The name Tiger Loft has no particular meaning, just happened to find a picture of a tiger while surfing the Internet. I thought the picture was interesting and after several hours working with it . . . . . . Tiger Loft was born.
GOALS: My primary goal is the enjoyment of the birds and the secondary goal is to breed competitive youngsters for the * One Loft Races *
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LOFTS: I keep a small breeding operation for two very important reasons.
REASON ONE: The smaller the operation the more severely you must cull your stock. You can not keep them all . . . so cull hard.
Even though your culls may turn out to be someone's foundation stock. I only keep what is manageable to me.
My main loft measures 12 foot by 10 foot and built in a modular design. This design allows me to have multiple single pair breeding areas. I also have two additional small lofts built in a hutch style which I use for holding pens for the young birds.
REASON TWO: The smaller the operation the easier it is to keep clean. A clean loft is more enjoyable for me and my birds and also contributes to good health in the breeding program.
The loft design is simple and plans for this style or variations of it can be found at Red Rose Loft starter loft website Click Here
*NOTE: New loft under construction and will be heated with twelve individual breeding compartments . . . photos coming soon.
Old loft will be removed.
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The following procedures work for me, but remember I do not fly my birds in club or combines, only one loft races . . . .so they are never exposed to other pigeons and they do not have a training schedule. This is a breeding loft and the following methods work very well for me.
FEED: I feed Nutra Blend pigeon pellets most all the time.
The Nutra Blend product is 15% protein and a well balanced diet. I have found using pellet type feeds you will have very little if any sickness in your birds. I will add Diatomaceous Earth to the feed at the rate of four cups per 50lb. of pellets.
This is done about every other month and will keep the birds worm free and in excellent feather condition.
GRIT: I offer oyster shell grit daily to the birds.This type of grit is primarily used for poultry. The grit varies in size but the birds pick what they want or need. When feeding pellets there is no requirement for grit to help in the digestion process but the birds do have a need for calcium especially during breeding season. I will also supplement the pellets with corn during the cold months and the grit is needed at that time.
WATER: I change water daily and refrain from additives to the drinking water. If not mixed properly vitamins or medications added to the drinking water will taint or bitter the water causing the birds to drink less and eat less. To test this theory place two identical water jugs in the loft, one with clean water and the other with vitamins or additives. I think you will find that the jug with the with clean water will be used first.
VITAMINS: I do use a powdered or water soluble vitamin and electrolyte "Plus" by AgriLabs during periods of stress or prior to the show season. This is an inexpensive multi vitamin that can be purchased at your local feed store.This is mixed one quarter teaspoon per gallon of fresh water, but I only use it 7 to 10 days then back to fresh water. I always clean the water containers with a bleach solution.
MEDICATIONS: I am not real big on constant medications for the birds. I will vacinate for PMV and treat with 4 in 1 . . . (this is available from most pigeon supply stores) For the treatment of canker, e-coli, paratyphoid and coccidiosis. This is done prior to breeding and show season at the rate of 1 teaspoon to a gallon of drinking water for 7 days. . . . . Then back to fresh water !
I just do not tolerate sick birds . . . .they are eliminated. Occassionally I have a bird go light or off feed, but this is very rare. I will isolate the bird and treat with the 4 in 1 and vitamins and if there is no improvement after several days I eliminate the bird from my loft. It has been my experience that some birds are just more prone to sickness and this is a weakness that I will not breed from.
BLOODLINES: I have never looked for particular bloodlines or chased after the so called hottest blood of a given time. I focus on past performances of each individual bird looking primarily for race winners or proven breeders of winners. I have always been amazed at pedigrees stating foundation quality. True foundation birds are like a diamond . . . and very hard to find. I stick to the old adage of breeding the best to the best.
I strive for breeders who possess one or all of the following:
 Race Winner (or top ten finisher)Proven producers of Winners
Direct son or daughter of Race winner
I will breed from 4 to 5 cocks and rotate hens in that family to them.Each year I will also bring in several hens from different bloodlines to cross on my existing cocks. The resulting youngsters will be sent out to a few of the smaller futurity races to test the mating's.
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Picture above is from the late eighties holding only day bird in Oklahoma from the Texas/Oklahoma 500 mile Shotout Race.This picture was on the front cover of the Racing Pigeon Bullentin about 1985 or 1986. I lost the magazine a few years ago and would like to get another copy.
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The Houbens
Consistency . . . . . . . . David Clausing Houbens
I brought in the following birds that were bred and or raced by"David Clausing" . A son of "David Jr." I call "The 400"cock and three outstanding hens, "The Clausing 122", "Racer 859" and Clausing 231. The Clausing 122 carries the blood of "410" top and bottom of the pedigree and is directly out of a 500 mile winner breed and flown by David Clausing. Racer 859 is another hen flown by David Clausing and a full sister to Combine Champion, she also carries the blood of "410". Clausing 231 is a direct daughter of "410" and half sister to five one loft race winners.
David called me and wanted the 122 hen back so I sent her to him in exchange for a daughter of "410".
The Flyhome Loft Houbens
I added the "The Ross" cock from Flyhome loft who is another outstanding Houben with a proven race record and best of all he is a proven breeder of winners, which include his most recent winner as of April 2010 AU 08 - 8102, 1st Club vs 342 birds @ 179 miles for Fly Home Loft.The Ross cock is from two direct David Clausing breeders.
The Blue Angels Loft Houbens
One of the most significant birds I added was a cock from Blue Angels Loft, AU 08 JAX 6936 "The Jax Cock". He is an outstanding individual and inbred to David Clausing's "410". Unfortunately the Jax Cock was not flown and I have no information on his siblings performance. His sire and dam were bred for stock by David Clausing so there is no performance in his immediate background, but I realized I needed the inbred blood of "410" to cross back on my existing breeders.
The Byron Weaver Loft Houbens
"Sally Three" Bred and flown by Byron Weaver only flown as a YB and Yearling because she arrived from a 604 mile race with a broken leg. She was still 4th in that race against 30 lofts. SALLY was also a 1st Place Winner as a YB plus other excellent positions. She is sister to 1st Place winners at all distances and full brother to "AUCTION MAN" AU 2003 GHC 1001 who won money his first year in the 1100 ypm GHC YB AUCTION RACE. He won other dipolmas later including 13th in the 2005 DX FLYERS 600 MILE RACE against 30 lofts. In 2006 he sired PETITE HUIT and FILLE DE HUIT. Both flew the 2007 MILLION DOLLAR RACE along with another daughter LE BELLE BLEUE. All finished the race and PETITE HUIT was exceptional as can be seen in her record ( Click HERE). He also sired QUATRE VINGT HUIT who flew good in the 2008 MILLION DOLLAR RACE.
"Weaver Cock" Houben cross from solid performance background, Bred by Byron Weaver. Half brother to 1st Overall North American Ace YB 2004 Racing Pigeon Digest. A half-sister bred a GHC Champion YB in 2010 plus it was 5th GHC in a 250 mi. OB race against over 2300 pigeons in 2011.
Exceptional Houbens
"The Nanny" hen is AU 2010 I 24916 bred by Nanez Family Loft and a 1/2 SISTER TO 1ST WORLD ACE CHALLENGE 200 Miles by 7 1/2 MINUTES! She is a direct daughter of Clausings 222 The Dove. The Nanny proved to be the top breeding hen for 2011 producing 4th place money winner in the Lucky 17 One Loft Race.
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I purchase most of my loft supplies from Vita King, I have found the service and products to be excellent and would recommend them to everybody.
CLICK ON LOGO TO VISIT THE VITA KING WEBSITE
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MEMBER:
 International FederationOklahoma Pigeon Association
Oklahoma Pigeon Breeders Club
Texas Pigeon Association
I offer birds For Sale occasionally, but not very often. Here are some comments from other
pigeon fanciers who have bought my birds.
Testimonials
Troy Daen writes 12/28/2011
Hi Steve,
I just want to let you know that the birds got here Thursday morning... They look really good!
Thank you very much!
Troy Daen
troy_daen@hotmail.com
Dennis Augustine writes 12/14/2011
AU 2011 VITA KING 5428 CLAUSING HOUBEN
Daughter of AU 08 JAX 6936 "Jax Cock" x AU 08 CHH 859 "Racer 859"
Hello Steve,
WOW! PERFECT CONDITION!
Thanks very much for all your efforts.
DENNIS AUGUSTINE
augustinedennis@gmail.com
James S. McLean writes 03/30/10
Hi Steve,
The bird made it by 11:00 and I think he is great. I am going to put him on a nice BB Meuleman hen I have.
Jim McLean writes 5/19/10
Hi Steve,
The birds arrived at 10:30 this morning. I couldn't be more pleased with them. I am going to give them the chance to live up to
their breeding by flying them. Thanks again for such superiorly bred birds.
God bless,
Jim McLean
jimmclean@live.com
Matt Kasulke writes 11/26/08
Steve,
HI there Steve I don't know if you remember me but my name is Matt Kasulke. I bought a bird off you "Savage" last year. Just wanted to see how things are going . I had Savage mated to a 4th place 500 mile winner last year and raised 2 babies off him. One got hit by a hawk and the other placed 10th on a 200 mile race with 600 birds. I'm hoping for big results this year as I am giving him a nice hen.
Good luck to you and keep em' flying.
Some of my other Tiger favorites
 A friend gave me a bottle of this because I was Tiger Loft and he thought it was funny.Turns out to be one of my favorite sauces.
Product Information
A spicy sauce for meats, seafood & poultry. The original Tiger Sauce is an exotic, moderately spicy blend of ingredients in a cayenne pepper base. With a touch of sweet and sour, it's perfect on meats, seafood and poultry. Delicious on sandwiches, in dips and soups.
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Another friend gave me this collectors item. I am not a plate collector so this was quite a shock, but it has found a place on the book shelf and is an outstanding piece of art work.
The Hamilton Collection
titled "Lord of the Rain Forest"
from the Exotic Tigers of Asia collection. This is a signed limited edition plate.
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