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Breed of the Issue - Helmet
Helmet- Page 25 - Purebred PIGEON
not need to be complicated. I use a simple white board with
blocks that represent my nests. I record when eggs are laid,
when they hatch and the band numbers of the parents. I typ-
ically fill in the pertinent data when I actually make the egg
swap. The same records can be kept in notebooks, on cards
attached to the boxes or even on scraps of paper.
Helmets and other show breeds can often be frustrating.
There is no point in getting stressed and leaving a breed you
really enjoy. By adding and utilizing a complementary breed
you get to enjoy both!•
Good Adoptive Parents
Simple Records on a white board
Helmets!
By Andy Hansen
B
ack in the 1970s and early 80s when I was a
kid, I had some Helmets and they were a lot
of fun to have around the loft. At that point
in time, the Helmet was a great kid’s breed. Easy to
raise and everyone had some. You could tame them
by hand feeding and they would sit on your shoulder.
They were great parents, and very fun to watch.
I have them again but they’re not the same.
Now it’s a challenge to get them to raise their
own young. Over the years many of the breeders have
used feeders or done a lot of hand feeding and the
birds seem to have lost a bit of their parenting skills.
I’ve been trying the last few years to let my Helmets
feed their own. A few other Helmet breeders have as
well and some have made crosses with other breeds,
trying to bring back these parenting skills. I have
noticed that my blue Helmets seem to be better than
the red and blacks.
Let’s work on getting Helmets back to feeding
their own! •
Homer with Helmet babies