As the cold winds of winter sweep across the lofts, life carries on in its steady rhythm. The darkness babies are now on their final flights to drop, and I must say, they’ve had a terrific moult. Watching their feathers shed and regrow, you see the promise of what’s to come—new strength, new flight, and hopefully, new champions.
It’s long been my belief that darkness youngsters don’t have a complete body moult as yearlings. I have no scientific evidence to back this up—just experience, observation, and a gut feeling. Compared to two-year-olds and older, the yearlings seem to keep a few secrets in their plumage. However, once that second season comes around, they truly shed it all and emerge with their full potential on display. I believe it’s nature’s way of pacing them, ensuring they develop slowly into what they are meant to be.
Through this period, the use of Sedochol has been invaluable. This little bottle of magic helps the liver, ensures a cleaner moult, and brings that vital shine to the feathers that every fancier looks for. It’s no coincidence that the top sellers at the big shows—Doncaster, Blackpool—swear by it. For 45 days straight, it works like clockwork, helping birds glide through the moulting season with ease.
Now, as winter creeps in, the entertainment starts—on social media, of course. December always brings out the predictable posts. You have to laugh when the inevitable comment appears under a photo of freshly bred babies: “Are these 2024 latebreds?” Without fail, it happens every year.
Let’s be clear here—pigeon years aren’t like human years. If we’re being scientific, it’s more like a pigeon year equating to 7.5 human years, similar to the way we calculate a dog or cat’s age. This can be seen in their rapid growth rates, their hardiness, and their remarkable ability to recover from injury. To those who grumble about early breeding, I say this: our RPRA rings are issued the first week of December. If you have an issue, raise it properly—through your club, your federation, or your local region meetings. Personally, I don’t believe a bird’s age makes any difference to its performance. It’s not about when they were hatched; it’s about what’s in their skull (the brain) and what’s in their chest (the heart). That’s where champions are made.
This year, I took a rare trip to the Epsom Pigeon Show. It had been many years since I last attended, but with it only an hour away, it was ideal for picking up a few essentials and bumping into familiar faces. Shows like Epsom are the heartbeat of the fancy. If we ever lose the social side of the sport, we’ll lose more fanciers, and that’s a fact.
It was good to chat with those who recognized me (even behind the alias) and share feedback on my articles. It was equally great to see another well-known scribe, Barney, who I’ve known for many years. Hearing that his best pigeons descend from an old cock I bred him brought a smile to my face—it’s these stories that keep the sport alive. Even better, I was pleased to hear he’s been asked to write again. I’ve already seen his words back in print, and it’s fantastic to have another voice in the pigeon-writing world.
Winter isn’t just about the big events—it’s about the local shows too. I had the privilege of judging at the Laindon Winter Shows, famous in the area for their competition and community spirit. This year, over 70 pens entered across the Old Cocks and Old Hens handled categories, making it a real challenge to judge.
For some, the pressure of having competitors’ eyes on you in the same room might be daunting, but for me, it’s a reminder of what these shows are all about—tradition, camaraderie, and pride. The Best in Show went to a lovely hen owned by Mark Cooper. This was the fifth show win for one of his birds this winter—a phenomenal achievement. Massive congratulations to Mark for what has been a fantastic run!
With Christmas just around the corner, thoughts are turning to Blackpool—the Mecca of the Pigeon World. This isn’t just a show; it’s a pilgrimage for fanciers across the country and beyond. Blackpool is where lifelong friendships are made, where breeders showcase their best, and where pigeons change hands with hope for future success.
For me, Blackpool represents everything great about the fancy—the competition, the commerce, but most of all, the social connection. It’s where you’ll see fanciers catching up with old friends, enjoying a drink (or two), and sharing stories that stretch back decades. Blackpool keeps the heart of this sport beating, and every year, it’s a must-attend event.
Before I finish, I’d like to say a quick thank you to Sammy at Pallets. Their service has been second to none, and when I had an issue with some grit I ordered, they rectified it without question. A great business offering fantastic service—and no, I’m not sponsored. Credit where credit is due!
A final though, as I stood judging at Laindon, watched the darkness pigeons complete their moult, and chuckled at the December social media antics, I was reminded of one truth in this sport: patience, hard work, and belief in your birds are what matters most.
Master Po once said, “To learn patience is to build strength. To build strength is to walk the path to victory.”
In this great sport, success isn’t bought or borrowed—it’s earned, step by step, season by season.
Ryan Gadsdon
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