Starting Out

New members and interested individuals have always wanted to find out what the club and the breed is all about. This is a quick intro on how to start what will most likely be a life-long passion of raising rollers.

Deciding On The Breed

Roller pigeons are generally hardy birds. They can thrive in every climate where people live and are tolerant to changes as well. Rollers are also very easy to care for, as long as you stick to a few basic principles in their loft construction and in the way you feed them. Provided you follow these principles, your birds will be in great shape for their entire lives.

Breeding Rollers and flying them in competition do not necessarily go hand in hand. A lot of breeders don't necessarily compete. They are content to see the birds fly and flourish under no pressure. Either way, they are a joy to watch even if you are not trying to prove them out.

Deciding on this breed will bring with it considerable commitment on your part. If you do intend to compete at a world class level, be prepared to spend many hours a week with them. You will spend a lot of time training the kits, banding the young, taking careful records, and cleaning out the loft.

Housing

Housing your Rollers will be your first priority if you have decided on this breed. You will need to build several compartments, or cages, for each part of your program. You can divide raising Rollers into an assembly line of sorts: you'll need separation pens, a breeding pen, and kit boxes. With all housing compartments, it is important to observe the following rules religiously:

• Keep water available and clean. Water for breeders should always be available. For competition birds, some schools of thought argue that it is not necessary. Whatever your choice, stick to it. Water is one of the best conductors of disease in a loft.
• Provide feed that is clean, dry, and free from vermin contamination.
• Keep the loft or compartment as dry as possible. Install exhaust fans if necessary.
• Clean the loft regularly. Do not let droppings accumulate.

Separation Pen

As the name implies, these pens are typically used to separate out the sexes. You have to decide, depending on your region of the country, what time of year is best for breeding. During the rest of the year, you'll keep the pairs separated so they don't continually produce young and wear themselves out. Sometimes a breeder will have only one separation pen to house hens and use the breeding pen as the separation pen for the cocks.

Breeding Pen

During the time of year you have designated to let the pairs breed, the breeding pen will be where they reproduce. A typical breeding pen will have in it nesting boxes. Each pair will own a nest box where they will lay eggs and rear their young. Sometimes a breeding pen is separated out into individual breeding compartments. This is done to insure that only one cock topped one female and that no other genes were inadvertently introduced.

Kit Boxes

For competition, it is necessary to house your competition birds together, as a team. You train them on how to leave and return to their kit box. A typical kit box houses about 20-24 birds. As long as each bird has a perch, they are happy and stress free. It is important to build the boxes keeping in mind that they are a kind of runway from where your birds are launched. What this means is that you have to provide clearance for your birds to leave and return to the kit box. Point the box toward free space or remove shrubs or any obstacles directly in front of the opening from which the birds are released.

Picking Good Stock

This topic is one for debate among many members. Without leaning toward any single theory, the options are several. You may want to find a local breeder and take his word on the quality of his birds and purchase a few. You can opt to pick some good rollers out of the air and if the breeder will let them go, then you are ready to go. You can also try to purchase proven breeders from a reputable breeder at a premium. Which ever way you choose to proceed acquiring your stock, make sure you talk to as many breeders as you can to find out what the best options for you are. You can check our Member Directory section for contact information on breeders in your state. You can also check with the Regional Director in your area that may be able to point you to local clubs or breeders.

Join the NBRC

Along with your new cages and new stock, don't forget to become a member of the NBRC. With a membership you will get the privelege of competing regional and national events. You will also be able to purchase bands labeled with the NBRC logo. You will receive our bi-monthly bulletin; a 100 page report on local happenings and future events. It is full of useful information gathered through the ages and from the best breeders around the world. Join Now!