Happy New Year!

Welcome to our new web page! We will be blogging about what is happening here at our loft. Some of our practices and theories. We are constantly learning and trying to improve. We hope you can find some idea or practice that is of value to you.

It is a busy time of the year. We put the breeders together around Thanksgiving. We turned on the lights 24/7 a couple of weeks previous to mating the birds to get them physically ready to mate. Most years we typically replace around 30% of the breeders. At the end of the year after all the race results for the Old bird, Young Bird and One Loft seasons are known we analyze the results of the youngsters produced by each pairing. Each breeder is given two years to produce results. We like to switch each pairing mid way through the breeding season, so that means in most cases,that gives each breeder 4 different mates to prove themselves. Any pigeons that are not in excellent health are not used in the breeding program. Things are in full swing we have youngsters hatching every day. We keep feed in front of the breeders 24/7. We feed safflower, corn, wheat, chicken lay pellets and flock raiser pellet intended for raising meat chickens. We add fresh grit, oyster shell and Stop mite to the feed mix. Fresh water with vitamins is added a couple of times per week and is in front of the breeders 24/7. This time of the year we use water heating devices to prevent the water from freezing. It is a great time of the year. We always look forward to a new breeding season and are always hoping that we can produce many champions!