Mary Allen
Pigeons are provided with appropriate ring sizes. The ring is proof of both breeding and age. As a breeder, it makes sense to take a closer look at ringing and the ring.
Plastic Instead of Metal
Originally they were simple metal rings with stamped numbers. They were either completely smooth or had a rolled edge. At the beginning of the 1980s, rings appeared, which caused great enthusiasm among pigeon fanciers. They were aluminum rings that had a plastic coating so the text was firmly encased on a strip of paper. Rings of this kind are still commonplace among carrier pigeon fanciers today. However, these rings have not been able to establish themselves among show pigeon fanciers. The rings are made for the whole poultry and the density was probably not complete. Especially for breeders of waterfowl, it happened that the rings were no longer legible.
The consequences of this problem were metal rings again, some of which had very sharp edges, which meant that there was a risk of injury. So it was time to look for an alternative, which was then also found in all-plastic rings. These are still in use today and the majority of them are convincing in terms of quality, especially as far as the lettering is concerned. In the beginning, however, that was not the case. Due to the laser process, the color of the writing cannot be read equally well everywhere. This is especially the case with red rings. That is why this ring color was also removed from the range.
Today we know six different ring colors. There is a different color for each year so that the connoisseur can already recognize the year of the pigeon by the color of the ring. He only has to be careful in the seventh year. Then comes the same color again. It has probably happened to every breeder that he made a mistake here, and every judge knows the situation of having an animal in his hands that is too old.
Vaseline Helps
The ring size is defined in the standard of the respective breed. In show pigeons, the smallest rings have an inner diameter of seven millimeters, the largest of twelve millimeters. The respective ring size depends decisively on the bone strength or the running feathers in breeds with slippers. From the history of show pigeons, we know that the ring sizes for most breeds have been adjusted over time. Usually, that meant the rings got bigger. Even today, some breeders repeatedly express their wishes in this regard. But you have to find out exactly whether the animals still show the right frame and the desired bone strength or whether it is too much of a good thing.
Ringing itself usually takes place around the fifth day of the chick’s life in smooth-footed breeds. An exact day cannot be specified here, since the growth and, in turn, the bone strength of the chick varies greatly from breed to breed. When ringing, the ring is pushed over the front three toes, so that the back toe is pushed up when moving on. It is essential to ensure that this is then free again. If you want, you can make the whole thing even more “flowing” with a little Vaseline. A check-up after a few days may be appropriate. In general, you should make sure that the ring does not slip down again. The ring then has its final place on the so-called barrel.
Numbers on the Head
On the other hand, when pigeons are tagged, the ring is pushed over the heel joint. This has the advantage that the actual shoes have no gaps through the ring seat. Since there are already clear quills on the toes when ringing, a small piece of plastic foil can be useful. It is placed over the toes so that the ring is pushed over the heel joint. This has the advantage that the quills cannot be damaged in any way. But you also have to make sure that the ring stays in place when you’re being laughed at.
It is up to the breeder to decide on which foot to ring. It is usually the case that the left-hander rings the pigeon on the left foot, the right-hander on the right. The direction in which the letters are to be read is also up to the breeder. Judges tend to ring with the numbers upside down. This has the advantage that you have them in front of you when reading and noting them down on the evaluation card.
In addition to a combination of letters and a number, the ring size and country code are also lasered into the rings. In the case of associations that belong to the European Small Animal Breeders Association (EE), the abbreviation “EE” can also be seen. As a breeder, you will receive rings with consecutive numbers. Many have started to order rings several times to get different series. This is useful when ringing different lines with different series. This can be very useful and support in the daily breeding work, especially for breeders who breed different breeds in several colors. Even with something as simple as the ring, there are a few things to keep in mind. Thinking about it and applying it yourself is definitely worth it.