Nov/December 2025

CHINESE OWLS – Page 34 – Purebred PIGEON Breed of the Issue - CHINESE OWLS How Chinese Owls Became My Hobby! By Brian Freeman P igeons have been a part of my life since I was 12 years old. I was introduced to my first pigeon by a neighbor kid who was a couple of years older than me. He and his dad had caught some commies from below the bridge in town. I thought they were the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. Later on, more friends were made because of pigeons. I had no idea that there were fancy pigeons. I had met Todd Bemis during recess at school and he introduced me to the fancy of pigeons. Todd had some fantails that were the most awesome thing I had ever seen. Of course, I had to have some. Somehow Todd got me hooked up with a guy in Olpe Kansas who had a barn loft full of saddle fantails. I had never seen so many pigeons in one place in my life and on top of that they were all fantails. That day I came home with two pairs of red saddle fantails. Later on Todd and I found out about the Kansas City Pigeon Club and that they were holding a show at a fellow member’s house in the garage. I was in seventh heaven with all kinds of fancy pigeons. Even a sail area that has several kinds of pigeons. As I was walking through this area I ran into a young pair of fluffy blue bars that were for sale. The name card on the cage said Cartmill and was labeled as Chinese Owls. I ran down Mr. Cartmill and told him I was totally interested in that pair of Chinese Owls. Well, I had just met and bought my first pair of Chinese Owls from Max Cartmill. My one pair of blue bars went from one pair to two pairs. The previous pair I had bought from Max had ended up being two cock birds. Believe it or not, Max wouldn’t trade me a cock for a hen when he had to give me two hens. Later on, Max got me fixed up with several more pairs of Chinese Owls and had talked me into joining the National Chinese Owl Club. At the time the NCOC was having 4th district meets in Hutchinson Kansas so it was off to my first 4th district meet being held with the Kansas Pigeon Club. There I met Bob Pierson, Bill Leech, Rusty Kalweitt, Carlin Whisenhunt, John Lenz and a few others I don’t remember. This was the beginning of getting serious about breeding the Chinese Owl. I got birds from Rick Tucker, Dick Bonnel, Dick Holmberg, and Jim VanNatta. Then began building a family of birds Several more shows have come and gone and new friends have been met. The knowledge has gotten deeper. Shows have gotten smaller and some CO breeders have