Methods and tips for raising pigeons: squab selection is the most important

In raising pigeons, the most important thing is the selection of squabs, otherwise the pigeons we raise are prone to illness, or other problems may arise. So how should we go about selecting squabs? If we keep and raise them all regardless of quality, we not only waste energy and resources, but also cause a decline in the overall loft's racing performance. Conversely, carefully selecting high-quality squabs is very beneficial for both breeding and racing. Therefore, pigeon fanciers must attach importance to squab selection. How should squabs be selected?

1. Bloodline is the foundation. Based on racing practice, select and keep squabs from the loft with good bloodlines and outstanding performance as breeding pigeons for the next generation. For crossbred pigeons, you can select and keep squabs from the most genetically outstanding bloodline to prepare for competition. Then you must know which bloodline should serve as the main bloodline and which ones as the pairing bloodlines; keep the main bloodline for breeding and use the cross bloodlines for competition; this is the better approach.
2. When selecting squabs, look at body type. For a racing pigeon to win in fierce competition, facing thousands upon thousands of strong pigeons, even in a contest decided by a few tenths of a second, besides having a superior bloodline, appearance, and eyes, the remaining condition is physical fitness. Physical fitness includes body type, and streamlined body types should be selected. Understood from the principles of aerodynamics, streamlined racing pigeons have low flight resistance, good balance, longer sustained flight time, and less physical exertion. Therefore, when selecting any breed, streamlined body type is the first choice. In terms of overall form, there is length, width, and thickness, namely body length, back width, and chest thickness. Judging from the data of winning racing pigeons, most winners in middle- and short-distance races are short and stout, or short and compact, and such racing pigeons often have strong explosive power but short sustained flight time; this is determined by their body type characteristics. In other words, the body type characteristics of middle- and short-distance pigeon breeds and long-distance and ultra-long-distance pigeon breeds are different. Therefore, when selecting squabs, the squab's body type should be chosen according to the competition category.
3. Selection of squab eyes. Because they are squabs, each person's method of judging pigeons differs, and some people still cannot tell much from them. But practice tells us that bloodline pigeons with good eye texture, pupil, eye sign, and inner ring are beneficial for both breeding and racing.
4. The skeleton of a squab is also very important. “Judge bones when releasing for flight” was Zhang Wanzhong's profound theory 300 years ago, but unfortunately it has still not been taken seriously by all pigeon fanciers. The skeleton is the foundation that constitutes a racing pigeon; the skeleton is the support for all the racing pigeon's moving parts and the muscles that produce movement. Only a strong, supple, and solid skeletal structure can provide a suitable support for the different muscle groups. When a squab is held in the hand, it should feel firm and solid. The keel should be long, thick, and curved. One end of the pubic bones should tilt slightly upward; the pubic bones should be short, thick, and firm, tightly closed. The upper arm bone should be thick, strong, and hard, and its wing beats powerful, which can increase the frequency of wing beats.
5. Feathers. The feathers should have good downy softness, be smooth, with a glossy luster, and the feather barbs should be as fine as silk, closely arranged into flat and thin elastic feathers, clinging tightly to the whole body, giving a feeling of slipping out of the hand when held.
6. Muscles. The large pectoral muscles should appear full and strong, with a sense of calm confidence. After training and competition, a racing pigeon's fat all disappears, and its large pectoral muscles change from soft to elastic. When the pigeon is held in the hand and its wings are spread, the two wings produce a soft and elastic feeling.
7. Overall appearance. A squab should have a strong physique and an intelligent, calm, and confident demeanor. It should give a sense of balance; the two legs should not be too long or too straight, nor should they appear too short. Male pigeons should have a dignified and generous male appearance; female pigeons should have a dignified and refined female appearance. They should be “still as a maiden, moving as a dragon”. They should be affectionate toward their owner and highly alert toward strangers. Regarding the selection and views on squabs, these are merely my humble opinions, because at present in the pigeon-raising field, there is no professional school, no fixed teacher, and no fixed model. You must rely on your own learning and exploration, and communicate more with fellow pigeon fanciers. Therefore, do not fear failure or setbacks, and do not become complacent and stagnant just because you have achieved results. You should humbly learn from others' strengths, understand the advantages of other lines of pigeons, and introduce good bloodline pigeons at the right time; this will add new vitality to your own loft and may also produce unexpectedly good results.
Now, you know how pigeons should be selected as young breeding stock, right?