Much has been written recently about the decline in the fancy and there are those in high-up circles who will not subscribe to the fact that there is a decline, and quote show statistics and various other points to prove, or rather, to substantiate the claim that the fancy is healthy.  It is m form conviction that there definitely is a decline, and even though there may be the same number of pigeons being shown at the Dairy and a few other big shows, such is not indicative of the real state of the fancy.  Where are all those local shows; one-day fixture which were so pleasant in the past?  With such things as these to answer no elderly fancier can be convinces of the high standing of the fancy at the present time.  Take Ayrshire as an example – who replaces such pigeon celebrities as Messes. Hardy, Stevenson, Crawford, Wilson, Reed, Akman Paterson, only to mention some at random.  Does the loss of such men, without having their places filled, not prove a decline?  The answer seems to be obvious.

But fortunately there is no sign of decline in the Roller fancy, and enthusiasm is very keen.  New members come rolling in every year.  There have been losses, and some real old champions have passed from our midst, but the gaps get filled by up-and-coming enthusiasts.  Of course, it must be remembered that in some fanciers’ opinions Rollers are “an easy breed.”  An old Tumbler man of high repute used to say to me “Anyone can breed Roller.”   Later on, when he accepted the challenge, he proceeded to keep the happiest lot of duds anyone could imagine.  Let me emphasize to every such thinker that the breeding of Rollers is not by any means so easy as it seems.  The fact that they breed easily is always misconstrued.  “To breed easily” is quite different from “to be easily bred.”  Left alone, most pigeons will breed easily – especially the long-faced varieties, but that leads nowhere, and without experience of the characteristics of the breed, it is not so easy to get results.  It is usually forgotten by the cynic of the pigeon fancy that in Rollers we are breeding for something, which no other pigeon possesses – the ability to roll a great speed.

In breeding show pigeons it can be discovered quite early on what the result will be, but there can be no such telling with Rollers.  They must fly and they must mature.  There are those who are bold enough of foolish enough to maintain that they are sure such will roll, and I leave them without arguing the point, but generally a godly period of time is necessary before the results of the breeding season are known.

How notorious a fact it is that one in a nest will roll in fullest style while the nest mate will prove to be a non-roller.  Where is the expiation for that?  How does that become reconciled with the statement that Rollers are easy to breed?

In Roller breeding there is no short cut nor any let up.  Such a high degree of quality is needed that there must be constant thought and care given to the mating each year.

 Although I have stated that it is not just easy to nominate birds that will roll, yet the breeder does have some chance to make his results more positive if he studies his type and breeds to preserve the feature which characterize his best performers.

The tumbling instinct is, of course, and attribute which is natural to the species, but this feature can be intensified by judicious mating.  Nor is it merely an arithmetical problem, as, for example, putting a bird with a 10-foot roll with a bird with a 20-foot roll and expecting to get 15 feet from the youngster.  Such an easy solution would indeed confirm the cynical “easy to breed” idea.  The breeding must be progressive.  Breeding for type is paramount, and everything deviating from the true conception of what a good Roller is like should be scrapped at once.  The Roller has been so bred that there are many different Tumbler types in its make up so the tendency is always to throw back.  In fact, in all manner of livestock the ordinary way is to revert to original and only the hand and mind of man keep such from happening.  Thus it will be found that there will be many that are different from the best because of this tendency to go back to the easier and perhaps what might be called, the more natural state.

What do we look for chiefly, then, when we are setting out to keep Rollers? The final product is such as gives us a pigeon that rolls in express fashion in a straight line and which has the faculty to do so, without becoming a danger to itself.  The good Roller always rolls under full control.  And to get such a product what might the novice be asked to expect?  In toto, a good Roller can be looked upon as a miniature racing pigeon, in carriage, stance and general appearance.  A medium-sized bird set on not-too-long legs, clean or muffed, it should have a nice shallow or apple shaped keel.  Deep keels are completely taboo and any tendency to bigness should checked at once.  Head should be weak with a fairly long beak.  Eyes may be of various colours are found in yellow, white, gravel, pearl, bull, &c.  Feather should be of good quality what sound primaries of good breadth, and failing about a quarter-of-an-inch off the tip of the tail.  Wings should be held compactly on top of tail and not allowed to droop.  The tail should be about a feather and a half in breadth when the bird is in repose.

Colour of Rollers is of very secondary importance and good performers are found in all pigeon colours and markings.  The strong colours, red, black and blue are most common, and consequently there are many more good ones to be found in those colours than in the soft or off colours.  This has given rise to a very wrong and erroneous impression that there are no good Rollers in the weaker colours.  Such an idea has no foundation on fact and high quality birds are bred in all colours.  Care must be taken in any effort made to concentrate on these weak colours, as the danger then arises that the performance may suffer.  However, such happenings are part of the experience to be gained in the course of Roller keeping so it is a matter of taste how any particular fancier decides to proceed in his quest for perfection.

Another opportunity is now with us, and with all Club rings now issued surely there will be many Rollers to be rung that will qualify for top hours.  And always remember – the best is yet to be bred.
Hon. Secretary,  TOM. F. BROWN
4 Bath Square,