Welcome to Timber Lofts of Ocala, where quality and integrity come first! It is our goal to provide you with top quality birds from our very own loft. Whether it be Ceremonial White Dove Releases, Racing or Breeding qualities you are looking for, we know you will find it here. Please feel free to fly around our site and contact us with any questions or comments you may have.
We began a few years ago, as a rekindled hobby in the small southern town of Sylvester, Georgia. Even though the local club (ALB) was small, the friend-ships and competitive spirit was very much alive! After several attempts to fly competively, we had to shut down our operations. We moved several times over the last few years that made it impossible to start flying again. In August of 2005, we finally settled in Ocala, FL. Our Loft currently measures 8X20 (7 X 8 -cocks, 8 X 8 -Youngbirds & 5 X 8 -Hens) and we use the Unikon Clocking System.
Here at Timber Lofts we have been trying to aquire some of the most affordable "Stock" out there and have made alot of friends from across the country. Our current breeding program consist of birds obtained from Wim Vende Ven, Barnhart & Son, Weyer Family Lofts, Marty Dolly, Bob Greiner and the late John Graziano.
We utilize approx 16 pair of breeders by line breeding, inbreeding and outcrossing. We feel that it is important to cross mate our breeders to several different times durring the breeding season to fully get the scope on the breeders potential. Based on those results we are able to determine the best matches and can remove those that are not performing as expected regaurdless of cost, pedigree or race results. Our goal is to produce birds that on race day will give us 110% each and everytime sent. Likewise we hope to get the same or even better results from thier offspring.
Everyone has a different theory about the roads to success. Here at Timber Lofts we listen to those fliers that have the reputation as breeders or fliers for insights on their winning success. We document everything! Without this information we loose sight of our goal. By doing so we are able to incoorporate these proven methods into something that works for us and the families or "strains" of birds we have. Not everything works, be it a geographic issue, cost effectiveness, time consumption, loft design, etc. We feel our methods work for us and our unique style. Nothing is set in stone though! We blend many different systems and at different times to help us achiever our goals that are set at the begining of the season.
Here's a fun Fact: Pigeons being used as message carriers goes back over 5,000 years. However, by the middle of the twelfth century A.D., a well-organized pigeon post, with post office and postmasters, was being maintained. By 1819, the homing pigeon was developed sufficiently to fly 200 miles in a day, and at that time when the principle mode of travel was either by foot or horse, 200 miles was a great distance. Homing Pigeons were used in antiquity to bring back results of the battles, and in World War I and World War II to carry vital messages. Their vital messages have saved the lives of many thousands of combatants and civilians. As a result of their heroic efforts, many Homing Pigeons received medals and honors. One United States Homing Pigeon, called "G.I. Joe," was awarded the Dicken Medal for bravery by the Lord Mayor of London for saving over 1,000 British soldiers in World War II. "G.I. Joe" is the only bird or animal in the United States to be given this high award! In March 2003, U.S. Marines stationed in Kuwait received an avian force - a company of pigeons. The U.S. military believed that pigeons meant the difference between life and death. Though the $12,000 sensors provide advanced technology, anything mechanical can fail or give wrong readings. Therefore the military placed just as much trust in the bird as the sensor. (Taken inpart from The American Racing Pigeon Union, 2006)
Yours In The Sport ~ Brian Lord
Accomplishments
28th & 122nd vs. 1880 Birds, 143 Lofts at 370 Miles - Florida Federation '08 OB's (Top 10%)
24th & 129th vs. 1522 Birds, 131 Lofts at 451 Miles - Florida Federation '08 OB's (Top 10%)
2nd Place Average Speed ('07 YB's)
3rd Place Loft of The Year ('07 YB's)
4th Place Average Speed ('08 OB's)
Diploma's Earned (CLUB)
1st : 2nd: 1 3rd: 2 4th: 4 5th:
Diploma's Earned (COMBINE)
1st: 2nd: 3rd: 4th: 1 5th: 1 6th: 7th: 8th: 9th: 10th: 1
(As of April 2008)