Lancaster farming. (Lancaster, Pa., etc.) 1955-current, August 06, 1994, Image 43
Pigeon (Contlmwd from Pago B 2) siasts. Trimming is the pigeon breeders’ equivalent of fitting cattle for show, and entails deli cate grooming and removal of undesirable colors and locations of feathers. A tiny manicure scis sors is the primary tool used in trimming pigeons. York Fair is a major show for the Angle family, with Marvin and Kevin exhibiting as many as 150 pigeons between them. Angle shows annually at the NPA national show, which rotates around the country. Two years ago, the southcentral Pennsylvani a area hosted nationals at the Lan caster Host Inn, drawing 5600 pigeon entries for their show. Pigeon auctions are also usually SPECIAL SAWDUST For More Information Contact: Wes Geib, Secondary Hardwood Products Department Walter H. Weaker Sons, Inc., Lebanon, PA 800-344-3114 or locally 717-867-2212 Fax 717-867-2271 Breeding held during show events, with top breeding birds commending prices up to $l5O. Birds from out standing bloodlines are in continu ing demand, both at public and private sales. As competition for birds has grown, pigeon breeders are being increasingly careful of their flocks. Angle’s loft has twice been broken into by thieves over the past several years, who selec tively stole some of his most highly-prized show birds. Following the Middle East war a few years ago, demand skyrock eted for pigeons from top show bloodlines. Buyers were primarily fron) Kuwait, where pigeon com petition is keen, and war devasta tion and hunger had nearly wiped out all the flocks of the country’s hobbyists. Angle relates that one Call for shipment of 60 pigeons sold by an acquaintance of his carried a $30,000 selling price. Brokers for foreign buyers often arrive at lofts with video cameras and forward vodeotapes of pigeons to potential customers. Some also arrive at public and pri vate sale with specific orders for pigeons of particular species and coloration. Specialized handling tech niques have evolved through ship ping pigeons for show and sale purposes. “Microbarriers” and “skykennels" are containers designed for handling pigeon shipments by postal service and by air freight. Microbarriers, used for shipping birds via domestic postal service, have a filter lining inside the breathing holes in the cardboard to prevent potential dis ease and bacterial contamination. fl (Turn to Pago B 4) £ou/iMgl SHAVINGS or Waiter ng and scheduling Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 6, 1994-B3 When shipping pigeons by air for Angle uses wooden “skykennels” to safe and secure. show or sale, Marvin keep his prized birds only. ay Loads