Jack Barkel - Eyesign

[Guest slugmonkey]

Well having seen these I feel better about the birds in my loft

[doo]

Jack, after having a look at the birds in our loft I have to say the hens ahve the better eyes in the loft with 3 hens having real good eyes ....the cocks are a wee bit of a let down ....two are bull eyed & the rest have full eyes ...I have to say at this point I only have these birds on loan to breed a team of yb's as we are just starting back in the sport.

 

any suggestions ?

 

Stevie

[Jack Barkel]

Hello Stevie,

 

One always will find that the genetic drift starts with the cocks, the hens seem to hold to type much longer.

 

I would suggest that you race out the young from these cocks, and in the meantime have a good look for some five circle eyed cocks. We will then help you to select daughters from these new acquisitions to pair back to their sires. Within three to four years we will have your loft bristling with birds that show ample amounts of Speed, Energy, Stamina and Intelligence. (Homing Ability).

 

Stevie if you wish to put it right you must start with acquiring the right kind of cocks first. I will help you right along the road to success if you wish. I can assure you I have done this in several parts of the world for fanciers who were willing to change.

 

Best Of Luck

 

Jack

[Jack Barkel]

Article 3.

 

We have now covered most of the basics of the eye, as I myself see them. I put on these two collages to show the eyes of some of my stock pigeons.

 

Please do not forget that I also look for body confirmation and wing feather. All of these aspects are tools for us to use to breed a larger percentage of the desired type of bird we must keep.

 

As I have said before, the gene pool is very complex. To master it entirely has not been achieved as yet by the best biologists and scientists in the world. I believe I  have mastered the art of what is available to us at this day and age, up to a point where 90% of the time the genetics do not disappoint me or send me back to the drawing board. The continuous haphazard breeding of Racing Pigeons will always present many gene pools that are a conglomeration of many facets. I have tried by selective breeding to narrow this down to a point where I can more or less know what to expect from my pairings, for not only do we need "My Choice" birds, their pairings must be of a compatible nature. Besides having good stock birds we need to learn how to combine the genes of each pairing to give us an improvement in the gene pool.

 

I believe there will always be genetic drift to one or other of these strains of pigeons, we will continue to have mutations for better or worse.To understand a little of my methods which I have put forward will help those greatly who are prepared to give it a thought and dare to try it for themselves.

 

This is not the end of my articles here, in fact it is just the beginning. I hope you have enjoyed the start to what has been my life's study of the Racing Pigeon.

 

Regards

jackbarkel@mweb.co.za

http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/jackbarkel/

[doo]

Jack, is that eye clusters on a couple of your birds .....if so wnat importance do you attach to this if any?

 

stevie

[Guest karl adams]

here are some sites on eyesign

 

http://www.tourdesmaritimes.com/Eyesign/Eyesign_links_.htm

[Jack Barkel]

Jack, is that eye clusters on a couple of your birds .....if so wnat importance do you attach to this if any?

 

stevie

 

No they are not star clusters, I do however hold a lot of store for those birds that have star clusters and will later reveal here my theory as to how they are formed, and what it tells us.

 

Regards

 

Jack

[bewted]

hello jack

 

up til now its been a pleasure to read all this,but,if this is only the begining now,then i for one look forward to a lot more reading and learning !!

            thank you jack and i am sure your teachings will have me on the edge of my seat reading more and hoping i dont miss one word !!!

 

       do i have your permission to print all this out for my records ?

 

                              best regards

 

                                    ted

[Jack Barkel]

Hello Ted,

 

I thank you for your comments, yes you may print it out even for your friends who may be interested. As long as it bears my name as the author I do not mind.

 

Regards

 

Jack

[bewted]

thank you jack and i assure you i would not print all this without your name as the author on it or not give you all he credit !!

 

if not for you i would not have learnt so much in such a short time and that is all credit to you my friend !!!

 

                          best regards

 

 

 

                                      ted

[Jack Barkel]

Article 4.

 

I now present a collage of three eyes, of three separate wild pigeons. The reason for this is to show that in pigeons untouched by humans, there is little or no genetic drift.

The eyes may seem to be of one bird, but on closer scrutiny there can be seen slight differences in these eyes.

 

Each eye shows a similar amount of correlation, which tells us that these birds although possessing speed are limited to a short distance. This can be perceived by these eyes showing a very wide correlation, which causes the iris to recede outwards towards the perimeter of the eye.

 

 

They all have nearly the same amount of superimposed composite between six and seven-o-clock, showing the family is inbred having very little variation in quality.

This should convince the believers and sceptics alike, that the variation in eyes from the Bush Dove to the Racing Pigeon shows remarkable contrast. The main feature being that there are no pearl eyes (recessive) among the wild pigeons.

 

There only similarities are to the pigeons that some people breed for speed and short distance. I believe this should be a warning that breeding for speed without a real understanding of what I am trying to reveal in each of my articles, can lead to a regression that can destroy or take years to rectify.

 

Regards

jackbarkel@mweb.co.za

http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/jackbarkel/

 

 

[bewted]

keep it coming jack please !!!

[bewted]

hi jack

 

when is your next article coming up here ?

[Jack Barkel]

hi jack

 

when is your next article coming up here ?

 

Hello Ted,

 

I still work for a living, managing a breeding station and evaluating pigeons. It is not easy to sit down and compile articles at the drop of a hat, when I must share out my time.

 

I need to write a little on star clusters, and then as this whole concept I have been writing about is to develop a better method of breeding to type, this must also be addressed.

 

I will not let this list down, but the pace of my articles will slow down as I get involved in other things.

 

Please have patience, I am still here.

 

Best Regards

 

Jack

 

 

 

 

[bewted]

hello jack

 

sorry jack.i know you must be a busy man and i sound a bit impatient.just like to read more,you have got me thirsty for knowledge now,but,i can wait and once again sorry !!!

 

 

                                best regards

 

                                     ted

[Jack Barkel]

Article 5.

 

During this new thread which the Administrator has allowed us, there have been a couple of mentions about the Star Clusters in the eye.

I have my own theory on how they are formed, and have never seen or heard of anyone giving an explanation of why it appears in the pupil of the eye. Let me say I hold much store in this sign, and it is the only time I allow the genetic drift of the iris to go over the limits of my normal acceptance. I must say when I make such an allowance; I only keep those that improve on the five circles to that of their Star Cluster parent.

 

If we return once again to the separate segments of the eye as I have depicted them on this thread, we will see that the correlation, starts at the outer edge of the pupil and extends to the outer perimeter of the eye.

We know this correlation to be similar to a pigmented gel, for if it is damaged with a sharp instrument, it will all run out and the eye will be of no more use to the pigeon. Now I believe that this correlation / gel come in different thicknesses. My theory is that when we place the adaptation and Iris on this correlation it causes displacement. The adaptation pushes the excess towards the outer perimeter of the eye, after going under the iris it tries to go over the top, but the iris acts like a dam wall and the excess correlation or base material recedes back towards the centre of the eye.

 

The excess gel then drops into the pupil of the eye and remains there for everyone to view.  However there are some that can be seen as floaters in the pupil. They often move around until they come in contact with the inner edge of the correlation and join up there, to be lost from view forever.

 

Please remember that this is only my theory, and until it has been proven scientifically I will consider it as the true and the only explanation written about it up till the present time 21st February 2008.

 

I will put photographic examples up, but have ordered a very expensive close up lens to record this particular aspect of the eye. The example I use will be photo’s taken with my old equipment until the new lens arrives.

 

I enclose a photograph here of the pupil of a star cluster eye. This hen bred two winners and a son to breed six winners.

 

I can assure all that it does not seem to affect the vision of the eye.

 

Once again, I will try to answer all questions to the best of my ability.

 

Regards

jackbarkel@mweb.co.za

http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/jackbarkel/

 

[bewted]

hello jack

 

is this star cluster more valued if its a big star cluster than a small star cluster or makes no differance in size ?

[Jack Barkel]

Hello Ted,

 

I have found that the size makes no difference, they are aqll prolific breeders when paired correctly.

 

Regards

 

Jack

[PIGEON_MAN]

Hi Jack,Do you find that these star clusters are visible all the time in certain birds as I was lead to believe that they would be visible only in a super fit pigeon which if you saw them when sending to a race this would be the bird to put your house on.

[Jack Barkel]

Hi Jack,Do you find that these star clusters are visible all the time in certain birds as I was lead to believe that they would be visible only in a super fit pigeon which if you saw them when sending to a race this would be the bird to put your house on.

 

Hello Tony,

 

I have found that STAR CLUSTERS,  remain right up until dying of old age. I do not doubt that they may shine more brightly on a super fit pigeon, but I would not choose it as my best bird in a certain race because of these markings.

 

I have found that they can manifest themselves in a bird any time up until 18 months old. Once settled in a permanent place in the eye it is there for all time.

 

Regards

 

Jack

 

 

[bewted]

hello jack

 

would it be better to put these birds with clusters in the stock loft rather than race them ?

 

do pearl eyed or yellow eyed pigeons get these clusters or makes no differance to colour of eyes ?

 

can these clusters manifest themselves antime after 18 months in older birds or is it only up to the 18 months when they first appear ?

 

                            best regards

 

                                 ted

 

 

                            

[doo]

Jack, in the last two days I have managed to get on loan a cock with a slightly over developed iris ....but in his left eye he has a small eye cluster, it is a yellow based eye I have paired him to a pearl eye'd hen with a wide adaptation with composition she has 5 circles her Iris is slightly heavy.

 

 

any thoughts

 

Stevie

[Jack Barkel]

hello jack

 

would it be better to put these birds with clusters in the stock loft rather than race them ?

 

do pearl eyed or yellow eyed pigeons get these clusters or makes no differance to colour of eyes ?

 

can these clusters manifest themselves antime after 18 months in older birds or is it only up to the 18 months when they first appear ?

 

                            best regards

 

                                 ted

 

 

                            

Hello Ted,

 

I have raced star clusters with great success in the past, but yes I do believe the best place for a pigeon with a star cluster is in the stock loft.

 

They come in the two base colour eyes, pearl and yellow.

 

I do not think that a star cluster will ever develop in a pigeon after it reaches maturity ( 18 month).s

 

Regards

Jack

 

 

[Jack Barkel]

Jack, in the last two days I have managed to get on loan a cock with a slightly over developed iris ....but in his left eye he has a small eye cluster, it is a yellow based eye I have paired him to a pearl eye'd hen with a wide adaptation with composition she has 5 circles her Iris is slightly heavy.

 

 

any thoughts

 

Stevie

 

Hello Stevie,

 

It is a pity the hen has a heavy iris as you state the cocks iris is overdeveloped.

The youngsters from such a pairing will have these heavy irises, and the chances of reproducing the star cluster is very slim with the hen also having a very wide adaptation.

 

Without seeing the eyes I cannot be more specific about what to expect from such a pairing.

 

Regards

Jack

 

 

[Jack Barkel]

Article 5. Continued.

 

All who are following this must now agree that the correlation is obviously the base circle. If we can agree on this, then maybe we can agree that some base circles are thicker or deeper than others. Then my theory of how the clusters come to be in the pupil of the eye is more easily to accept.

 

If we agree that any base or foundation must be as strong as possible, then we can understand that the star cluster reveals a very strong genetic foundation in the eye. As I said previously many star clusters move to the outer edge of the pupil and merge with the inner edge of the correlation, which tells us that some birds with no visible star cluster may also have a very strong foundation.

 

Be this as it may we can assume that all star clusters come from a family or part of a family with a strong foundation. I have many star clusters in my loft, but have found that if there is a very strong composite on the adaptation, then it seems to prevent the excess moving underneath the adaptation and dropping into the pupil.

 

I believe I breed more star clusters than most, because of this realisation, leaving out any heavy composite or extra large adaptation when pairing to breed this characteristic in the eye.

 

It has been said many times about eye sign people that they have selected a bird, and made a statement that it will never breed anything, and consequently the bird has produced some good quality pigeons. Because of this fact many have condemned eye sign people. I believe that those for and against on this account are making a gross mistake, for neither the critic or the evaluator have taken one moment to stop, think, and realise that there are two pigeons that go towards the equation of making another pigeon. This being the case the genes of one of the pair could be producing the goods and the other not supplying any good genes at all. We will always have these conflicting concepts of how to breed good pigeons in greater quantities as long as fanciers are prepared to make bold statements that one or the other method is just an unproven theory, without really applying any background intelligence to their statements. I myself have been subject of unfair criticism, and even now these stupid remarks such as, “ It only takes two eyes to fly”, are becoming regular quotes amongst the lesser informed public. Be that as it may I will continue to defend what I deem to be true in this regard.

It takes four eyes to share in the breeding of a champion, plus several other just as important requisites.

 

 

I enclose a collage of some star cluster eyes for those who are interested.

 

 

I will continue to answer questions on this subject to the best of my ability.

 

Regards

jackbarkel@mweb.co.za

http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/jackbarkel/