cokacola

I guess it depends, some do, some don't probably. I know a man in my club's best ever bird was a Gay Pied hen. On the other hand, some people advise that they are easy targets for hawks.

Very nice, I do like Gay pieds

ok guys, I'l update Here's how they are looking now:

The rings from my club are "N" rings, which are not national rings. Tariq.

Great, that's what I was looking for! Cheers!

Ok, so Gay Pieds are the ones with lots of white, cool. I'v seen the expert village videos before ;D

What exactly are the defining characteristics of a "Gay Pied" as opposed to a normal pied? I know that gay pieds tend to have a lot of white. Cheers! Tariq.

Thinking about it, I guess it probably depends on whether the birds can fly or not, perhaps I should keep young birds which can fly in abit longer? Though I am aware that eventually they become so strong on the wing that I could lose them.

I should be getting my first young birds soon from some very kind fanciers who have offered to help me out, prior to my first season. I also have a couple of my own to wean in a couple of weeks. I was wondering though, with the birds that have been bred by other fanciers, do I still have to keep them in for 3 weeks as is standard for breaking pigeons, or can I begin to train young birds sooner than this, as they are young and have never seen outside? Also people often refer to "getting them in" by this I am guessing they mean that the birds respond to the owners call, have you any tips for getting pigeons to trap as soon as they are called? Regards Tariq.

:)Thanks everyone, I'l keep you updated with their progress

I wonder what the big secret is, I havn't seen many fancy breeders websites from the UK with pages about these breeds. I think that whilst being an aquired taste, some of these birds can be quite interesting to look at.

I only have 1 stock pair, and a spair hen as I lost her cock :-/ However that one remaining stock pair have bred, so I have my first 2 ybs for my first season! Introducing these two little delbar cross babies.

Yes, Cheers Jason - Good luck to everyone!

Ah right, so people are working with them then. They were very common in Pet Shops when I visited the middle east, I don't hear much of them here though. Tariq.

Just purely out of interest as I seem to see very little talk of these breeds, do many people keep them in the UK? Tariq.

They look great, good luck for this season

They look great, good luck for this season

Thanks for all you replies ;D Beauty Homer - Thanks Alot. Tariq.

Thanks everyone, PCJ that's an interesting list Timbarra: Yes, definately more interested in them winning than their colour, was just curious as I think probably is natural for a first ever breeding Regards Tariq.

Thanks guys, really helpful. Tariq.

Yeh that's right, but is the alelle for lack of colour dominant or recessive, I'm trying to work out if I'l get Mealy white Flights or Mealy Pieds. Anyone done a similar breeding before? Anyone bred Blue to Mealy and did you get 2 mealys? quite excited as this is my only stock pair. Tariq.

I currently have a nice Blue White-Flight Cock with a nice Mealy hen and they have eggs. As I understand it, Red is dominant and as they are both "barred" rather than chequered, am I right to think I will get 2 mealys from this breeding? Also how is white inherited, is it dominant or recessive?

This cock has been missing about 10 days now, he's a blue cock that was lost from my home in Newport S.Wales, I think probably he got eaten as he was loyal to his hen, but I'm gutted as I was hoping to breed from my 2 pairs, and now I only have 3 birds, another pair and his hen. His hen is going mad. Let me know if you spot him! Tariq.

That looks fantastic!

Thanks everyone, it works too! Scott - if you google it, you should come up with quite a few results, basically the cocks and hens have different shaped heads/different behaviour. I havn't got any eggs from my stock pair yet, not sure when they're going to go to nest. I really can't wait to get some young birds into my loft and start training them!