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
