Syrian Coop Tumblers *

                                                                        by:Derek DeBoer ,WY

With so many rare breeds existing, you would think every pigeon fancier would have at least one of them in their loft. The rare breed, which 1have in my loft, is theSyrian Coop Tumbler.

The Coop Tumbler is a fantastic breed, which has many qualities, and traits that 1 really enjoy. This particular breed not only possesses excellent performing skills, but great beauty as well. They come in various colors, some of which are soft powders, which are simply breathtaking. They are grouse legged and slightly larger than a performing roller. Coop Tumblers seem to have very soft feathers and many of mine have up to seventeen tail feathers compared to the normal twelve of other breeds. Often times the tail feathers of Coop Tumblers are much wider than other breeds as well.

The performance of Coop Tumblers is definitely unique. They tumble, clap and shoot all over the place. Some of my birds clap their wings so aggressively that they wear their flight feathers down to only the feather shaft. These birds eventually loose so much feather that it is hard for them to fly. Once the birds moult, they grow new feathers and break them down all over again. This cycle continues season after season. Many of these birds clap their wings so aggressively that they wear their flight feathers down to only the feather shaft. These birds eventually loose so much feather that it is hard for them to fly. Once the birds moult, they grow new feathers and break them down all over again. This cycle continues season after season. Many of these birds clap their wings loudly every time they fly. Whether it is up to a perch or down from their nest box, you hear the snap snap snap of their wings.During free flight, Coop Tumblers will fly straight up and gradually drop. While they are dropping, they will hover and tumbler. They might drop a foot and hover, tumbler and drop another foot and hover for awhile and then tumbler and drop another foot. Often while hovering you will hear the loud snap of wings clapping. They will do this until they get about ten feet above the loft and then shoot up and repeat the entire process over and over. It is almost as if there is a force field, which prevents thern from landing each time. They just can't seem to make themselves land on the loft. It is like a nervous disorder of some type, which causes them to shoot back up each time they come close to landing.

As with any flying or performing breed, each individual bird possesses different levels of performance ability. They are not all superstars. Some will clap more intense or tumble better then others. Although a particular Coop Tumbler might only be a mediocre performer, it can still be one of the prettiest pigeons in your loft .

The personality of Coop Tumblers is also impressive. A lot of flying and performing breeds are very flighty and jumpy. Not so, with the Coop Tumbler. They are very calm and not aggressive at all. Coop tumblers won't bounce off the walls when you enter the loft. They will not scalp young or cause chaos in  your loft. They sit tight on the nest   and do a great job raising young. I  have even used some of mine as   foster parents to raise Budapest  Tumblers.

I am by no means an expert on  Coop Tumblers. 1 have just shared     some of the limited information 1   have on them. My birds came from   Sam Rassain and Jack Schubarth   both of whom are much more     knowledgeable with this breed thanI  am. 1 am happy with the birds 1     have and must thank these gentlemen     for starting me with this terrific     breed. 1 know of other fanciers    raising Coop Tumblers who claim     their birds can out perform any Coop     Tumblers in this country, but 1 have     yet to see them. 1 have requested     birds from some of these fanciers,     but as of yet, they have not supplied     me with any stock. 1 am very willing      and eager to try some of these birds     these fanciers are speaking so   proudly of.

*Pigeon Debut November 99