News and Opinion

   It has been an interesting year to say the least. I started pairing in January this year due to the mild winter we were experiencing. I managed to squeak out a small round before the World Cup rolled around and I had to change my focus to competetion for a few weeks.

  Just as I got started breeding I got interrupted again. After I flew in the World Cup finals I took several birds from the A box and put them in the breeder loft.   I had just gotten everything under way when my friend Rob called me and dropped a bombshell. He wanted me to take a group of breeders he had due health reasons. All of a sudden I was the proud owner of 20 pairs of breeders, none proven. I had my own little show to select the pairs I wanted. I was breeding from just five pairs and was a long way from filling another kitbox. I was in pigeon heaven. I took two pairs from the 20 then called Bruce, who got me started with a nice group of birds. I gave him next pick of three pairs. I took 5 more for fosters and gave the remaining pairs away to other fanciers just starting out.

After that I was in high gear. I set up my pairs and got some fosters timed out and here I went. I raised 62 this season kept forty four ,14 were  sent to Jay in Wisconsin. I gave the remainder once again to Bruce.

Overall it was pretty successful. Kinda sloppy from time to time but I am pretty pleased with what I have so far. I see defininite room for improvement on foster timing as well as timing overall. I am looking forward to finding another elusive click pair.There will be more beneficiaries next season of my narrowing of the gene pool as I narrow the focus of my breeding program.

 AS I start my breeding program for `07 I am optimistic once again. The results from last year are promising as I home in around 4 pairs. Last year these pairs gave me the highest percentage of keepers with the least amount of undesirble traits passed onto the progeny. My A team is looking pretty decent right now. need a little polish. There are several that might be keepers for the next season and the breeder loft. I need for a couple of the yb`s from 06 to produce in the air in 07 to go on the line in the stock loft for 08. If not there is always next season. World Cup Qualifier is April 17th for me. I am going to fly with the New Mexico guys for a while due to the logistics.

April `07

Congrats to RK of Fresno who was the recipient of 14 of my squeaks in the 2nd annual BDL adopt a kid program.

I have started breeding for the season. I am in the middle of MY first round looks pretty decent as I had a few issues on this the 5th round. Nothing to get really excited about, mainly timing issues which will cost me a few chicks and a few weeks added to the breeding season. I will eventually get a breeding season to go the way I want it to.

I am breeding from the best three producers I had last season. I am running one solo pair checking out a new pair I might add next season.  I have two pairs of fosters for each primary pair of breeders. All my flyers will be from these four pairs no other birds wil be allowed on the property after this season. I am expecting a few squeaks from Juan Navarro in the near future.

1/01/08

Geezly crow, been a while folks. I bred 90 birds this season sent 35 to other destinations,kept 50, so it looks like I lost 5 for the season. Not bad at all.

Competetion wasn`t too good to me last season. Thats all behind me now and I am ready for a new start this season. Still searching for the elusive pairs. I have figgered a few things out this season but overall I wasn`t impressed. I`ll have enough to make a kit and score some points but I don`t think these guys have it in them.

This season I am going to put one new pair together and two from last season. The CRD cockbird is going on the Kiser hen. When JVB was here he told me that the CRD cockbird was a Kiser from one of Joe`s buddies. The lines will be Cheney and Kiser this season using four pairs I have had some modicum of success with. Gonna breed a kitbox full and call it quits for the year. After giving away over 100 birds since I started the well has run dry, for now.

More to come as the season progresses,I promise.

I`ll post a few pix of the new boxes and the birds.

Laters

v99

1/16/08

I paired up my birds for the season. Going with the family I have developed over the last couple of years. Mainly Cheneys thru another fancier here locally. I put together a pair ,I got one chick from last year. She looked nice,felt good and got lost in an overfly about the third time she went up. Put the lights on til 9:00 every night. That`ll get em going.

v99

2/18

I have a couple of babies and several eggs in the nest. We are honored to Have JV Brock again as our WC judge.  Should be flying the first week of April to make the finals by 4/20.

v99

6/7

I have been pretty busy in the breeder loft. Banded 32 so far. I got 4 pairs of Bradley breeders from Bob Peterson in Tucumcari. The last round is hatching now. I have 3 hatched out and a bunch of eggs. I bought a building to convert into an all in one facility. When I get done breeding I`ll get it home and refit.

v99

11/18

Gee its been a while. I finished breeding season after I ran off a round for the a new guy,Mike Harris of Amarillo. Gave him most of my WC kit and 10 babies. I ended up with 50 flyers at the present time.

We formed the West Texas Region of the WC Fly. A club is soon to follow. I didnt realize just how ripe this area was for a new roller club. We have ten members and growing.

I got a call last week from Johnny Williams here in Amarillo.   He got out of rollers in the 70`s due to the falling interest in the breed. He came oer and we flew some birds. He is thinking about getting back into the sport.

Looks like we have an uphill climb for a few years but the interest is definitely there.

The WTRC is planning an event sometime in the next few months to raise some funds for the WC fly. I will post more as it comes available.

Gonna be an interesting year,both in rollers and the world in general. Please say a prayer for our leaders so they might make the right choices to help our country thru this time of turmoil.

v99

1/8/09

Hello Again,

I finally got my building home.

It should be ready for occupancy

by the first of Februaury.

 25 bird kit box

The A team looks decent for the most part. The B team can turn it up when they want to. WTRC is having a meeting in Lubbock on the 18th to take care of some club business.

V99