Bunch Quitters And
Free Thinkers
Jack Prescott
Feathered World September 2003
Cattle drovers would not tolerate awkward specimens which
had the habit of trying to leave the herd on long drives. Such nuisances as
these were killed and used as meat for the drovers or given to hostile Indians
in return for free passage over their territory. I compare these nuisances to
what I call kit pigeons’ and I would never tolerate them for very long the
Indians would be welcome to them.
Tipplers, Rollers and the various forms of Flying Tumblers,
surely must be close kit pigeons, which fly in an intensely gregarious pack.
Otherwise we may develop a split Kit, with individuals scattered all over the
air space. To my way of thinking, this is not satisfactory, it is painful to
behold. From a very early age pigeons should be trained to fly as a compact kit.
This is easy because young pigeons are intensely gregarious Any bunch quitters
or free thinkers should be removed without delay, before the fault becomes
transmitted to others.
Ideally a kit of high flyers, no matter whether three or 53
should quickly assemble after liberation for exercise and then stick together
and drop together after each exercise. I always found that a regular routine and
exercising on every possible day, is conducive to this excellent form of order.
Such gregariously established kits do not like strange
pigeons which try to join them in flight. To avoid them they rise to a greater
altitude and range. I also find that such pigeons which are trained on these
lines, will notice a Falcon or a Hawk, even at distance, and take evasive action
by increasing altitude and range.
Nothing attracts attacks by predators more than a straggler
or a bunch quitter.
Tipplers usually break kit formation briefly when ready to
drop, after a marathon fly. This is a peculiarity, but if the split extends or
becomes too long, it often results in individuals being out all night on some
buildings or even trees probably lost forever. However, to get marathon times
from Tipplers over flying is not advised. In Britain, contest Tipplers are kept
as prisoners and aviary pigeons for about six months of each year. The Rollers
and Tumblers are not restricted, anyway they are not required to fly marathon
times.
With racing pigeons, I firmly believe that on liberation
for a race, they should stick together for much of the journey back home. Only
when certain polished individuals gain confidence, should they forge ahead to
win the race. It would be a very reckless racing man who would risk a solo
flight from a longish distance.
The biggest Sheffield racing club has a lot of members
located on one site, surely a great advantage. However, I write about high
flyers and I reckon that close kitting and gregarious character is essential.
Surely we want to be looking ‘at them’ and not looking ‘for them’.
[Feathered World November 2003 http://www.tipplers.com/jack/]
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