I have been playing with pigeons for over 30 years. In the past, the knowledge about pigeon raising was basically based on hearsay, true and false, and only half-understood. In the 1980s, when Pigeon Magazine appeared, I felt like I had found a good mentor. I had to read every issue. I was particularly impressed by the theories of Pigeon Eye at that time. In the mid-1990s, with the influx of a large number of foreign pigeons, SARS was accompanied by advanced management experience and theory. It was at that time that I saw an article from abroad discussing the feathers of racing pigeons. , its ten points have qualitatively improved my level of pigeon identification at that time, and I have benefited a lot. After several years, I can no longer remember the title, but the content is still in my mind, so I have compiled it here to share it with all pigeon fanciers.

1. How to know the age of pigeons

Pigeons The age can be seen in the ailerons. First find one feather in the aileron that is darker and oilier than the other 9 feathers. Subtract 1 to get the age of the pigeon. For example, if the sixth aileron of a pigeon is darker and more oily, then the age of this pigeon is 6-1=5 (years). You can compare the footbands of your own pigeons and practice in the opposite direction. Add 1 to the age of the pigeon recorded in the ring number, and then observe whether the pigeon's secondary feathers are different in color and oiliness from the other 9 feathers.

There is also a limit to the age of pigeons that can be measured by this method. Pigeons that are over 8 years old have very small aileron feather surfaces, so it is difficult to judge.

Some people think that one aileron is replaced every year, so the age of the pigeon can be judged from the newer one, but this is not the case. The ailerons are all replaced from 86 to 218 days after birth, and the order of replacement is not gradual from 1 to 10.

2. How to judge whether the pigeon has stayed out overnight

When the pigeon has returned the next day during competition or training, this record will be shown on the main wing.

If a pigeon is physically injured or psychologically stressed during the moulting period, it will temporarily stop moulting. Although the stop time is short-lived, it will leave traces on the growing main wings.

During the seasons for old birds and young birds, all pigeons are in the moulting period. If there is a difficult competition, the racing pigeons have no way to return on the same day and have to sleep outside, in extreme fatigue and When feeling anxious, the feathers will temporarily stop moulting, leaving traces on the moulting wings. Older pigeons will usually be on the 1st to 3rd main wings, young birds may appear on any main wing, but usually appear more frequently on the longer 6th to 10th main wings.

The shape of the mark is jagged, just like the marks that appear when a fingernail squeezes the feather shaft, and it only appears on the top right side of the feather shaft.

3. How to judge how many rounds of young birds a pair of breeding pigeons produced at the end of the previous year

Except those that were separated and paired separately during the breeding period of the previous year In addition to breeding pigeons, we can tell from the distance difference between the tops of each main wing of the original pair of breeding pigeons that the pair of breeding pigeons bred a total of several rounds of young birds in the previous year. The male and female show the same characteristics, so you can tell by just looking at one of them.

Starting from the first main wing and observing in the direction of the 10th main wing, you will find that the distance between the tops of each main wing will gradually increase regularly. The larger the number, the greater the distance. big.

When giving birth to the first round of young pigeons, the first main wing of the male and female breeding pigeons will be darker and oilier, and the length will also become shorter than normal. Because the first main wing becomes shorter, the distance between its top and the top of the second main wing will appear wider than normal. Therefore, when you open the dove wing, the distance between the second and tenth main wings will be regular. increases, but the distance between No. 1 and No. 2 may be greater than the distance between No. 2 and No. 3, which seems uncoordinated.

Similarly, if a pair of breeding pigeons produces 4 rounds of young pigeons, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th main wings will all be shorter, because they all also become shorter, so 1 and 2 , 2 and 3, and the distance between 3 and 4 still increases regularly. However, the 5th main wing maintains normal long charging, so the distance between 4 and 5 will be wider. The entire wing surface shows that the distance from the 1st to the 4th root is normal, but the distance from the 4th to the 5th root is different. The distance from the root to the 10th root is normal.

How to judge whether a pair of breeding pigeons were separated in the past year! Then pair them with other pigeons, and make several rounds of young pigeons from the old and new pairs.

Now we assume that a male or female pigeon bred a total of 5 rounds of young pigeons in the previous year. According to "How to judge how many rounds of young pigeons a pair of breeding pigeons bred in the previous year?" "law. We know that its 1st to 5th main wings will be darker in color and heavier in oil, and the distance between the 5th and 6th main wings will be wider than normal. To see from this whether the pigeon has been separated from the original pair and then bred with another pigeon, you need to observe the distance between the 1st and 5th main wings in detail, if:

①. All distances are normal and gradually widened, which means they have not been disassembled.

②. The distance between the second and third main wings is wider than normal, which means that the pigeon was separated and paired with another pair after breeding two rounds of young birds with the original pair. Breed a round of young birds.

③. The distance between the 4th and 5th main wings is wider than normal, which means that after breeding 4 rounds of young birds with the original pair, the pigeon was separated and paired with another pair, and then bred. A round of young birds.

4. You can only judge whether a pigeon is suitable for long or short distance racing

Whether a pigeon is suitable for long or short distance racing can be seen from the structure of the wings. The so-called long distance Distance refers to a flight distance that requires more than 8 hours. There are many theoretical monographs on relevant aspects, some based on experience and some based on theory. The general conclusion is probably:

Long-distance dove wing characteristics:

①. The connection between the main wing and the aileron is straight, with no height difference, even if there is, it does not exceed 1/8 inch.

②. The main wing tip is blunt and the feather surface is relatively wide.

③ When opening the dove wing, it feels smooth and there is no pulling force.

④. When the dove wings are opened, there is a gap between the outer main wings.

⑤. The parallel part between the outer edge of the pigeon wing and the inner edge of the pigeon wing accounts for 2/3 of the entire wing.

Characteristics of short-range dove wings:

①. There is an obvious height difference at the connection between the main wing and the aileron, usually 3/8 inch.

②. The main wing tip is sharp and the feather surface is relatively narrow.

③. When opening the dove wings, there is obvious pulling force.

④. The main wing on the outside is not easy to open and expose the gap when the dove wing is opened.

⑤. The parallel portion between the outer edge of the dove wing and the inner edge of the dove wing accounts for 1/3 of the entire wing.

Can pigeons with long distance wings win in short distance races?

Answer: Possible, but the chance is very small.

Can a pigeon with a short distance wing win a long distance race?

Answer: Impossible, the only exception is that there are no outstanding pigeons with long distance wings among the participating pigeons.

5. What kind of competition is suitable for pigeons with 11 main wings?

Answer: short distance. There is one more main wing, and usually there is one less secondary feather. The main wing is responsible for pushing forward. One more main wing gives more forward force; the secondary feather is responsible for keeping the pigeon in the air and not falling. One less secondary feather. To provide a sustaining power, in this case with weak secondary feathers, the pigeon must accelerate and flap its wings in order to maintain a certain flying height. The advantage is that the flight speed is accelerated, but the disadvantage is that the power is easily exhausted, just like running 100 At a speed of 3,000 meters, it is the same as running a 3,000-meter race. You can lead in a short distance, but as the distance gets longer, you will run out of energy halfway, and sometimes you will not reach the finish line at all.

Some pigeon fanciers take advantage of the flying characteristics of weak ailerons. During competition (limited to short distances), the ailerons are deliberately shortened to increase the flying speed.

6. How to judge whether the pigeon has been sick in the past year

If the pigeon is sick, it will leave marks on the growing main wings, in addition to the serrations on the feather rachis. In addition to the white marks, wrinkles will also appear on the soft parts of the feather surface.

7. How to determine which round of eggs hatched in a young pigeon is the original mate of a pigeon?

Within one year of birth, we can tell from the main wing of the young pigeon that the pigeon is the first. Several rounds of eggs are hatched. This is a very practical technology. If you specify to buy a specific round of young pigeons from someone, you can check for yourself whether you have been deceived.

For young pigeons hatched from the first round of eggs, the first main wings on both sides will be slightly shorter than the normal length, so the distance between the tops of the first and second main wings will be wider.

The young pigeons hatched from the second round of eggs will have the second main wings on both sides slightly shorter than the normal length, so the distance between the tops of the second and third main wings will be wider.

By analogy, whichever egg is hatched will have a shorter main wing.

8. How to judge whether the pigeon has really experienced a difficult race

The difficult race referred to here is a race that is 800-1000 kilometers and requires more than 12 hours of flight. The identification object is limited Pigeons returning that day.

When the pigeon is in its peak state, the wings will bend inward toward the body, and the left and right wings will cross over the tail. When the pigeon wings are opened, the wing surface will curve downward, forming a cup shape under the wings.

If a pigeon flies continuously for more than 12 hours, the situation will be opposite. The wings will no longer bend inward close to the body, but will loosely face outwards; when the wings are opened, due to the experience of long-term flapping, the arc will change. When it becomes a little upward, except for the two wings, observe the color of the keel to see if there is any redness or swelling. If the color of the keel turns red, it means that the pigeon is flying very hard and needs to rest. The best time to check is as close to the pigeon's return time as these symptoms will resolve within 24 hours.

9. How to judge whether a pigeon is a purebred pigeon or a hybrid pigeon?

There will be no breed at all, and all the famous pigeons are improved by mixing other people's pigeons, but once they are able to be called In the realm of "tie", the shape of the 10 main wings of all pigeons should be the same, but the area size gradually increases from 1 to 10. You can use a pen to trace the appearance of each main wing and compare it in detail.

If it is mixed once, the 10 main wings will have two different shapes. If it is mixed twice, the 10 main wings will have three different shapes.

10. How to judge the health status of pigeons

The 9th main wing is an indicator of the health of old pigeons. Observe the 9th main wing on the left and right wings in detail around May. Check to see if any oil spots appear.

In healthy pigeons, there will be oil spots on the narrower part of the ninth main wing feather, about 3 cm below the wing tip. The oil spots will be very small at first, and then Gradually spread outward, within a few weeks, the oil spots will reach a diameter of 1/4 cm and eventually disappear. The size of the oil spots at the peak condition is about 1/8 to 3/16 cm in diameter. At the same time, check The feathers next to the ears, when the pigeon is at its peak, these feathers will stand up like antennas. If there are no oil spots in May, it is best to avoid sending the pigeon to long distance races.

Concluding remarks: At present, the level of domestic competition is improving day by day, and people from all walks of life, including workers, farmers, businessmen, students, and soldiers, are keen on this. It is true that only a small number can win. Amateurs and novices seem to be alone, and famous people may also fade away. There are indeed many reasons for reviewing and analyzing where we failed, but the most important thing is that we should not use traditional stereotypes to constrain our progress. We must always involve new knowledge to cope with the ever-changing pigeon racing culture. Just as Xunzi said: "I have been thinking about it all day long, which is not as good as what I have learned in a moment; I have been climbing up and looking at it, but it is not as good as climbing high to gain broad insights."