Pigeon Size

[Guest CS]

what size do you prefer BIG, Medium or small ?

What do you think size does for perfomance or sitance ?

 

I prefer cocks to be medium to large and hens to be small to medium

[Guest]

 

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

770 Posts  

Posted - 07/12/2006 : 05:46:46    

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love cocks mediumto large wide in shoulder with a powerhouse back to carry loft

 

hens medium sized,  apple shape,   sweet in face,   and big in eye, with a quiet in nature,

 

 

 

 

[carl]

Craig in hens i like them small to medium,in cocks i would say medium in size,not to big not to small.i dont like to feel keely or skinny birds,nice round up front with bigish shoulders,thats what feels the best to me.

[Tim.Farr]

Medium cocks and small hens.  But then again every once in awhile I like a tough looking medium sized hen that could be mistaken for a cock.

[Guest]

In the 60's used to like big pigeons [think they might all have been big then  ;D ] now I much prefer small to medium. Can't get used to henny-looking cocks though, and some of my hens are amongst my biggest birds, and right bolshie with it.

 

Hope you find the attached article from 'The Art of Breeding' by Prof Alfons Anker interesting. Shows how tastes and thoughts on this subject have changed over the past 40 years.

 

 

What is the ideal body size?

 

The large type of racing pigeon was favoured in the 30's and 40's as they could resist all weather types. One quickly found out that extra body weight was ballast that had a negative influence on the results. In long distance races more and more medium sized and even small pigeons could be found amongst the leaders, although the number of big pigeons was by far the majority in the total competition. It was soon established that a small body was not a disadvantage in hard races.

 

Prof. Arthur Horn came to the same conclusion in his doctorate: "Factors which influence the performance capacity in racing pigeons."  Through comprehensive research of good flyers, he arrived at the conclusion that big and heavy body weight are at a distinct disadvantage to average sized and small body builds, on non-stop long distance races. Better comparative analysis possibilities allow identification of where the best pigeons were located and how they looked. I believe I was the first to point out in an article that the performances of big and heavy pigeons were not as good as the average sized. And the general opinion had difficulty digesting this idea because the eyes were used to big beautiful pigeons. Today, this point of view is completely changed. The fine-tuning of competitions and the fact that the victors became much more often of smaller built with little ballast, were responsible for the appearance of a new type pigeon with great possibilities.

 

Around 1960 you only saw pigeons about 600 grams. By 1965, although this type still dominated (about 60 %) you also saw more and more pigeons of a more refined type. This has not come about on account of a fashion craze, but through healthy breeder's thoughtfully mating the best to breed ever better pigeons with ever greater stamina. Thus, a new type of champion pigeon was born from the efforts of the best fanciers, in outline more like a falcon than the heavy eagle of yesteryear. Jonge Stier (Young Bull), Van Bruaune’s 1000 km winner weighed 450 grams. Tarzan, 450 grams was liberated at 9:50 am in St. Sebastian (1000 km) and was already back in his nest box in the evening. 450 grams means on average 100 gram less than the older type. The best long distance pigeon of Delbar, the Stichelbout pigeons, known for their strong will, were light, very ugly, small pigeons. My best long distance pigeons such as Ramona 47-495, Hullam 61-207, Hinto 64-421, Fruszina 65-455 never weighed more than 440 grams. The miracle hen, 71 of Istvan Kovacs of Baja, was as light as a feather, fine body build also 440 grams.

 

 

 

[Guest anthony]

I prefare medium to small,at least mine are like that.I have seen winners wich are on the big side,so I think it is a matter of what someone likes!!

[Wiley]

pigeons win in all shapes and sizes i like medium built pigeons personally both cocks and hens!

[Guest REDFOXKRAUTHS]

cocks medium to large,and hen small to medium,although one of my best breeding cock is quite small

[Tim.Farr]

Oh and I agree with Bruno, I really don't like cocks I could mistake for a hen.

[Guest CS]

Agree with you, Wiley.. all pigeons win in any sizes and shapes

[Tim.Farr]

That wasn't the question you asked.  You asked which people prefer and now you're just stating the obvious.  

[westy]

i go fro the same as you craig but i have some big hens some are biger than a few cocks

[Guest stevie-b]

all good pigeons come in different shapes and sizes the smaller the pigeon the easier it is to condition but you still have to know how to

[maverick]

THE BIRDS I LIKE ARE THE FIRST HOME ON RACE DAY.. LOL

[Guest]

THE BIRDS I LIKE ARE THE FIRST HOME ON RACE DAY.. LOL

 

i like small hens ;)

[Guest]

 

i like small hens ;)

 

that was not a small hen you where with last weekend ;) :K)

[Guest]

 

that was not a small hen you where with last weekend ;) :K)

 

shhhhhhhh dont tell annie

[maverick]

 

shhhhhhhh dont tell annie

 

annie already knows.  she said she likes big COCKS and little HENS

[Guest]

 

annie already knows.  she said she likes big COCKS and little HENS

 

big bad mav :o ;D ;D ;D :Pyour cocks a winner ;D ;D ;D

[ALF]

SHE'LL NO BE CONTACTING YOU THEN CLOCKY :P :P ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Guest]

;D ;D ;D she's on the phone now

[maverick]

AND I THOUGHT SHE ONLY HAD EYES ME.  LOL

[Guest]

AND I THOUGHT SHE ONLY HAD EYES ME.  LOL

 

she has  8) 8) 8) :K) ;D

[maverick]

DONT LIKE HER ANYMORE , CHANGING FOR A YOUNGER MODEL   LOL :P

[ALF]

YER A CHANCER CLOCKY : : ;) :P ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D