John Plant

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THE FEDERATION WESTERLY PROFILE

Fancier – John Plant

After a long absence the profile has returned this month with a visit to the Midlands to meet up with John Plant. John started with pigeons about eight years ago although he has a lot of family connections with birds and grew up with them when he was a boy. Having said that John is from a fairly large family having two brothers and two sisters but none have shown the same interest in pigeons as John. Since starting with West’s John has been very successful and with his dedication I am sure he will continue to have even more success. John was born and grew up in Stoke on Trent and is a real family man having met his wife Lisa 15 years ago and getting married two years later they now have two daughters Emily aged 12 and Anna 9. They both have an interest in the birds and are quite willing to lend a hand in feeding squeakers that have fallen behind. John and Lisa first home was in Stoke but after five years they moved just down the road to Newcastle-under-Lyme which is where they are today. John left school in 1984 to work as a silkscreen printer, producing transfers for the pottery industry until 2001 because by then the pottery industry was crumbling (not meant to be a pun). After several months of hard labour as John puts it which included stacking shelves at Asda he landed himself with a job as a caretaker to a local high school which is where he has been for the last two years. Johns other hobbies besides his pigeons includes his motorbikes and he currently is the proud owner of a Yamaha xj 600 (sorry John doesn’t mean a thing to me – DW), Photography and DIY. As usual I will now bombard John with those dreaded questions.

A. I have lived in Newcastle-under-Lyme or the close by Stoke on Trent, which is where I was born all of my life.

A. 1 grew up with birds as my late father David Plant (to whom 1 dedicate my 2000 Champion Blue barred cock to) kept for some time a few tipplers, tumblers and fantails along with budgies and canaries in the back garden. When 1 met my wife Lisa, her father (Peter Sollom) had been successfully racing pigeons for 40 years. To keep on the right side of the future in laws, we took his pigeons for training tosses most evenings. He had a great deal of success with his small family of pigeons (Irish Mint) not only flying but in the local shows, but he had to give them up some 5 years ago due to health reasons It took some years of nagging and wearing her down, but 8 years a go Lisa finally gave in and allowed me just one pair of birds for the back garden!

Like a lot of people 1 started off with a pair of fantails (March 1996) had them for about a week when the hen shot past me. The hunt then began for a odd hen, after seeing an advertisement in a local paper for fantails and west’s, 1 went along to purchase a fantail and came back with five west’s, a phone number, and address for Feathered world. Later that year 1 got in touch with John Jones who sent me a pair of barred west’s on their arrival 1 was amazed at the birds as they were far superior to the five that 1 had. Not long after my wife surprised me with a pair from Andy Lowe, these four birds have gone on to form a large part of my stud.

A. 1 only keep West’s and the best six pairs every year, the colours that 1 currently have are Red, Yellow, Black, Blue, Khaki, and this year a pair of spangles (Just for fun).

A. My breeding season starts after my last show, which is usually early January and finishes in May, hopefully producing approximately 30 youngsters. The selection process begins early (as soon as the bird is rung). 1 can normally tell if a bird is going to be any good when they reach the perch. By the time the first shows start 1 normally have left just 6 to 10 young.

A. 1 have two main lofts one 9 ft x 6 ft with 9ft x 6 ft aviary attached, this is used for breeding and then later the cock birds. My other loft is 10 ft x 8ft divided in to two sections for the hens and young birds.

Q. What do you look for in a good West?

A. First of all they must be appealing to the eye, as you have to look at them, clean them out, and feed them all year round. A cock must look like a cock, 1 don't mind a cocky looking hen but hate heny looking cocks. In the hand they must be fit not fat, (the opposite to me), balanced, good feathering with a pearl eye, clean and in condition, and most of all never carrying any passengers. 1 prefer the larger west, 1 don't have any preference on colour or markings but 1 do have a soft spot for the mealy.

Q. Tips for novices?

A. Keep your lofts clean and dry, 1 personally keep my birds on bare wooden floors, only using loft white in very damp spells, scraping them out every day. Feed the best corn you can afford. 1 personally hopper feed my birds and never leave food in over night, clean fresh water every day, you don't need all these additives for the drinker. Spend as much time as possible with them so that they become calmer and trust you Never over crowd your birds, make sure that there is more perches than birds. The loft should be well ventilated Study the birds that are constantly winning and handle as many of them as you can. Listen to as many winning fanciers as possible. Never make a snap decision following a show and trust your own judgment

Q. What are your future aims?

A. To continue to enjoy my birds, to improve my stock year on year and to do well at the Federation show and to have them holding their own in the very best competition. Get them looking and handling like peas in a pod, and hopefully to breed some of my favourite colour mealy.

A. 1 was at a Nottingham Championship show when they were judging for best West. The two judges could not decide on the two birds before them. On closer inspection the birds were both mine, and in fact nest mates, so 1 could not loose!

A. The flying breeds are in a very strong position but we must strive to attract new fanciers by advertising and promoting not only in Feathered World but in racing pigeon publications, as many racing men are giving up racing due to the falcon problem and the spiralling costs. We have lost over several years some very good and irreplaceable fanciers so we all must do what we can to try to promote our chosen breed.

Q. What clubs do you belong to?

A. 1 The National Federation - This is a real flying breed enthusiasts club, run expertly by Dave Walters and lan Johnson amongst others Competition here is very stiff and any card won will be well earned. It is every ones dream to do well here as it attracts top class entries from around the country

2 North West and North Wales Columbarium Society, and North West and North Wales Tippler and Tumbler society.- The secretaries here are Albert Dodd and Alan Jackson and they do a fantastic job, and 1 would not hesitate to recommend these shows to any one.

3 Nottingham Pigeon Fanciers Club - This is again a very good club with an excellent venue and show, which attracts entries of over 1200 birds. And with Andy Lowe in charge you are sure of a good day

4 Southport and District - Southport is one of the wife's favourite shows, as it is only minutes from the shops. It is held in a High school (so a busman's holiday for me) it is well lit, and is run brilliantly by Val Robinson

Finally 1 must mention the Lancashire Show Tom Alty runs this show and again is a very good show with entries of over 1600 Held at the Myerscough College Preston

Q. Are there any people you would like to thank?

A. First of all my father in law, not only for being on the end of the phone when 1 need advise but for looking after my birds when we go on holiday. You Dave for asking me to do this Profile, and to judge at this year Federation show at Bristol. Not forgetting the wife Lisa for all her help (and advise!) all year round and especially the night before a show. Andy Lowe and John Jones for their help in starting up and to every body that 1 have met through this wonderful hobby of ours.

I would like to thank John for his agreement to do this profile and for all his efforts in trying to keep the Queensferry show on this year but probably more important to his wife Lisa for offering to do the catering at the Queensferry show should it of gone ahead. I think once you have read this profile you will all agree that John is very dedicated to his hobby and I am sure will go on to even deserved greater success. Yours in Sport Dave Walters