نفاخ08E05A04 1
نفاخ08E05A04 1
نفاخ08E05A04 1
Right:
Standard drawing of a black
Reversewing Cropper by Jan de
Jong.
Left: Red Reversewing cropper.
Owner: M.C. Wuyts.
Photo: D.J. Hamer.
Characteristics
With an approximate measurement of 44 cm
from the beak tip to the tip of the tail, the
Reversewing Cropper belongs to the group of
large Cropper Breeds. It is essential now-a-
days for an exhibition specimen to have the
correct height and posture; for this good
strong legs placed at the correct angle are
essential.
A good guide is that 1/3rd of the total body
length should be behind the legs and 2/3rds
before the legs.
Right:
Red Reversewing cropper, old hen, in 1995.
Owner: M.C. Wuyts. Photo: D.J. Hamer.
Left:
Black Reversewing Cropper in 1991.
Owner: M. Michels.
Photo: D.J. Hamer.
With Reds an intense, deep and even Red colour is wanted and that is all over! No bluish
sheen should be present; this is a fault. Such birds should also be excluded from the
breeding programme or if used, used with care. If the Red is too pale, then flecking in the
tail feathers may occur. If the Red is too dark, then it is possible that the feathers have
poor structure and become hair like; often then the colour of the upper beak is incorrect
(too dark).
Left:
The Snip of this Reversewing Cropper
is too large.
Very good upper beak.
Photo: D.J. Hamer.
The same colour variations and rules applies to the Yellow Colour variety. When the yellow
colour is bred too intensive, the heart feathers may become a bit loose. In the worst case
the feathers will split and become hairy. Same as with the problems mentioned above with
the Reds, these birds can still be valuated with 93 points.
Left: Head marking of a Reversewing
Cropper with some remarks. The
Forehead Spot (Snip) should be free
from the eye and is rather large and
irregular. The black feathers between
the eye and the beak (moustache) are
and the under beak is rather dark.
Photo: D.J. Hamer.
Markings
With the Magpie marking the neck,
shoulders, heart, back, breast and tail
are coloured. The white parts of the
belly – from the breast to short before
the thighs, ending in a hooked line at
the lower tail feathers – must be
clearly defined. The heart marking
should not be too small, making the
shoulder look narrow.
The head marking is rather special, being a coloured forehead spot (Snip), divided from the
coloured neck by a 2 cm. wide white band. In the past this snip was as large as to touch
half the eye, but today we wish a smaller snip, only reaching the upper eye cere. At the
Yellows and Reds, some Top birds show a small white demarcation line above the eye and
if this is at both sides of the head, this sure can be called ‘ideal’.
However, if breeders tried to breed for this in the Blacks and Blues they would end up with
pale upper beaks. Thus we are satisfied with the front of the forehead spot just touching
the eyes. There are Blacks and Blues with a white line above the eyes, but these are really
exceptions.
The Specialist Clubs request that tolerance is exhibited when assessing the snip marking.
The markings on this breed are difficult enough; more important is the overall balance of
the bird.
With Blacks and Blues, a too small snip can result in incorrect pigmentation of the upper
beak, (too little pigment) whereas a
bird with a large snip will inevitably
have a correct coloured beak. With
Reds and Yellows the beak should be
pale or flesh coloured; with Blacks and
Blues the upper beak dark in colour,
the lower beak pale. The beak cere is
White. Slight anomalies with beak
colour in the Blacks and Blues should
not prohibit Birds reaching a high
grade. The Reds and Yellows should
have the correct beak colour.
The Blues are almost on a level with the Black, again despite difficulties particular to this
colour, as they cannot be effectively ‘crossed’ with the other colours (except possibly a
Black) so are more isolated in their breeding. They tend to be somewhat heavier built than
the other colours so Blues tend not always to look so elegant as the other 3 colours. For
these reasons not so many Blues are to be seen on the exhibition bench.
Today the Reds are also on a level with the other colours.
It is possible to see the eye/head markings at 10 to 14 days old but selection at this time is
not practical as the final markings may not be evident before 2-3 years old!
Breeding
For breeding it is best too cut
the muffs short. A nest bowl
is not suitable; a box is
better, size 8 cm. high x 25 x
25 cm. This can be filled with
nest material (or shavings),
with sacking or other natural
material loosely fixed to the
upper side of the frame, then
make a hollow in it.
As the muffs have been
trimmed the birds will be able
to move about the nest with
no problems; it should be
rare that eggs or young are
tipped out of the nest.
Only healthy birds should be use for breeding; advisably a dropping sample may be sent
for analysis before pairing. Once the second egg is laid no unnecessary disturbance,
although the Reversewing is a very good brooder and parent. Once the young have been
rung then is the time to start handling so they become used to the breeder, and when the
birds have been separated from the parents then cage training ready for exhibition is
advised. Care must also be given at this time that the crop develops correctly.
Many factors go into breeding a good Reversewing Cropper and many novice breeders
simply do not have the patience and give-up after a year or two when the desired results
are not obtained. However when you have bred just one bird that fulfils the Standard Ideal,
then the satisfaction is all the greater!
General Care
A clean pigeon loft is obvious. Breeds with foot feathers (muffs) do need some adaptation
for proper care within the loft and flight. Do not crowd and use the correct perches in the
loft. Damaged foot or vulture feathers need to be removed 7-8 weeks prior to an
exhibition, to show a full muff again. 3-4 days before an exhibition, if needed the muffs
may be washed, the birds penned afterwards in show pens with shavings or sawdust on the
floor. With presentation and correct trimming of the markings a steady hand is required
(and ideally should be learned from an experienced exhibitor). The quality of care and the
training will be clearly demonstrated in the exhibition pen, and reflected in the grading of
the bird, allowing the bird to be shown to its best advantage: Stance, Crop, Performance,
Footwork, Markings and Colour.
Sources:
- 40 Jahre S.V. der Verkehrtflügelkröpfer 1950-1990, by Eduard Weber, SR.
Translated by: Rinus Wuijts, March 2007.
- ‘De Kropperrassen’ 1929, by C.A.M. Spruijt.
- ‘Onze duivenrassen in woord en beeld’ 1955, by C.A.M. Spruijt.
- ‘Alles über Rassetauben’ 2001, by Erich Müller.
Soon to be published!
A very detailed and richly illustrated book on Pigeon Genetics.
Read all about it in ‘Various’.
STANDARD: REVERSE WING CROPPER (VERKEHRTFLÜGEL KRÖPFER)