Good birds way back

Do you believe that, if a bird you are interested in buying had an ancestor 2, 3 or 4 generations ago that was really good, (for example, won a National or two), the good blood is still in the bird you are interested in? Or do you think that a winner of some good prizes 3 or 4 generations ago has no bearing on what the bird you are interested in might be like?

For instance, you see a bird that you quite like the look of but, looking at its pedigree shows you that none of its descendants has done anything for 3 or 4 generations. Would you still be interested in it?

Phil

There is no realistic answer, winners come in all shapes and sizes and from many different parentages, some close to the tree but others miles away, the fact is that whatever the parentage is there will only be a very small percentage of those bred that will be of any consequence relative to racing.
There are throw backs, but it makes more sense to consentrate on the pigeons that are breeding winners at the time in question.

Too many fanciers do not give their present pigeons the chance to breed their share of winners, they expect instant success and the more they pay for the pigeons the sooner they trhink they should get winners, BIG MISTAKE.

I have always said that a fancier who has an established family over a prolonged period, providing the base pigeons were reasonable quality will be winning when those chopping and changing are still struggling.


No certainties regarding breeding in our sport.

Regards.

Depends on how much the bird was for sale for, we've all took a punt on something caught our eye. I wouldn't go further back than g-child of a top pigeon (not something that won from under 100 miles and had a 4th 2 yrs later from 80 miles) but an RPRA award winner, UNC open and section awards etc.
Lot of truth in the saying apple doesn't fall far from the tree I reckon.

I would say you may get lucky and get a throwback, but there’s no way of telling how many duffers you may get before you find that gold nugget

if the grand sire and grand dams all had done well and the sire and dam was unraced
and i liked the bird i would buy it

Boosey yes. Gold nuggets are few and far between. Why everyone is looking for one that can produce one. Throwbacks to previous generations rarely occur. If they did we would all look like monkeys!

I was very fortunate in obtaining pigeons that bred winners, the criteria by which I worked was I would see if either a brother or sister of a good performance bird was available from a person I felt genuine, or an actual proven breeder.

I did obtain several by watching for fanciers who were doing away with stock birds or leaving the sport etc;

I had brothers of some of the top pigeons of the day and turned therm into my own family of reliable performers.

You do not need many, just a few of trhe right ones, and choose what you have not all or many will be well above average.

You also need time to establish a family but the waiting is well worth while because eventually you can determine many things regarding the pigeons you have over a prolonged period.

Too man attempt to buy success and they may acheive it short term but not long lasting if the oposition is strong.


Regardsd.

For me the grandparents would have had to of won or breeding winners and I would not buy from a national winner or combine winner if that's all what it had done I'd much prefer to buy from a bird that had won 2/3 firsts because at the end of the day something has to win and just because its won a national don't make it a good bird

All may hve seen this but worth watching. He could not win for years until he bought better pigeons.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byieQ_suLp0&feature=share
Then he identified one cock bird as being prepotent.

thing that always gets me is, when I see birds for sale in the bhw for example in a big auction, the title says " top pigeons available, top quality breeders for stock" .....but then in the descriptions there is no mention of what they have achieved racing, or what winning birds they have bred, all they tell you is what the grand parents or great grand parents have won racing...........well that's no good, how can they say it has any bearing on the birds for sale...?

it is no guarantee these will make top stock birds, I would want something that has raced or bred winners, especially considering the prices they are wanting for them........if your taking a chance with a 30 quider that's a different matter.