Saffer

No Secrrets at all. Good Pigeons, and good pigeons gain. Top pigeons make it very easy, they also stay healthy so they need little medicine. Duiwe, Duiwe, dis al. Geen Muti, maak hulle vlieg. Regards Saffer

Hi ace Does the loft come flat packed for construction? Would it fit into a van? Thanks saffer

Jack Point taken, I lived in SA, hence my name Saffer. But lets face it, everyone has good races, some years more than others. The key to this game is been consistant, hence I have always had a few fantastic races a season. But it takes alittle more to get overall Champ. But having a few races, is not enough to substaciate a method. Widowhood, is a summer concept, we race in winter. Celibate cocks and hens, have the identicle results, this I have tried and tested, not for 2 racing seasons, but 5. Different pairing dates, different feeding, different rearing and not rearing.Different pigeons, all makes no difference. Once it showed promise in the season of 1995, when saving and pairing cocks and racing widowhood in September or Spring. But then again with the murderous programmes in SA, anyone with Fresh pigeons in September would do this. With my afinity to South Africa, It is common knowledge that no consistantly winning Fed or Union chamipion is using this method. Remi Pluym, from Belgium, in the VPU is the only fancier to my knowlede that races this system with any sucess. Regards Saffer

In reality Jack. Can you name one club champion, or Federation champion, who races Widowhood in South Africa?. To follow on, surely a measure of sucess needs to be reached before saying widowhood can be flown like our Northern Hemisphere counterparts. Did these methods allow you to win lets say over 50 races in your time racing there? The results you quote are from Canada, Northern Hemisphere? Can you please do the same for the Southern Hemisphere? Not trying to argue, but just looking for some substance to that Quote. Regards saffer

In widowhood teams, yes feed can be judged. With Youngbird teams and any of the countries racing teams of over 80 pigeons it becomes impossible to get an exact measure. Food type also makes a huge difference, mates of mine race in the Southern Hemisphere and are using imported food, Mariman. They could not see the sheet, until they realised you feed far less of the imported stuff. Racing conditions also vary. Generally if feeding together, 20-23 mililiters per bird. You will find this is when 3 of the 80 go to the drinker, you also find it works out to be 1 1/4 ounces about right. Above 500 km the margin for error goes, you then just got to keep an appertite. Reagrds saffer

Useless stuff. My results got better the week I stopped using it. Seemed to hold em back, rather than push them forward. Waste of money at best, I regret ever trying them. Regards Saffer

Silverwings. A little experiment by a local fancier Dr Blackburn: They covered the pigeons eyes with a opaque, or frosted plastic. Zero sight, but the plastic allowed light through, the pigeons were released 360 Km from the loft. Of 8 pigeons, 5 landed on the board 1 meter by 90 cm. The other 3 fell 1 meter from this landing board on the grass. This from 360 Km and the pigeons were followed by light aircraft. So with no sight, or eye power, only light. The same 8 with their ears covered, failed to navigate, and 2 made it back to the loft. So this complex navigation system, has far more to do with eyes... Ever wondered how a totally blind pigeon, can navigate, train and trap, yet battles to eat from a hopper.. Seen this on 2 occasions, magic and mystical it remains. Regards Saffer

Pearls of Wisdom, Cost to fancier: ZERO. Value: Prceless. The words of the Late Great Jim Biss, pg. 35 RP 14 april 2006. "Champions have brains, constitution, courage and honesty, none of these can be seen. Forget Eye theories, wing theories, and all other theories, they just that, rubbish theories. Good health, balance, beauty can be seen but remember, beauty is only skin deep". I dont think its ever been put so well, this by a man with a record on the road, and in the loft. Regards to all saffer

Please expand on this. The Year? The pigeon? The Breeder? Thanks Saffer

Jack You put forward some good points. But I still feel, there is no simple, or rules in this game. Take for instance the Sun City race, millions not hundreds of variables are at play. This all under one type of management, Luck, buckets of it, and top pigeons are needed. Much like at a fanciers backyard loft. Yet, the top Ten is not won by Selectors or Click pairs, as even here, one year a pair can breed a winner in each nest, and the next year not breed one. Their eyes have not changed, but it is the nature of this game, that I feel keeps us all trying. I think that this is were the true secrets lie, hidden from everyone by nature. If any found the solution to Breeding winners, first they would never need to send more than 1 pigeon to the race, as they have the winner selected. Second they would keep 2 stock pairs at most, as they would not need more. This I have yet to see. Much like the throat theory, followed by 2 of Englands best fanciers. They let everyone know of it last year. No bet it wont change anything, they will still be top, and every fancier that trys out the theory, wont change anything. As no matter what this game is all about a top quality base of pigeons. From there I think anything and everything can be applied, as top pigeons are very forgiving on fanciers mistakes or applied theories. Regards saffer

I saw a great post by the famous Mark Evans. When em eye men are picking up trophies ahead of us, we will look into eyes... When a top fanciers as above start using Eyes, I will buy every book. To date, I have yet to find or hear about a true great in Big competition that uses Eyes. When it comes to a family of pigeons, Recessive traits or dominant will show up in the eyes, toes and feathers. But to pick out traits in unrelated cross bred pigeons seems abridge too far. Just my Thoughts Saffer

Hi All Does anyone have any details on a product called Transform? Its normally used on horses, and is available from these type of outlets. I have looked all over but cannot find details on the product. Anyone know who makes it? Regards Saffer