Eadie & Kelly Of Bellside Lanarkshire

[budgie]

We do have hens laying but it does not effect their racing performances.Once re-paired all is forgotton.Our best racing hen who is going for her Silver Award this year in the SNFC can lay around 5/6 pair of eggs in one season.

[OLDYELLOW]

How many years did it take you to build a good team to fly 500 plus miles ?

[budgie]

It takes forever and eventully after elimintion of the 98% it goes back to familys of distance pigeons with performance and abundance in top winning genes.

[OLDYELLOW]

Obviously your a good allround racer so to just choose one type of bird would leave a lot of information left out . So I'll ask which cocks and hens in your stock have played the biggest part in forming your (1) sprint team (2) middle distance team (3) Distance team and what's the breeding behind them and from what sources

[budgie]

For the Sprint/Middle distance we use mostly Vandenabeele,s from Myrtle Lofts with some new introductions this year from GWP MaCaloney of Coatbridge.For Channel racing our family has been build around pigeons from Andra Deans Bothwell Grizzle family crossed with pigeons i have purchased from Jim Cullen.Over the last couple of years we have purchased pigeons at the SNFC sale from J.Donaldson,B.Kinnear and J.McNeil all of which are from Sect winners and in the top 4 in the Open from the gold cup race.When introducing pigeons they have to come from mutiple winning pigeons and well-established lofts.

[OLDYELLOW]

On the birds return from the longest race how do you treat them ie : feed and water / supplements and are Electrolytes used ???, Also when pairing what is your preference do you inbreed line breed or cross breed ???

[budgie]

On return from a race the are given Total Disinfection followed by Multivitamins for one day.Our preferance for breeding is Winners to Winners and only from Fed & National Performance Gene winning Pigeons.If they win at club level and dont take a position they are not bred from.

[OLDYELLOW]

Do you feed the same feed for a sprint , middle and long distance race ???? If not what differences are made to the feeding ????

[budgie]

Our feeding regime almost stays the same no breakdown or portions.Get into a system of medical,feed,Good Pigeons,Care and stick to it.

[OLDYELLOW]

Do you look for birds with a certain wing beat for the distance ???? And what do you consider to be the best wing condition for your type of racing ??? and when would you consider the wing state not to be good ???

[budgie]

Distance pigeons have a slower Heart Beat.We like to race them with almost a full wing and the 2nd flight just bursting through.When they go by their 4 flight our pigeons are finished for the season.

[OLDYELLOW]

When would you consider retiring a top performing bird to stock ???

[budgie]

Since our move to the current address we have never retired any to stock.Next year we have 4 pigeons going for their Silver Award within the SNFC which it has to win 3 times from across the Channel.Regarding age i think they are finished at 5/6 years of age and by that time if they have not left anything why put them in the Stock Loft.

[OLDYELLOW]

When selecting birds what type of pigeon do you look for small /medium/ large long cast, deep keel , apple body ?

[budgie]

Guid pigeons come in all shapes and sizes.Its what you cannot see that counts and the only way to find out is by the Basket.

[OLDYELLOW]

How do you choose a bird to go the distance is it purely family and/or breeding or just process of elimination ??

[budgie]

By family and by elimating the 98%.Distance pigeons have to be bred for the job and have a pedigree full of winning genes.

[OLDYELLOW]

Have you made any introductions of birds to strengthen your stock this year ??? and which fanciers birds would you like to try in the future ????

[budgie]

As i mentioned earlier we have brought in from J.Donaldson,B.Kinear and John McNeil from Broxburn.My next introductions will be The Brian Denny Pigeons all going well.

[OLDYELLOW]

what are your goals for the future ????

[budgie]

To stay competitive , and Win a National Race.

[OLDYELLOW]

What advice would you give the novice or anyone wishing to fly Nationals ?????

[budgie]

Firstly get a dry loft.Dont over populate.Use preventive vaccinations.Get quality pigeons and keep searching for better racing stock.Lastly dont be scared to loose pigeons there are no secrets just good pigeons kept in good condition win races and go to a well -established loft in your area with team performances and an abundance of winning genes within the pedigree.Dont buy Aged Stock birds that some are off loading if they were breeding winners they would not be for sale.

[OLDYELLOW]

Well I think we have pretty much covered everything in this Q&A so all that's left is to Thank Budgie for sharing his take on Racing , and may you have a great 2012 racing ahead , on behalf of the members thank you :emoticon-0137-clapping: :emoticon-0137-clapping:

[OLDYELLOW]