2007
2nd Quarter Bulletin
U. O. R. A.
UNITED ORIENTAL
ROLLER ASSOCIATION
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J. P. Isom's new loft
Message From Your President
J.P. Isom
Half way thru the year and I finally have my new loft. Which translates into having banded zero young. So, it will be up to all of you to get the numbers up at any upcoming shows. The Salt Lake Premier is scheduled for November 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Entries must be in no later than October 19th. Entries sent in after the 19th will be charged $1.00 additional per bird entered. Once I can get a copy of the entry form and additional information I will get it out to all of you. For information on the Des Moines show in December, please contact John Skistimas. I wanted to at least get what information I had to you so that you can get your calendars marked.
It is so nice to be able to go outside and be able to feed and water the birds without having to get in my truck and drive to my lot were the birds were being kept. It has been so long since I have been able to just enjoy the birds. Emily (my 7 year old) is loving it as well. She us usually the first one out in the loft. So although this year wasn’t the best for me in breeding, I will be a contender for next years breeding season. So watch out.
My loft is about 468 sq. ft. with 9 large separate pins, plus 2 built in kit boxes. So far so good (but I’ve only had it 2 weeks) so, I’m sure I will wish I had done something different as time passes. But heck it sure beats have 2 sheds and having to drive everyday to feed and water.
I for one would like to see some pictures of other members loft, so make the effort and send it in to my wife, Sylvia. Let’s go back to featuring at least one member per issue. Although more would be nice. If you remember we did that before and it was great reading. Let us know how you got started and why you continue being a fancier. I think that is what make the issues more interesting to all of us.
Originally published in the “Pigeon Review” June 1982
The Oriental Roller
By Ed Bills
Since the United Oriental Roller Association was founded, January 22, 1981, I have had many members of the club ask me if I have any information on the Oriental roller. I looked through all the articles that I had, and most of these have one time been published in the American Pigeon Journal, so in this article, I have combined everything I could find into one article.
The Oriental Roller originated in the countries of Turkey, India, and Persia, and was first introduced in England in 1874 by H. P. Cardia. The Oriental is also considered to be the oldest breed of flying and performing pigeon in existence. The Oriental Roller is also known by several other names. The two most common are the Turkish Roller and the Oriental Sharpshooter.
There is also a possibility that the Mookee and the Fantail are related to the Oriental Roller, since all three breeds may have originated from the same areas.
The Oriental Roller has some distinguishing features. Their wings or flights are always carried below their tail. They carry their tail elevated and have between 13 and 22 tail feathers. The tail feathers are layered, giving a stepped appearance leading toward the center of the tail. The Oriental Roller should have no oil gland present. The general impression of the Oriental Roller is one of style, poise, and alertness.
In the short time the club has been organized, it has grown from the original 11 members to the present 27 members. The bulk of the club is Utah, but we have members in New York, Iowa, California, Wyoming, Washington and Oregon. Our show entries have grown from 26 to 186.
Today, 25 years after this article was originally published in the “Pigeon Review” the Oriental Roller is still going strong. How awesome is that!!!!
Red Bar – John Skistimas Classic Almond – John Skistimas
Blue Check – John Skistimas Silver Sprinkle – John Skistimas
Gold – John Skistimas Isom’s New Loft
Inside view of Isom Loft Another inside view of Isom Loft
Central Director & Vice President
John Skistimas
Hello everyone, we are halfway through 2007 already. It’s a busy year for me and it must be that way for everyone else since it has been quiet on the groups page and my phone has been relatively quiet. My kids are getting more interested in the birds now. Kaylee has a couple babies from her Indians and my Cassidy has a baby Swallow. Cassidy spends hours each day sitting on the floor of the cage hand-feeding the birds. The birds sit on her head, legs, arms and peck on her wanting a treat. She has her favorites that she has names for also. I’m going to be in big trouble if I was to sell any of those.
We , notice I said we, have banded about 60 Orientals and about 6 from other breeds so far. Color seems to be better than normal. Type seems to be better than normal. Birds with immediate faults seems to be higher than normal on the first round but better on the second round of young. I sure hope that some of you are raising duns this year. I haven’t raised more than 2 duns in 10 years but have at least 8 already this year. I’m keeping Brad’s tradition alive with the dilute andalusions with about 6 already. The big color this year is YELLOW and I have them in nearly every nest.
If any of you want to show at Des Moines please let me know as soon as possible. I will show if there are enough members and birds to make a points match. We need to get Frank current info on upcoming shows for the website as well as past results. The last I looked it still had a Hurricane show results from a couple of years back. Also, we need to get better photo quality pictures to Frank for the color examples page. The paid membership seems to have dropped off sharply I noticed from the last bulletins membership list. We collectively need to work on this especially with getting youth involved. JP and I go to the schools with our kids to do show and tell. This is not only something our kids will remember but the other kids remember it also.
Lastly, I want to thank both Sylvia and Frank for their work. Neither has their own birds but do it for us!
I have sent Sylvia a group of 5 pictures of some of my young that are of interesting colors. For those who don’t know color names they are as follows: red bar, classic almond, blue check silver sprinkle and what looks to be gold.
Originally published in the U.O.R.A. Bulletin Dec. 4th 1990
Picking The Champion
By Orrie Moore
When attempting to select the Champion of the show, we must point judge the best of each breed. Even though he may be the best of his breed at this show does not mean that he is rated tops in his breed as a rated pigeon. This we have found by judging shows across the country and comparing specimen to specimen. So when we point judge the bird, it must be to the standard of perfection for that particular breed. Starting with 100 points and cutting points off where they should be cut. Not against birds of another breed. For example, we have a Roller of 80% in point value, and a Fantail of 80% in point value, we then must consider the degree of difficulty in raising the bird to this 80 % = the Fantail then would be the winner. This is generally how the decision is made.
In other cases some fine birds must be passed over because of no fault of there own. The beak, nails, or something else has not been taken care of prior to the show. In some cases feathers colored in the wrong place can cause a cut in points and is perfectly legal and proper to remove prior to judging. Some had been washed and the feather quality is washed out with the soiled portion. This constitutes a cut in points. A bird should have at least three days after a bath to get the “Bloom back” before showing. Some birds had been trimmed with scissors and were very detectible and had to be removed, and others their have no recognized standard by the NPA, and this being a NPA show we could not place then very high. The local club should be teaching these show preparations to members perhaps after the business meeting when most members are present.
I understand what it’s like to breed all year and then have someone overlook your fine pigeons because he does not know the standard. I try very hard to keep up all standard changes and am not afraid to look at a standard if I’m not sure of a point feature on any bird.
Another great article over 15 years old. Let me know if this is something you would like me to continue in future issues. I think they are great.
Western Director
Ken Davis
Well, not much else to say here… Things are the same, a busy business, lots of soccer, and paratyphoid still going through the birds, even after I medicated for two weeks?! I don’t have any '07 banded OR’s yet. I need to thin out my birds by half, and then whittle down from there. When I get the time, I’ll do that.
Sylvia Isom – Editor
Well here we go again, late with the 2nd issue…My sincere apologies again. But, I actually have a good reason for the delay; we found, purchased and moved into our new home. It has everything we have been looking for, but especially for J.P. it had the backyard to be able to build his new loft. (see photos). This year has been quite challenging in many ways, it is never easy as most of you are aware to move, but we did it twice in less than three months. So it has been a bit rough getting settled and still keeping some sort of normalcy to our lives with 2 kids. I want to thank all that continued to believe in the club and continued to send in your dues. As you can see by the membership list we are still short several members, some of you may know those who have not rejoined and could give them a gentle reminder that its not to late to send in the dues. I will always send the back issues so none are missed for the year. I am also putting out a plea to all of you to please send in some articles, photos, advice, whatever you would like to share with your fellow fanciers. I cannot do it alone. I am only the tool to get it out to all of you. Feel free to send them to me via email at Sylvia.isom@comcast.net or to our new address: 3357 Rutland Pl., Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121. I will make each issue as lengthy as it needs to be so don’t worry about sending me tons of stuff J If memory serves me right, I know there is a junior member that owes me an article J I would love to get it for the next issue. Also please review your information on the Membership List for errors and let me know so that I can get them corrected.
Treasurer’s Report
Sylvia Isom
I have taken over the responsibility of handling the clubs account from Brad Child. As of the day of transfer the account had a balance of:
$ 672.67 Balance Forward
15.00 Dues
$ 687.67 Clubs total
We need more member’s spread the word…our club can only be as successful as we choose to make it. J
We look forward to seeing you and your birds in the show hall and to watch them spin in the air as well!
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