How to choose a racing pigeon at auction: pedigree, results and the eye

Every fancier has their own way of judging a pigeon, and no single sign guarantees a champion. But most experienced buyers check the same things before they bid. Here is a practical checklist.

Start with the purpose

A bird for the stock loft is judged mainly on its breeding value: its pedigree and, above all, what its family has produced. A bird for racing is judged on its own performance and fitness. Know which one you are buying.

Read the pedigree from the inside out

• Parents first. What did the sire and dam win, and what did they breed? This tells you more than any name further back.
• Look for proof, not just names. Famous ancestors are only useful if the line in between kept performing.
• Check consistency. Several good results in a family are worth more than one big result.
• Check the ring numbers and years so you know exactly which birds are meant.

Weigh the results

Prizes against large numbers of birds, in difficult races and over several seasons, count for more than a single win in a small race. National and union results, and one loft race results, are easy to compare between lofts.

Look at the bird itself

Photos cannot replace handling a bird, but good photos still tell you a lot: the balance and shape of the body, the condition of the feathers and the overall look of health. Many fanciers also study the eye: its colour, the circle around the pupil and its clarity. Opinions on eye sign differ, so treat it as one clue among several rather than proof.

Ask the right questions

• Is this bird bred from the loft's best pair, or a brother or sister of the stars?
• Has it been raced, and how did it do?
• For a breeder: what have its youngsters done?

On LoftHunter you can send questions through the contact page before the auction closes.

Common mistakes

• Buying on one famous name in the fifth generation.
• Going past your budget in the excitement of the last minutes. Set your maximum bid beforehand.
• Forgetting the costs on top of the bid: the buyer's fee and the courier.

Put it into practice: browse the racing pigeons for sale, look at birds by strain, or see what birds fetched on the results page.