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2003 APT Road Trip

This article by Kim Wright and Max Vangeet was printed in the March 03 QPFS Newsletter. I have hosted this article (and pictures) on a seperate page.

Click here for road trip article.

Breed Introduction.

The Australian Performing Tumbler is a dual-purpose show and flying breed of pigeon. The breed was developed for show in the Australian state of New South Wales. The breed is becoming  popular in other states, but has the strongest following in N.S.W. and Queensland.

My introduction to the breed is only recent (2001) I have kept many other breeds over the years (mainly fantails, saddlebacks and tipplers) but I took an instant liking to this wonderful little breed. The fact that I could fly this breed appealed to me the most at first, as I get great pleasure from watching my birds fly. My aim now though is to concentrate more on show type than flying ability, but the ones that don't make it as show specimens can go into my flying loft.

The Performing Tumbler is an excellent breeder. Having no trouble raising it's own young and no problems with fertility. They make excellent foster parents for other fancy breeds as they have a gentle nature. The breed would be an excellent choice for any fanciers looking for a second breed.

APT's come in all standard tumbler colours. Almonds, Blacks and Recessive Reds and Yellows tend to dominate at most shows, but there are breeders working on other colours at present. I have seen several nice Andalusions at the shows and I've heard Whites are around but I havn't seen any Whites as yet.

I can't help but notice that APT's look amazingly similar to the old type English Long Face Tumbler (clean leg) that is described in "The Pigeon" by Wendell Levi. In fact I wish I had some of that type of pigeon pictured in the book in my breeding loft. It seems to me that they would make wonderful breeders of Australian Performing Tumblers.

Our recent National Show held in Ipswich, Queensland had a pretty good turn out of APT's. The winner of the National Champion APT was a Yellow Old Hen bred by Trevor Jones of Queensland. The Reserve Champ went to an Almond Young Cock bred by Alan Stack also of Queensland. Two lovely birds that show the future of APT's in Queensland is looking good.

I'm looking for articles on Australian Performing Tumblers to put up on this website to help promote this wonderful little breed. If anyone can supply me with any articles on any aspect of showing, flying, the history of the breed, etc I would be grateful. Or if no articles are available and your an APT breeder, why not have a go at writing an article on the breed yourself? Send your articles in to me via email, and we can help promote the breed together.

Graham Manning.

Flying the Australian Performing Tumbler.

The Australian Performing Tumbler (APT) is a dual-purpose exhibition and flying breed of tumbler pigeon developed in Australia.

Is the APT dual-purpose? I have received a few comments that the APT is no longer able to perform in the air as it has lost the tumbling ability. Those comments have made me decide to write this short article on the subject.

I have been flying this breed myself and can confirm that the breed does in fact carry the tumbling gene. I will admit however that at present the majority of breeders that keep this lovely breed are breeding it for the show pen. This has resulted in the selection of show qualities being made ahead of any performance ability traits. In fact most of the breeders showing this breed do not even bother to fly them, which I think is a shame. I can understand them not being flown however, as I wouldn’t like my best show specimens being picked off by a hawk or falcon either. So admittedly I also don’t fly my better show birds.  So in effect I have a “show strain” and a “flying strain” of this breed at present. Several of my “better” show type recessive red APT’s do in fact tumble very nicely! So I think stating that the breed is not dual-purpose is a little unfair.

I think the problem with statements that these birds don’t tumble comes in the main from inexperienced fanciers having bought a pair or so and let them out with a belly full of food, then watch them sit around and do nothing, decide that the birds don’t tumble! This is how I see it any anyhow. There could of course be certain individuals of the breed resulting from out-crosses to Long Face Tumbler (to improve head qualities etc) and have definitely “lost” the ability to tumble. I should point out here though, that the tumbling ability is a recessive one and can be bred for, if one finds that they only have one of a pair with the tumbling gene.

To fly the APT and to enjoy the tumbling ability of these terrific little pigeons, you need to train them. The training program needs to be “strict” with regard to the amount of control you have over the birds and the feeding regime employed will see to this. A “kit” of tumbling pigeons doesn’t just happen over night! The breeder needs to slowly train his young birds to flying around their loft.

The flying team is generally housed in a kit box separate from breeders and any other flying breed with a different “style” of flying (such as tipplers). The breeder needs to pay close attention to the birds flying styles. He (or she) should be on the look out for any birds that just don’t kit well. As these should be culled from the flock. Also any birds that seem predisposed to sit on the roof or up in a tree.

The main goal is to get the flying kit into a routine of say two short fly’s a day. These flies should ideally be around 30 to 45 minutes duration, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. I mentioned control and this is where the feeding regime becomes very important. They need to be fed in if they decide they don’t want to fly and just want to bum around the loft all day. Once they realize they are being released for “flying” time, they will get into the “routine” of having their exercise. Feeding the flying kit correctly is very important. The birds get an ounce of feed a day, each! And no more. Fat birds get lazy and are not interested in flying much. You want to enjoy your birds flying ability so feed them to keep them keen and to be “under” your control at all times.

If you find that the birds are not coming down from the afternoon fly as soon as called in. Then you need to feed less of the one ounce per bird “ration” that they got at the morning feed in. Remember the one-ounce per bird is rationed out over the two feeds!

If older birds in the kit are wanting to “drive” a hen out of the kit and back to the loft and spoiling the kit, you may need to split older birds into a hen or cock kit. Shouldn’t be a problem with younger kits though.

Always “select” the best performing and “behaving” APT’s to go into the breeding loft or box if you pair cage your breeders. By behaving, I mean don’t use a bird for a breeder if it doesn’t kit well or has a tendency to land early. If your breeding for flying performance, show qualities must take a back seat in the mating program. You can however select birds that compliment each other’s APT “type”, but performance ability is the main criteria.

Flying the kit and watching the birds tumbling is the reward for good breeding, training and feeding practice. The kit needs to be observed for any weak links. At times the birds may need a little encouragement to get up and fly (wave them off with a flag etc). Once birds get into a routine however they should be ok. Just keep observing for any problems and correct them when noted.

Hawks can be a big problem at times. A fit and experienced APT can generally out-maneuver a hawk. I have found that the younger inexperienced birds, or “unfit” older birds are the main targets the hawk will line up. Hawks and other raptors instinctively know which bird is the easier target. They usually home in on these “easy” targets first. I have seen fit APT’s avoid diving hawk attacks, but at times these predators can cause a fancier to shut in his birds till the situation eases. If a hawk is regularly taking young birds you need to set up an observation cage on top of the loft so the youngsters get a good view of loft surrounds, and let them watch older birds till they get a little more local knowledge. Certain times of the year hawks and falcons seem to be much more active. This generally applies to their migration and breeding times, and will vary with different localities. You need to work out the local conditions (by observation or ask experienced flyers) for your own area.

So as you can see it’s not just a case of throwing an APT out and watching it tumble. There is a lot more to the story of training and breeding decent kits of tumblers. This article is only intended to help people realize that there is an “art” to flying these birds the correct way to enjoy those hidden tumbling abilities.

Any breeder who wishes to fly tumblers needs to maintain a strict program and has to pay close attention to his kit. The breeder needs to “know” his birds well! He learns by watching them, and the more experienced flyers and breeders are consistent with their training and feeding of their charges. A well-disciplined kit of flyers is a credit to the breeding and training skills of the fancier.

I wish anyone wanting to take up flying this breed well. I’m sure you will enjoy this fascinating hobby.

Graham Manning.

The following article is by Vaughan Kelly. I wrote to Vaughan requesting an article for this website to help promote the Australian Performing Tumbler. Vaughan is a well known and respected Australian pigeon fancier, who has much knowledge of the APT breed. I was delighted to recieve this letter from him. I have reproduced it here as recieved from Vaughan.

Vaughan Kelly Letter.

"Dear Graham,

            Your letter of last week to hand. It was good to hear from you and to hear of your interest in the APT. Good luck with your venture into the internet. I am completely illiterate when it comes to computers etc, but my children are very literate so I'll ask them to visit your site for me.

I have had Australian Performing Tumblers for many years. I was sent a pair of ground (Parlor) tumblers by my uncle, Darcy Cook (of Jacobin fame), when eight years old and have had performing tumblers ever since except for my four years at college and twelve years when I was involved with racing pigeons. APT's are my favourite breed.

When I moved to Sydney in 1961 I joined the PFS of New South Wales - we used to meet at the Railway Institute in the city in those days. In 1967 I was elected president of the PFS and one of the issues on the agenda then was that there wasn't a standard for the APT's. A meeting was held at the home of George Elliot - then the prominent breeder of APT's. There were about seven interested APT people present and a standard was drawn up. I have the original manuscript (notes in my book) still. The part "receding from the wattle"  I disagreed with as also the "line drawn through the mandibles of the beak continued will pass in the vicinity of the pupil". But as George was the senior fancier and well known I did not push my point but always bred for what I wanted and that was : with the feathering at the front of the head they shouldn't recede from the wattle, but rise in an unbroken arc perpendicularly from but not protuding over the wattle. With the beak line it should pass just under the eye. That's what I bred for - that's what was successful in the shows and that's what has been proposed in the new revised standard today. Two fanciers in your own town, Brisbane, have been quite busy in promoting the upgraded standard. You may like to communicate with them : Max Vangeet and Kim Wright.

Max has just had open heart surgery. I gave Kim your details. He may have already contacted you. They are both knowledgeable and keen on colour genetics so could help you with your web site.

Back to history : George Elliot introduced me to a Charley Wright in about 1964. Charley had the best, though small, collection of APT's I had seen. He lived in Canterbury. He introduced me to Tom Wassell of Campsie. Tom had a good number of performers, mostly splashes but they were a beautiful lot, smooth, good bodied and quiet. Neither of these men showed - they wouldn't abide the politics.

A few years later Charles, out of the blue, offered me his whole stud as he was going out of them. You can imagine my surprise and delight. From that time on I never looked back. Mixed his with mine and I have been very fortunate ever since.

When I decided to take up racing, sold my stud to Dave Carter (Grafton N.S.W.) in 1987 and two fanciers (partners) in Brisbane - one was John Stephens (Norman Park), don't know the other fanciers name.

In 1996 I had to give up racing pigeons - that's a long story - but that same year an old racing pigeon man, to whom I'd given performers many years ago, rang to say that he didn't want his anymore and did I want them. Of course I said , "Yes". I then purchased a black cock and yellow hen from Mark Wilson and was given quite a few very quality birds from Ben Amoroso - reds, yellows and whites and two baldheads. Have been quite successful combining these birds.

In the early days - 60's & 70's other APT fanciers I remember that showed were of course George Elliot, Walter Hitchell (a long time President of the PFS), Darryl Hoyle, Neil Staggs, Max Van Geet (was a junior in those days) and Bob Morris. There were many others but I can't remember their names.

In the 80's & 90's there were four main breeders : Mark Wilson, Darryl Hoyle, Ben Amoroso and Jim Norris, there were others but I don't recall them just now. At the time and still now there were many country breeders : Richard Kirchener (Tamworth, also very interested in updating the standard), Peter Cook (Tamworth), Paul O'Brien (Dubbo, has very good baldheads). In Canberra there was John Crane and Geoff De la Motte but they don't have them now. Alan Sutherland is a Canberra fancier at the moment. Today we also have Brian Gorton (Kurri Kurri), Jim McKay (Cambletown) and Ron Bontiller (Edgeworth).

Do not know much about the APT's in other States but in Melbourne there are two keen fanciers : John Ferraro and Eddie Colombini.

I apologize for any omissions and incorrect dating - this is the best I can recall at this time. Hope to keep in contact. Maybe meet you some day.

God be with you. Vaughan Kelly."