An Interesting Debate
(Internet Published) Mar 2001
On March 19th 2001, Brian White dropped in to see me quite by surprise. We
sat down in my living room with a can of ale each. Very soon the pigeon talk
started and the air was soon full of feathers and pigeon dust. I have
respect for the opinions of Brian White because he was the only man in
Sheffield to do 20 hours. Sheffield, the one time Mecca of Tippler flying,
but no longer so due to political and ethical problems.
The subject of using single pair breeding boxes came up. Brain was not
impressed. He reckoned that the hierarchy aspect and the competitive aspect
was essential to stimulate best results and that the breeding loft complex,
along with the conventional nest boxes, was the best system.
After a swig of English ale I said that in my time I had used single pair
breeding boxes with good results, but the pairs were never confined in the
boxes for all of the time. They were always allowed to get out of such boxes
for a bit of exercise, if only into an aviary briefly each day. Furthermore,
I declared that all such pigeon boxes must be big enough to allow wing
flapping at least. If these cells are too small for them, the side effects
may not be good. Now, due to individual aggression, nest box invasion by
accident or design some fanciers reported to single pair breeding cells into
which pairs were confined. Some results were good and some were bad. Brian
and I agreed that when we solve one problem we usually create another! Well,
that's life isn't it?
Quite apart from the essential wing flapping exercise and the hierarchy
competition, I suggested that the evacuation of pigeon's bowels become
stagnated by too close confinement. All pigeon pairs must have some outside
displacement activity and be able to get out of their small nest boxes even
for short periods each day. The subject of hierarchy is very interesting and
vastly unexplored.
Choose how, Brian and I parted company on friendly terms and never fired a
shot at each other. Good comradeship and mutual respect is essential with
pigeon men. Such men of good will can share my ale any time.