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Old German Owls – Page 23 – Purebred PIGEON
B
reed of
the
I
ssue
- O
ld
G
erman
O
wl
Make Room for the Old German Owl
By Brian Magee - Rum Runners Loft
I
In 44 years of showing pigeons I have, for the most part,
kept one breed. I never had more than two breeds and those
times I had two were short lived. My knowledge, confidence,
comfortability and love always was with my first breed I showed
which continues today.
I had OGOs as a second breed 10-12 years ago. I was the
200th member to join the OGO club. Two of my pigeon buddies
(Bob Perkins and Mike Conway) had OGOs as a second or third
breed. I jumped on the OGO band wagon and like a rocket I was
ready to blast off and start my OGO success story.
Both Bob and Mike had superior stock and success in the
showroom. Bob won the 2007 NYBS with 129 birds shown. By
2012 the OGOs were in the Rare Breed section. All three of us
left the OGOs around this time. What the heck happen? My
opinion is a “Perfect Storm” hit. A few of the showmen just left
the breed. As the members got older they reduced their shows
and sometimes gave up their birds totally. A few experienced
poor breeding habits from the birds – parents feeding great and
then just stopped feeding; not sitting at night; the cocks more
interested in driving the hen instead of sitting or feeding their
young. These upsetting events were not the straw that broke the
camel’s back. What broke the back was the shortage of quality
birds. The demand for quality birds were unbelievable. I feel
members coming into a new breed want quality birds and exist-
ing members supporting their new endeavor. Without support
and birds how can a new member see progress? Also the price of
birds increased as the quality of the birds decreased.
Numbers started growing again in 2013 and has continued
to grow. New members Bill Henderson, Jeff Wozniak, Leonard
and Bob Kuzminski, Robert Dryden and Brian Elwell joined Jeff
Cap and worked hard to grow the Eastern Region of the club.
The key to success was getting quality birds into the hands of
new members.
Speaking for more than a few of us, Bill Henderson has
gone out of his way to insure good birds were being placed with
new members and members that rejoined the club. Bill under-
stands what it takes to grow a club. It takes a mindset that help-
ing members with birds or judging or advice is not a onetime
experience, it is a culture change that needs to take place all the
time with all members. It also means that good birds must be
available to members. Giving birds away, having auctions at the
shows with bidding on quality birds spreads the quality around.
Behavior like this becomes contagious. Next thing you know
the club is growing, sharing and understanding the needs of the
entire membership.
Besides filling the demand for quality Owls, a discussion
followed about what were the important factors in breeding
and especially showing the Old German Owl. In some quarters
markings were most important. The standard states by its point
system that General Impression is most important followed by
Body form and Head and Beak. A picture of the Owl follows with
Crest, Neck and Frill, Markings and ending with Color. I believe
this approach increased entries. I also believe that entries have
increased due to the many colors and patterns you see today in
the Owls.
Most important to this club is the way members act at
shows and how everyone is focused on improving the OGO
experience for the junior member to the seasoned member and
everyone in-between. The goal is to have a good time while
showing integrity and consistency. Everybody wants to see a
beautiful OGO win the show.
I made room for my OGO family and did blast off in search
of breeding quality Owls and having fun with my fellow OGO
Club members at the shows.
One last note: Mike Spencer wrote in the 2017 OGO special
about aspects of Judging. It’s a really good article and one all
should read.•