Are we killing our show birds?

[jimmy white]

Dovescots post on another thread has prompted me to ask this question.From the start of the show season which for some of us starts as early as june we pile weight on our pigeons to achieve so called "show condition" or "body"as it is refered to,I am as guilty as the rest because if you want to win in the pen that is what you have to do,so you have birds doing minimum excercise consuming maximum calories,in humans we call it a recipe for obescity or heart disease in birds we call it "show condition" [now I know some people may say birds shouldn't be over fat and I know that but to me show condition is over fat!].I work with horses and I have seen at first hand on numerous occassions the damage over feeding can do but they are in the same boat,that is what is called "show condition"I do worry about the long term health of my birds though,suppose until judges start to be brave enough to place horses/pigeons which happen to be on the leaner side this trend will continue.What are other show fanciers thoughts on this?

 

i have advocated that for years ,,, sounds odd, but sometimes or most times [especialy in show racers ] its unhealthy birds that win [or i should say its unhealthy birds that are shown, the birds are too fat , it cant be good for them , but that is one of the show standards, so maybe time to alter judging standards , to suit leaner birds ,,,only my opinion

[PigeonClarke]

 

i have advocated that for years ,,, sounds odd, but sometimes or most times [especialy in show racers ] its unhealthy birds that win [or i should say its unhealthy birds that are shown, the birds are too fat , it cant be good for them , but that is one of the show standards, so maybe time to alter judging standards , to suit leaner birds ,,,only my opinion

 

Thats wrong to say. Fancy pigeons are put out in prime condition as can be seen by anyone who has been to a show, especially show racers who are breed for their conditoning and soft feather.In most cases the "fat" you describe is in fact muscle which most fancy pigeons carry naturally because of selective breeding. And who is to say a racing pigeon is healthier? I have always heard that you fly hens light, so which is healthier, a pigeon carrying some extra body weight through protein packed nuts or a hen lacking body weight through lack of food. After all, all animals are supposed to carry 12%-20% body fat.

I think anyone who has called plucking the fairy swallows cruel is a hypocrite for the simple reason flying a young bird on darkness is the same idea and is just as "cruel"

[pjc]

Jimmy, in most cases show racers are not fat as you say they have been bred to exagerate the body condition and muscle!

They are not judged to standard as there is no written standard for show racers as you refer to them. They are actualy show pen Racers!

 

Phil

[Merlin]

Not being anyway connected with Show birds,not yet anyway,this thread is a splendid advertisment for same,very practical and knowledgeable input,keep it going,as we are all capable of learning.

[pjc]

With pigeons you will never stop learning, if you do you die!

 

Phil

[Guest TAMMY_1]

 

Thats wrong to say. Fancy pigeons are put out in prime condition as can be seen by anyone who has been to a show, especially show racers who are breed for their conditoning and soft feather.In most cases the "fat" you describe is in fact muscle which most fancy pigeons carry naturally because of selective breeding. And who is to say a racing pigeon is healthier? I have always heard that you fly hens light, so which is healthier, a pigeon carrying some extra body weight through protein packed nuts or a hen lacking body weight through lack of food. After all, all animals are supposed to carry 12%-20% body fat.

I think anyone who has called plucking the fairy swallows cruel is a hypocrite for the simple reason flying a young bird on darkness is the same idea and is just as "cruel"

 

Have to agree with everything you say here even though I  do not keep showbirds, I had never even saw a showbird till I was at Blackpool where I handled Chrissy's show racers, and every one that she gave me to hold was absolutely build solid with pure muscle, not a bit of fat on them,and I know the amount of hard work she put into all the birds she has to get them in such condition, they were big but they handled and felt absolutely great, the feather quality of every one of them was superb as well, never felt feathers like they had before on any racing pigeon I have had , they felt like pure silk, I have just weaned a young bird off a hen she gave me and the feathers feel absolutely great on that one as well [ a racing pigeon though ].

Also agree with what you say regarding young birds being put on darkness, I have said on several posts that it is going against nature and it is something I have never done or ever intend to do