rtwilliams
GOLD MEMBER 690 posts Aug 31, 2010
8:14 PM
As I break up this years pairs my mind wanders to what I would like to do next year. As a newer flier I am wondering what will move my stud forward. I have some very good birds in the breeder loft. This year was the first time that a lot of the breeders are birds I few out and choose to breed from. However my percentages of good offspring are low. 25% of good birds is a good pairing right now. I had 100 young birds last year, I have 10 good ones left. I have also lost 10 or so to BOP’s. So my thought for next year is do one of two things: 1. Take the Cock bird that has the best percentages and polygamy breed him to the best producing hens. Follow this pattern tightening up my family. 2. Keep playing with pairs, and see if I can get a really good individual pigeon.
I wonder if I had a tighter family would I get better percentages. I really do not want to breed 100 birds to get 10 good ones. I would much rather breed 50 and get 10 or 15 good ones. Would option 1 accomplish that? I also wonder if within my choice of Cock birds is there one worthy of Option of 1. I have two that are just under the 25% mark on any hen. One was really good on a certain hen (both are from the same loft; Mont Bone going back to Rod Forbush and Jay Starley), but hit or miss on other hens. The other has been good on whatever hens, but has been placed on my better hens, as per recommendation from the breeder (Brian Midduagh, Billings line). His offspring on the hens outperformed other offspring form the same hens but different Cocks. I also have a third Cock bird that is only a yearling. I will re-fly once the fall migration passes through. I have placed him this summer on one of the better hens I have. The two have roots back to Rod Forbush. I am hoping to get a couple good ones. The bird was good in the air. But will take the winter to see what the offspring are like. This also makes the family mine as I would be crossing Billing and Starley families. I also have a Clay Hoyle hen and a Guil Rand hen that I could really stir the pot with. But the offspring would be half sibling and therefore tighter genetically then they are now. Since 2 of the three Cocks I would consider to polygamy breed, I have never seen in the air, I think about option two. Do I keep breeding pairs blindly hoping to hit it off and get a real real good cock bird. The Breeding goal here is different the option 1. In option one I am trying to bring the birds I am using in the breeder loft closer genetically. This will hopefully lead to better percentages of good offspring. In option 2 I will be comparing what each bird has given me in the past and hoping to make a educated guess as to what pair may give me an (ONE) outstanding bird (A cock bird is most desirable) so I can then move to option 1. If I was retired and had lots of time option 2 would be the most exciting and percentages would mean nothing. I would be breeding for outstanding Rollers. And that would be it. If a pair gave me 1 outstanding Roller out of 20, but that one was awesome it would be a good pairing. In the search for that 1, genetic diversity may be more beneficial. Not sure this holds true, but a few guys I have talked to that are trying to breed a really awesome Roller are not breeding super tight. They are breeding birds that show greatness to birds that also show greatness, no matter the family relation ship. I also did a few crosses between the Billings and Starley lines I have, it will be interesting to see if there is any vigor with the family crosses.
Just thinking out loud, and wondering what some of you think. My ultimate goal is better percentages of quality rollers. I am at the cross roads that many of you have been in the development of your quality family of rollers. And wondering if my stud is ready for the next step, do I have the birds for it, Or am I one more breeding season away before I have the quality in the breeding loft to make that next step.
---------- RT Williams Brink of Rolling Loft
Tony Chavarria
Site Publisher 4202 posts Sep 01, 2010
5:47 AM
RT, congratulations on your efforts to develop your own strain of rollers. With this, I think you have taken on one of the more satisfying aspects of raising rollers: a line of birds that has your "stamp" on them.
Whatever method you choose to breed your birds, an increase in the percentages of good birds is the indication that your program is working. However, the percentages can go way up or down when you raise or lower your standards.
You will need to have a target, so put in writing how you want your family to roll, what it should look like, style, quality, speed, control, general temperament, develop early or later, long cast or cobby, depth of roll, rare colors or traditional, etc...be sure to see enough rollers in the air that have the traits you are seeking so you know you have it right.
Basically, you are creating a "loft standard" by which you fly, breed and judge your birds. (see Paul and Cliff for more info on this)
Circle your family around a few good birds in the beginning generations, as they improve by giving you more of the traits you seek and less of the type you want to weed out, over time, you will begin to have higher percentages of good birds of the type you like that fit your loft standard. In a few years, you begin to see more proven breeders in the breeding pen and higher percentage of good kit birds.
I feel progress can be hindered by how many or how few you choose to keep and work with. Space and time might create limitations as to how fast you make progress toward your goals. I hope this provided some perspective for you. Best of luck in your endeavors. ---------- FLY ON! Tony Chavarria
The highest form of ignorance is to reject something you know nothing about.” – Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
Last Edited on 1-Sep-2010 5:50 AM
rtwilliams
GOLD MEMBER 691 posts Sep 02, 2010
8:59 PM
RT, Im heading in another direction and I like my results so far. I breed true to one family very tightly and it's easier to work the flaws out instead of bringing in new ones from other family's but thats just my opinion. ---------- Ty Vapor Trail Lofts
