Nov/December 2025

Breed of the Issue - CHINESE OWLS CHINESE OWLS – Page 31 – Purebred PIGEON what theirs are like. Many times when buying new birds I have a plan in mind as to what bird or birds would be a good mate that compliments the bird being bought. I’ve heard the saying “buy the best you can afford” I agree to some extent but not 100%. I guess I would change it to “buy the best you can that will help your birds progress”. I’ve found over the years that not all breed- ers bloodlines will help yours no matter the breeders success. I have 4-5 breed- ers that I’m not afraid to buy from and others that I have bought quality birds from that just don’t seem to mix well with mine. That being said I don’t usu- ally bring in many new birds. I prefer to raise them out of my own stock. For ex- ample last year I bred from 16 pair. Of those 32 birds 4 were bred by someone else. I just feel having a loft full of birds bred by others I’m not really making the improvements but rather buying them. Don’t get me wrong, other breeders birds bring in new blood and it is crucial to do so. This year I plan to bring in 2-4 new birds to help improve some of my colors of birds. Just remember there is a time to bring in new blood and not just on a whim. R ecord K eeping I most likely keep more records than I need to but I use it as a hobby within a hobby. I keep a listing each year of pairs used, young raised that year, which includes any new birds and birds in pedigrees of birds I have brought in. I keep a show record of each show attended and the results of how my birds placed under each judge. I have all this info on the PC, 3 ring notebooks and those small loft record books so I can compare things when choosing breeders for the upcoming season. Some of my records with the Chinese Owls go back to the late 70’s. When I had flying rollers my records went back to the early 1900’s in England as they were down from Pensom, Smith and Palona stock. I also keep pedigrees on ev- erything. I make notes as to each birds faults and good points. I note if it was bred in individual or open loft. Sometimes the birds I buy are bred in open lofts as some don’t use the individual method. These pedigrees aren’t much good as there is no “proof” as to parentage but at least you have an idea of who the parents may be. In closing I would say that these are things that I have found over the years that have worked for me. I’m always reading articles to find better ways of doing things and that is how I came up with “My Method” mostly by trial and error. Will what I do work for everyone? Absolutely not! You have to find your own way that fits your budget, time, space, num- bers, etc. Do the best you can with what you have.• Enjoy the hobby in your own way. Thanks for listening and good luck at the shows and breeding season to follow.•