Base price for 2004 will be $250

• We don't have the time, feed, or pen space for birds that are not exciting prospects. However, the fact remains that until a bird establishes a record, all the hope and hype in the world can't make the bird any better than the genes it was born with. It is for this reason that we establish each year a base price for breeding stock and only sell animals above this base price who have an established record as flyers or as breeders. We set a high standard and in 2004 at lest 75% of our pairs will be priced at this base price.
• The base price for 2004 will be $250 (U.S. Dollars). This is the minimum price we need to charge based upon the very significant investment we have made in our breeding stock. We have gone to great lengths and expense over the past six years to acquire one of the strongest gene pools that we believe can be found anywhere.
• We make a big point of this base price policy for two reasons. First, you have our promise that there is a justified reason for the higher priced birds. Second, you need to realize that just because the offspring of a given pair are priced at the base price, doesn't necessarily mean they aren't as valuable as the higher priced birds. In many cases, today's base priced birds will be the top priced birds of tomorrow. The base priced birds represent a real opportunity for astute buyers and beginners to get outstanding stock at a reasonable price.
• We cull from the bottom and sell from the top. In fact, the majority of the birds we raise are never offered for sale as we cull approximately 75% of what we raise.
• Our breeders are basically divided into four groups:
• The Elite Breeders - These are the very top breeders in our loft. They are the result of years of buying and breeding and testing. They represent the future of my loft and are the foundation birds around which I am building the next generation. I breed them for myself and while I do sell some of their offspring, I would more often than not prefer to keep their youngsters. They are what you might call my private stock. Youngsters from these breeders are individually priced usually from $750 to $2500 when available.
• The Proven Breeders - Birds in this group have distinguished themselves with respect to their breeding record. Youngsters from these breeders are priced at $400.
• Pairs Being Tested - Birds in this group represent great potential. They are not placed here unless we have very high hopes that they will eventually become elite breeders. Sometimes they are new purchases. Other times they were great race birds. Many times they are off the elite breeders. There are a limited number of individual breeding pens and the competition to become a breeder is intense. While they certainly do not all pan out as great breeders, this is still a very select group. Youngsters from these breeders at priced at the base of $250.
• Pumpers - We utilize a number of pumper pairs for raising many of the eggs off the elite breeders. The birds we use for these pumpers are a kind of insurance policy. Sometimes they are birds that were formerly in the test breeding program and we are simply waiting for their offspring to prove out one way or the other. Other times these pumpers are top stock candidates for which there just wasn’t room in the breeding program. The pumper pairs are never allowed to raise their own eggs.