THE RACING PIGEON.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 191, 14 August 1928, Page 13

THE RACING PIGEON.

OLD BIRD RACES. With the old bird races now commencing, the novice experiences a difficulty in arranging his racing team, due to breeding Beason and the necessity for retaining the hen on the neat, during the absence of the male birds. The tendency is, therefore, to race the one sex, but, with a little foresight and calculation this trouble can be overcome. The average loft at the present time usually contains 15 pairs of birds, and where any pair is sitting on eggs not due to hatch by any given race day, or where youngsters are in the nest and not younger than eight days old, then both parent birds can safely be forwarded to the racing point. There is this exception, however, that the male bird is usually an indifferent sitter during the absence of his mate, and it is better to confine him in a box and place his marked eggs, one each, under other hens. Any sitting pair will cover a third egg quite comfortably for a few days, and the same procedure may be followed with two youngsters over eight days old, provided they are marked with a touch of blue pencil on the leg for identification purposes. The hen can, therefore, be raced without trouble during the old bird season, provided the precaution is taken to note such items, as hatching date, age of youngsters and prospective laying date. It is most unwise to send old birds to race with youngsters under eight days old, as the milky secretion in the crop accumulates and upon their arrival home, they fill up on hard feed and are unabl© to supply the soft food to their youngsters. The number of eggs laid in the racing baskets each season indicates the lack of care taken by a number of fanciers in noting such matters as driving to nest and laying date. In the majority of cases, a hen does not go to nest without an indication that she is due to lay. The male bird commences to drive his mate to the nest box and keeps in close attendance. There are individual male birds who show only a fractional amount of interest at driving time, which is usually anything from six to two days before the hen bird lays. On the other hand the hen herself will be a guide as she rests on the nest for short periods during the two days previous to laying. Where any male bird is noted driving the hen and worrying her to enter the nest box, and then stops driving, it may be taken for granted that the hen will lay within two days' time. In the United Kingdom there are many fanciers who are opposed to racing the hen owing to the uncertainty of her condition in the longer races, where perhaps three to four days in the basket prevents close observation. The loft manager to His Majesty the King never races hi 3 hens. This strain of racing pigeons depends, therefore, upon the male birds to maintain the prestige of this successful loft. The success achieved over a period of years

proves the wisdom of conserving the hen birds free from nervous and physical strain. N.Z.H.P. Federation Report. Advice from the New Zealand Homing Pigeon Federation states that Mr. James Patterson, of Wanganui, has intimated his intention to present a silver challenge cup, value £25, to the federation for competition among the affiliated clubs, during the old bird racing season. clubs have already joined up with the federation, their names being as follow:—Feilding, Egmont, Petone, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Manawatu, Raetihi, Masterton, Stratford, Levin, Wanganui, Wellington and Napier. The Wellington district clubs have been instructed by the federation to form a deputation to approach the Government petitioning for the reduction of railway freights on the carriage of homing pigeons forwarded by clubs affiliated to the federation. The Government will be interviewed during the present session of Parliament. Of the 5600 rings imported for ringing federated birds, the total of 5532 have been alloted, leaving a short working surplus of 68 rings. The federation by resolution decided to advise the secretaries of clubs that continuous running clocks must be used for all federated races within a period of three years' time. Club Jottings. The writer has been asked by members of several clubs to stress the necessity of reporting stray birds in lofts. It ia stated that practically no attempt ia being made to organise and put on a proper basis, this most important phase of the hobby. As an example, it might be quoted that Mr. A. Moore has reported the local loss of his good racer Royal Ster, AHPF 26/27. 59. This mealy cock is surely well enough known, and the colour sufficiently distinctive to warrant any fancier reporting same to the secretary of any Auckland club. The Homing Pigeon Protection Act provides severe penalties for any person detaining a homing pigeon, and it is reported that immediate action is being taken by several fanciers with a view to enlisting assistance from the authorities during the next few months. If clubs forwarded a complete list of rings issued to members to "Quill," care the "Auckland Star," he would be pleased to assist in locating and reporting lost and found birds.