Participating In Auction Sales for Racing Pigeons
It was once said that there is A BARGIN AT EVERY AUCTION SALE and the statement can certainly be true. However it also suggests it could be possible that only ONE goes home with a wonderful deal in hand. Auction sales are a method of exchanging birds for money where there is no longer a need for their use. Yet there are some birds put in auctions that can be useful to some breeders. The key is to know what birds are useful and what the value should be.
How to evaluate at an auction sale
- Know what breeding lofts progeny is being represented in the sale.
- When you go to the sale, see if all the birds listed in advertising are available for sale. Many auctions will list great birds to attract a large crowd, however many of these birds never make it to the sale.
- When at the sale talk to potential buyers prior to the sale. Many of these people will take the birds from the cages and to make a careful visual assessment prior to the auction. This is an ideal opportunity to gather their various opinions, while making some of your own.
- Get an understanding of what breeding lofts are being represented as potential buyers.
- Ask people if they have had prior experience with this auctioning firm and if the experience was positive.
- Gather the pedigree information and the performance records of both sides for three generations when making an evaluation for purchase.
- If you lack experience take someone with you to the sale that has expertise and is trust worthy
During the sale
· Normally the first couple of birds sold are used as pace setters to establish strong prices.
· Watch the auctioneer and see where the bids are coming from. There are certainly instances where bids are taken in thin air to run up the price. Avoid playing that game by SITTING ON YOUR HANDS IF YOU MUST.
· Be careful in bidding on birds that you haven’t evaluated prior to the sale. MOST AUCTIONS ARE BUYER BEWARE
· Don’t purchase birds that won’t improve your breeding program.
· Young birds under three months of age have little immunity to disease and a cautious approach should be considered.
After the sale
When you take your purchase home don’t put it directly into the breeding pen. The people at the sale have been likely handling many birds which can help spread disease. Keep these new birds totally separate for at least three weeks.
A knowledgeable approach provides valuable returns in purchasing racing pigeons. RAE LEWIS
The Pigeon Insider newsletter sample:
Preventative and Curative Medicines
As a result of the much improved knowledge of pigeons and the medications now available to manage diseases, the good fancier can enjoy a loft free of disease. The common aim is to produce the healthiest and most robust babies possible by the most natural means so that there is no compromise to the youngster’s immune system. In this way, the young birds will be naturally resistant to the illnesses associated with training and racing, and thereby require the minimal amount of medication during the racing season.
Medications are used as little as possible for the healthy loft. It is very difficult for us all to maintain perfect health in the race team during the racing season and it is the good natural resistance developed during the breeding season which helps us defend the flock against illness. It is now common belief that medications are needed during the racing season if perfect form is to be maintained. However, the medications must only be used when needed. The inappropriate use of medications will in fact turn the birds “off” and break their good levels of immunity.
Nowadays, the wise use of medicines is necessary for racing success. The medicines used for racing pigeons nowadays have been researched extensively so that they rarely affect the form of the fit bird and have minimal side effects for the ill bird. The correct choice of medicines is vital if the disease is to be controlled or cured in the quickest possible time. Obviously, the complete recovery of the flock is quickest when the disease is recognized and identified early. The early recognition of the illness minimizes needless race bird losses and allows the birds to return to winning ways more quickly.
The “preventative” medicines
It is common knowledge that the healthy race bird is at considerable health risk in the race basket and must be protected from the “race basket” diseases by the prudent use of medicines. Medicines used in this manner are referred to as “preventative” medicines. The tired racing bird is most susceptible to disease from the racing basket and so the best time to treat in a protective manner is soon after the race.
The “preventative” medicines protect the healthy race flock from respiratory disease, without affecting the form or natural resistance of the team. I often ask the fancier to monitor the response of the flock to the “preventative” respiratory medicines so that the best timing is assured. There are a few tricks in identifying when to use and when to stop using the “preventative” medicines for the “resident” health problem. Firstly, look for a loss of form, the most obvious signs of which are dropping changes, no powder down feathers on the droppings, dry feathers and a lazy lower eyelid. In those flocks with a “resident” health problem there will be a positive change in the birds the day after the preventative medicine is given. Look for a very marked “brightening” of the eye, the powder down feathers will return to an improved dropping and the feathers become silky. The process is repeated each week for 2 to 3 weeks then stopped when the positive changes fail to show. Then the preventative medication is no longer used until the early signs of loss of form again return. With this method the fancier himself becomes sole master of the health of the race team. This method of controlling a resident illness takes some time to master but once mastered becomes a very important part of controlling a resident health problem.
The “curative” medicines
When there is a disease outbreak during the race season then “curative” (not preventative) medicines must be used. The first signs of a serious disease requiring a curative medicine are repeatedly poor race results over three weeks or heavy losses over two weeks. The exact nature of the illness must be determined then the appropriate “curative” medicine is used.
“Curative” medicines, by their very name, imply a dose of medicament strong enough to destroy the disease involved. Curative medicines therefore are not given to the healthy flock because they have the side effect of depressing form or affecting fertility etc. They are given only when the birds have an illness or outside the critical times of breeding or racing. They are often used in pre-season race and pre-breeding season health programs. The treatment interval (i.e. the number of days the medicine is given) is longer than that for “preventative” medicines. Preventative or control medicines are given intermittently for 1 or 2 days a week, whereas, the curative medicines are given continuously from 3 days to 45 days.
Preventative and Curative Medicines by Dr. Rob Marshall
Learn the champions secret winning pigeon racing formula
Thanks for tuning in!!
Glenn West
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