AHEAD AND IMPROVE YOUR RESULTS, IT STAYS, IF NOT IT GOES. NO EXCUSES OR SECOND CHANCES, CULL IT.
I know there will be an occasional bird that you will cull that could of helped you, but believe me you will cull 99 bad ones for every 1 you should have kept if you cull hard based strictly on results.
To purchase flying kits or potential breeders always seek out lofts with the same goals as yours and recent good results. Request birds with the types of qualities you are looking for to improve your own loft. Many famous fanciers and strains are known for specific performance, such as short distance specialists, middle distances, long distances, etc. These fanciers have developed their birds to adapt to their style of training, conditions in their area, and distances in which they wish to compete, whether it is old birds, young birds or both. These birds are specialty birds that excel at specific distances and conditions. They can be a great help to improve your loft in ares where you are not having success.
Remember, if you are looking for long distance bloodlines to improve your race results, you do not buy a family of birds famous for its sprint or short distance ability. I know this sounds silly and foolish to mention, but many times fanciers buy birds because of their popularity and fame, not their known proven ability. This leaves them with little chance to improve their own birds if they introduce the wrong birds into their lofts.
I have always believed in the basic principles of genetics, “Heredity is handed down from one generation to the next”, and “Likes breed likes”. Thus, to breed for speed birds you should breed speed to speed. If you are looking for long distance birds, you breed distance birds to distance bloodlines. However, there is one other factor, quality or trait that seems to be very noticeable in racing pigeons that fanciers sometimes ignore in their breeding program, that being “TOUGH WEATHER BIRDS”. Whether the races are short or long, some birds possess the ability to fly successfully in all kinds of conditions and weather. Others are only successful when conditions are perfect and fast. This toughness quality is a very important characteristic that you should look for and breed for at any distance when selecting breeders. Cull those birds that do not possess this toughness or produce it in their children.
BRIEF SUMMARY: CULL MEANS REGARDLESS OF BLOODLINES, STRAINS, COST OR ORIGIN, YOU MUST ELIMINATE ALL BIRDS FROM THE RACE TEAM OR BREEDING LOFT THAT ARE GIVING YOU BAD RESULTS AND PREVENTING YOU FROM IMPROVING.
Cull any birds that are not of superior health and any breeders that do not produce strong, healthy young. Cull any birds if they are hard to settle and manage. Cull any birds that do not loft fly and train easily. Cull any birds that cannot keep up with the rest of the team and appear to have no excuse for being late. Check your records, if this is a common problem with several birds from a particular pair, then they must go. Cull any pair in which you have heavy losses each year or poor homing ability. Cull any flyers that after 2 years have not finished consistently in the top 10% of their races. Cull any pair that has not produced good racers even though their young are not lost. Cull all birds that cannot handle the tough races, regardless of the distance. Cull all birds with poor recovery periods that cannot race over 50% of the race schedule.
As you cull and eliminate birds, you look to keep and breed from the best. Three or four pair of proven stock birds can take a fancier a long way in a race season and many through years to come. THE OLD SAYING “QUALITY IS BETTER THEN QUANTITY” IS DEFINITELY TRUE WITH RACING PIGEONS. The only way to achieve the quality and results you need is to set your goals, stay focused on those goals and cull all birds that cannot help you attain your goals and desired results.
by cull do you mean kill
Yes, that’s essentially what “culling” means – hopefully, done in the most humane way possible.
Very informative with the culling. However, I’ve noticed some strain of birds would mature faster than some strains. I could recall that I had a blue cock, he had a box and mate and not for hell he would race home. He would come back the next day, or very late in the evening. Of course he ended up as pet meat.