Old bird systems are designed around motivation. Cocks and hens are motivated by their love for home (security, food, shelter), their nest box, their mate, their eggs, etc.
Natural system
This system allows for the birds to mate up, go down on eggs and race to the nest box. Eggs are often switched for dummy eggs but some are raced to youngsters in the nest.
Positives
the mate, the nest box, the eggs or youngsters are extremely powerful motivators
The possibilities of ways to “set up” individual birds are numerous.
Allows you to breed from your race team.
If various pairs are kept on different laying cycles various birds will be in form at different times.
Negatives
When a mate becomes lost, it then handicaps the remaining mate as it has to be re mated and re motivated
Raising a youngster is added stress that may take away from racing form.
Brooding sometimes causes a pigeon to eat less rather than get off of the eggs and loft flying may be decreased. To keep from loosing either of these careful attention must be paid to each individual.
Birds do not stay in form as long.
Widowhood
This system flies only cocks and uses the nest box and hens as the motivator. The cocks are deprived of the hens except in preparing them for the race and often upon return from the race.
Positives
The hens are a very positive motivator
Requires less road training
Losses during the race system do not handicap the system or the individual birds
Bird keep their form longer than in the natural system.
Negatives
Hens are not flown
Requires an additional section to house the hens
Must have dedicated breeders other than racers to also breed for a young bird season
Double Widowhood
This system is the same as regular widowhood except that hens are also raced. The hens/cocks are motivated the same way by each other just before basketing and upon the return from the race.
Positives
The hens/cocks are a very positive motivator
Losses during the race system do not handicap the system or the individual birds
Both sexes are flown maximizing the amount of birds in the loft racing.
Bird keep their form longer than in the natural system.
Negatives
Requires an additional section to house the hens
Requires more road training
Must have dedicated breeders other than racers to also breed for a young bird season
The Celibacy system
This a system where hens and cocks are housed separately. They are flown unmated. Some use of the other sex is used as a motivator.
Positives
The hens/cocks are a very positive motivator
Losses during the race system do not handicap the system or the individual birds
Both sexes are flown maximizing the amount of birds in the loft racing.
Bird keep their form longer than in the natural system.
Negatives
Requires an additional section to house the hens
Requires more road training
Must have dedicated breeders other than racers to also breed for a young bird season
Young Birds
Young bird systems are based off of the biological clock and the ability to manipulate that clock.
There is the natural system in which nothing is altered other than young birds are hatched, weaned, matured naturally, trained and raced.
The Lighting System uses artificial light to increase the amount of daylight to trick the birds biological clock into making them mature faster. This system usually requires pulling the 9th and 10th flight feathers.
The Darkening System uses the deprivation of light to also trick the birds into maturing differently. The main difference in the darkening system is the birds will loose all body feathers but will keep their flight feathers.
If young birds are matured enough, they can be flown to a widowhood system. The only draw back to this is that most clubs do not separate hens/cocks therefor that could hinder racing a young bird with that type of motivation.
Hey Donnie, Saw your Birds on Ipigeon and must say, those are some Beautiful Heitzmans. They are very true to what I called the real thing. Beautiful Hansennes as well. Take Care, Chuck
Hi
I have placed the pigeon recieved from you recently in a priority express shipment back to you in same box recieved. Bird was beautiful and healthy but we realized it’s nature is such that it needs to fly and be a racing pigeon. We can’t offer that life to it and realize it was a mistake to try this based on our situation
Bird has had not been outside and has been confined indoors in isolation since recieved.
Please give it the home it deserves.
Appreciate the care you took getting it to us!!!
Need some color on my team. Had some sion couple years ago when i had a partner who sick and could not care for his own birds. He liked sions so i bought some from you on pigeonauction.com. We alot of fun his sions against my team .He has since past on. His family called me and thanked me for letting fly with me he really looked forward race day. HE WON EVERY WEEK Path: https://www.clayhavenfarms.com/pigeons/for-sale
Thank you very much for your attention. the pigeons are beautiful and eat well. Im recommending your pigeons to my friends. I hope to buy more pigeons from you in the future. Thank you.
Arrived early and in perfect condition. I have 8 favorites.
The Alexander Hansenne is indeed a remarkable Racing Pigeon Strain. Dr Willaim Anderson in his book "The Sport of Racing Pigeons" 1947 writes extensively about this outstanding Fancier. I luck to have an original copy of the book. Need i say i myself have of the Bronze chequers in my stock loft Well wishes to you
Hello Dale, Donnie & Pam
Firstly, I would like to thank Dale for his persistence yesterday. Both Linda and I were so sorry that your crossing was so difficult. Originally, you texted me that you would wait for us---so of course we would wait for you!!
We had a very pleasant return home with clear roads etc. But were extremely tired and went to bed early!! I am extremely happy with the selection of birds you sent even the replacement for 20512.
It was a pleasure dealing with the Zehr family. I spent time with the birds in the garage last night and today speaking "Zehr Sion" to them. Think they understood---at least until they learn "Trini Sion". Lol!!!
Thank you all once again.
Wishing you all and your families a very Happy Holiday Season!!!
Dave and Linda
The 3 birds arrived this morning in Aurora, Colorado safe and sound. Thanks. We'll do business again!!
Hello. We received the two boxes today with the four Hansenne pigeons. Arrived in excellent condition.
She is SOOOOO BEAUTIFUL! Thank you guys for looking out for me. Can’t say enough about how much I love the bird and birds you have sent me.
Thank you so much, i got the bird! He's so beautiful, pin tail apple body, nice wing :)
Hello there, My name is Mike and live in Az, I had racing pigeons when I was young and now Im not young haha 61, Semi retired and determined to move to a place where I can fly birds again, want to get my grandkids involved. Anyway as a kid I flew some Sions and really enjoyed your website. When Im ready would love to get a few Sions again and see how they do. Any advice for an old newbie? lol
Hey Donnie, Saw your Birds on Ipigeon and must say, those are some Beautiful Heitzmans. They are very true to what I called the real thing. Beautiful Hansennes as well. Take Care, Chuck
Hi
I have placed the pigeon recieved from you recently in a priority express shipment back to you in same box recieved. Bird was beautiful and healthy but we realized it’s nature is such that it needs to fly and be a racing pigeon. We can’t offer that life to it and realize it was a mistake to try this based on our situation
Bird has had not been outside and has been confined indoors in isolation since recieved.
Please give it the home it deserves.
Appreciate the care you took getting it to us!!!
Need some color on my team. Had some sion couple years ago when i had a partner who sick and could not care for his own birds. He liked sions so i bought some from you on pigeonauction.com. We alot of fun his sions against my team .He has since past on. His family called me and thanked me for letting fly with me he really looked forward race day. HE WON EVERY WEEK Path: https://www.clayhavenfarms.com/pigeons/for-sale
Thank you very much for your attention. the pigeons are beautiful and eat well. Im recommending your pigeons to my friends. I hope to buy more pigeons from you in the future. Thank you.
Arrived early and in perfect condition. I have 8 favorites.
The Alexander Hansenne is indeed a remarkable Racing Pigeon Strain. Dr Willaim Anderson in his book "The Sport of Racing Pigeons" 1947 writes extensively about this outstanding Fancier. I luck to have an original copy of the book. Need i say i myself have of the Bronze chequers in my stock loft Well wishes to you