Got the cover of the Pigeon Racing Digest for September of 2011 along with other ads throughout the magazine.
These birds are on sale by Richard Cass 702-845-2177
Sadly they havent updated their website since 2009?! http://www.racingpigeondigest.com/
Recently we photographed Danny Rogers & his birds; he is a bird wrangler, He raises and cares for all sorts of animals- specifically Roosters and Racing Pedigree Pigeons in Lockhart Texas. He raises the birds and sales them worldwide. It is illegal to fight roosters across the states. The word on the street is that it still happens in small towns and on Indian Reservations in the states.
He was recently featured on ESPN about Cockfighting. Rogers was under the impression when working with ESPN that they would show his part of the story. However they were focused on abuse of the birds.
Rogers breeds the birds, feeds them, cares for them then sales them. He complains that when the humane society or the animal activist groups seize the birds during an underground cockfight than they euthanize the birds. So instead of the birds have a fighting chance to live they are killed by the humane society.
“I can take this animal right here and kill him and eat it and nobody even thinks anything about it,” said Rogers. “But, if I give him a fighting chance I’m some kind of weird type of person.”
Here is the ESPN video:
http://espn.go.com/videohub/player/embed.swf
My experience with Roosters was to let the professional handle them or else I would get pecked! They are feisty but they sure are pretty.
Its ironic that the birds have so much aggression and are so popular as art – kitchen art around the world.
What is Cockfighting?
The combatants, referred to as gamecocks, are specially bred birds, conditioned for increased stamina and strength. Cocks possess congenital aggression toward all males of the same species. Cocks are given the best of care until near the age of two years old. They are conditioned, much like professional athletes prior to events or shows. Wagers are often made on the outcome of the match. While not all fights are to the death, the cocks may endure significant physical trauma. The birds are equipped with either metal spurs (called gaffs) or knives, tied to the leg in the area where the bird’s natural spur has been partially removed. A cockspur is a bracelet (often made of leather) with a curved, sharp spike which is attached to the leg of the bird. The spikes typically range in length from “short spurs” of just over an inch to long spurs almost two and a half inches long.
Cockfighting- goes back in time The sport was popular in ancient times in India, China, Persia, and other Eastern countries and was introduced into Greece in the time of Themistocles (c. 524–460 BC). It is still popular in Peru, Mexico, Brazil, Southeast Asia, Pakistan and the Philippines islands.
Photography by Natalie Cass & Raychel Deppe with FeatherFoto International.
For the past 5 years we have been working with the Quest Syndicate Lofts. Recently, in December 2010, we photographed their entire flock of over 450 pedigree pigeons. Don Barker, Richard Cass, Butch Shoop, and Fred King are partners located across the United States. They are best known for “The Vegas Pair.”
“Don has sought and obtained the very best from Mike Ganus. This includes children of Terminator, Aviator, Hercules, Topo, Americas First, Vita King and numerous others. Don takes great pride in his Hofken family. Don as well has traveled to Belgium and Holland and picked birds for himself firsthand. Don has also acquired first class birds from Barry Eu. Some of which Barry would like back.”
“Richard joined the Quest Syndicate in 2006 on the recommendation of Mike Ganus. Richard was previously associated with Desert View Lofts of Tucson, Arizona. Desert View enjoyed success on the international scene with a win and another top prize in South Africa. It won the International Derby-Tenerife-Canary Islands by 3 hours. Other top showings included a 5th and 15th International in the 2006 South Africa preliminaries. Prize positions in the International German Sylt Race. Richards’s families of birds took money in the Triple Crown, Flamingo International, America King Cup and other positions of interest in other races.”
“Butch has developed his own family of birds. He calls these “Wegges.” He admits there is some Cattrysse involved. A real base pigeon for his family is one pigeon named the “The Leon Cock.” His pigeons are small to medium, largely blues to blue checks with an occasional red. Feather is soft, pliable with super cohesion in the primaries. Balance is slightly forward. The head is short. These birds are simply super short to long, young to old birds. Butch pays absolute attention to detail.”
“Fred shares the Wegge family with Butch and has authored prized introductions from the same base and others such as Hekkenklack’s from Jim Gabler. Fred flies under the name Sky King and Ms. Sky King. Jimmy Durante could really relate to Ms. Sky King (Marji) recalling his sign off for his shows.
