National Bulletin
1st October, 2001 Bulletin
A fancier who has been fairly prominent around the national and specialist races for
many years is Derek Lawton of Crewe whose main aim is National racing. Derek Races both
cocks and hens a the roundabout system but will pair them up towards the end of the season
if he thinks that they are losing their form, it is the end of the season when the races
that Derek really does like competing in come along. There are some 22prs of racers but
there are always some that only have a few races up to the coast because the thoughts are
always with the next seasons specialist races. There is also a team of 8prs at stock and
together the team rear between 40 & 50 youngsters. The main arcing loft is a timber
construction with an apex box profile tin roof and Perspex sheeting alternatively. Loft
measurements are 26ft x 6ft 6ins divided internally into partitions of 14th
with 24 nest boxes for the cocks then a 6ft section for the hens that has the
"V" type perches, when the pigeons are paired the loft is open to the full 20ft.
The other 6ft is for the stock birds that have a 6ft aviary. Ventilation is provided by
louvers at the bottom front and wire netting beneath the sputnik traps where they enter
the loft, they are let out through the one door at the front of the loft. The young bird
loft is also a timber construction some 14ft x 6ft with an apex tiled roof and is
internally divided into two sections of 8ft and 6ft. Both lofts have grilled floors that
are cleaned out weekly with the boxes being cleaned twice each day. Derek is also a big
believer that the pigeons must receive as much natural daylight as possible and therefore
has never darkened the loft and does not use a heating system in any of the lofts.
Droppings are sent routinely at the start of each season to the veterinary lab for
analysis. If necessary the birds are all treated for Coccidiosis, canker and worms and
Derek was keen to point out that for the last six seasons his pigeons have not required a
worming treatment, all treatments if and when required are with the Harkers range. The
main foundation of the loft are the Dordins that Derek has kept for the last 29yrs. These
are mainly. These are based on the Le-Producer line that came from Geoff Jones and Dave
Mellor of Crewe in the early 70’s. Since then Derek has introduced Dordin’s from
Jim Biss of Brundall and Mr Dickinson of Cannok and has also introduced the Van Bruaene
family from Mick Lock of the Wirral. There were also two good pigeons from Alan Shore of
Hankelow that have done very well. But Derek maintains the Dordin family at a rate of 90%
of the loft. The breeding pairs are selected by a combination of eye sign, balance,
feather quality plus a dash of good old fashioned "Gut Feeling". There has been
success with both line breeding and the first cross. All the pigeons whether stock or
racers are paired on the 14th February weather permitting, so that the young
birds are weaned two weeks before the first race. Derek has tried just about every nesting
material and found that tobacco stalks are just about the best. The racers are given cider
vinegar once per week. As pointed out the birds are all raced on the roundabout system the
hens are kept together in their own section once the racing season is finished until they
are paired. They are then allowed to rear a nest of youngsters before going back to their
own compartment where they are raced on the system that has proven very successful for
Derek over the years. However they are not separated until after the first race because
that is part of their training for the season, they are only split after the first race.
The hens are trained twice each week weather permitting and they are also exercised around
home for I hour both morning and evening on the days that they are not trained and they
never go out on a Friday. Up to Saintes the cocks do not see the hens before basketing and
the nest bowls are left in the boxes at all times. On their return from the races up to
Nantes the hens are left with the cocks for up to 5hrs, on the longer races they are left
together overnight. Any cocks or hens that do not go to the race are exercised around home
on the Saturday morning. The preference is for both cocks and hens to have at least four
land races and one channel race at 300mls before the big races. Derek said that he used to
take notice of the wing but these days he does not bother because over the years he has
found that it does not make any difference. The only exception that he makes is if a
pigeon has cast a flight in one wing and not the other within two days, on these occasion’s
he leaves the bird concerned at home. Young birds are weaned at 21 days old and after that
they are fed on maple peas for four weeks after which they are put on Versele-Laga Junior
Plus with a small amount of energy corn mixed into the corn. They are fed once daily in
the evening and allowed to eat as much as they like. The young bird training commences
three weeks before the first race. The stock birds are fed Versele-Laga breeding plus in a
trough on the floor then when the eggs have chipped out he also puts in a pot of Maple
peas in each nest box and keeps them topped up. An addition to the water is the Moor Gold
Herbal supplement from Stock Nutrition. The widowhood cocks are fed individually and the
hens are fed in troughs on the floor. There have been a few land races won over the years
but the keen competition is always with the Nationals where most satisfaction is gained.
Les.J.Parkinson. Elimar, 11 Rushton Drive, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10
ONJ. Tel/Fax: 01606 836036. ljohnp@elimarpigeons.fsnet.co.uk
web-site www.elimarpigeons.fsnet.co.uk
