Magpie pigeon club breeder report. July 2008

Kevin Pratt wrote to me recently with a progress report which prompted me to ask around a few other club members to see how they are doing. Here is the feedback from a few. 

Kevin Pratt said he’d not had the greatest of seasons but has some young in Black, Red & Yellow, but Duns are conspicuous in their absence, which is strange because he’s been throwing these regularly for the last few years. As regards quality, he’s not really sure, but there is a young Black & a Yellow Hen (which is from a sex linked pair – i.e. Yellow Cock to Red Hen) so am sure of the sex which he likes.

Unfortunately Kevin’s Dad has not been so well of late, so pigeons are not getting their usual attention. I’m sure all of us from the Magpie Club send Pat our good wishes.

There was also mention of Ken Hemmings who has had a rough spell, and has very few youngsters about, but he is still getting to a few local shows.

Neil Radcliffe mentioned that this year his Magpies & Homers seem to have been a bit tricky to breed, producing quite a few clear eggs. He’s done exactly the same as last year and can’t work out why there is a difference. So far Neil has 4 Reds, 4 Blacks & 2 Yellows with quite a few gollies left in the nest. He also said this year, somehow, the young birds look to be of a better quality but there are just not as many. After chatting for quite a while to Neil about gamekeeping & country living it sounds like Neil is still very well.

After meeting Richard Gray at Malton Show a couple of weekends ago, Richard informed me that he’s bred quite a few nice Reds & from what he entered at the show they did seem like a nice standard. He also said that his Blacks & Duns hadn’t really bred the quality he was hoping for but he still had a few young ones in the nest. 

From the Green End loft: Due to inclement weather of the past few years I refuse to pair up in February despite all the birds cooing & billing. So this year I left it until well in to April. After pairing the pairs settled fairly well. This year they do seem to be slow breeding, rearing & weaning but so far I’ve weaned 8 Reds.

I think it’s time to go through some of my older pairs that really have been good show pigeons but produce very little. I have quite a few gollies left in the nest as I don’t separate until the end of August due to the aggressive but beautiful nature of the Magpie.

This year I do feel I have put better colour in to the Reds which has taken at least 5 years of breeding.

I think we all know and love the challenge of breeding a magpie & then even better - trying to breed a good one. Not the easiest breed to keep but a very rewarding one.  I hope everyone in the Magpie circle is well and look forward to seeing you at the shows.

Neville Worley, Hon. Secretary, Magpie Pigeon Club