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pigeon An Introduction To Roller Pigeonpigeons The roller pigeon (Columbia livia) is one of the most extraordinary and outstanding of the nearly 500 breeds of domestic pigeon. Its most prominent feature is its aerobatic skill – the capacity to fly to great heights and suddenly summersault backwards in tight rotations, spinning downward like a feathered ball, often dropping more than 150 feet. Rollers are energetic athletes that are exceedingly popular due to their deep, precise, rolling performances and their striking colors. A pigeon’s roll display quality is measured by the duration, height, form and style of its roll. Pigeon fanciers all around the world keep tens of thousands of rollers. The history of the roller is not clear. The birds were apparently the result of selective Old World breeding that focused on a genetic mid-air spinning trait used naturally by pigeons to thwart aerial attacks by birds of prey. The original rollers were bred for exaggerated natural aerobatic escape skills and to perfect the tightness and duration of aerial rotations. Selective breeding has vastly improved the quality of rolling, and the ability of individual rollers to fly as a team or kit. Kits are usually comprised of eight to 20 rollers that fly in compact formation and roll simultaneously. These capabilities have been genetically cultivated for centuries. The Roller’s Rise In The U.S. Selective breeding to generate “long rolls” intensified early in the 20th century in North America. Deep rolls in unbroken 25-to 100-feet sequences were the objective. Individuals and kits varied enormously in their skill levels. Some rollers had characteristic mediocre performances. Others performed with great precision and prowess. Those were the basis for the modern stock. Efforts continue to focus on generating stock excellence. The main aim is to improve the three phases of rolling: entrance to the spin, the spin itself and recovery from the spin. Ideal rolls involve a mid-air folding of the body followed by a compact spin. Lopsidedness or sloppy spins with flailing wings are not desirable. Roller Types Roller Care Rollers thrive on a basic diet of mixed grains supplemented by peas. They vary enormously in their affinity to humans. Some are quite tame, others are flighty. For best breeding results, it is wise to separate the sexes outside the nesting season (late winter to early summer). Flying kits are usually kept in a separate pen and exercised as a unit. Roller fanciers should be aware that raptors, such as hawks, often attack the birds in flight and, to a lesser degree, on the ground. Young rollers are especially vulnerable to raptor attack. Some individuals seem to be especially adept at avoiding raptor attack by initiating complex aerobatics. Avicultural Hints
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