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Basic Pigeon Genetic Information with photos of rare colored homing pigeons.  

Hi:   My name is Ronald Huntley.    I’m both a lover of pigeons and an amateur genetic nut.   I wanted to understand why some pigeons are one color while others are so different.   In the process of learning the answer to this puzzle, I read pigeon books, pamphlets, made phone calls and yes I did send tons of e-mails searching out the answer to my questions.    In so doing, it became obvious to me that good clear color photos with accompanying information were needed to aid in the description process.   At about the same time my lovely wife Patricia gave me a digital camera.   With camera in hand, I was off to the pigeon loft where I begin taking photos to go along with the information I was complying.   I decided not to make a private journal but rather to display it here on the web so others, like you, could also benefit from it.    This gave me three more hobbies to pursue; photography, website design and genetics. You could say this website is my book report on pigeon genetics.   Just putting it together has helped me to understand this subject more fully.    I hope you too will find it just as helpful and interesting.  For me, it’s an ongoing project; so stay tuned.  This website will grow slowly but grow it will.    I hope you find it to your satisfaction. Now before I begin, I want to thank all the genetic researchers for their keen insight and hard work in documenting their many studies and findings. Their untiring efforts have made it possible for a layperson like me to share in this knowledge.    I want to thank the late Dr. Willard F. Hollander for his lifetime of dedicated genetic research; for his many books and articles published; and for personally taking the time to answer my phone calls, letters and emails.  Doc, as his admirers so affectionately called him, passed away in January 2004 at the age of 90.    All that knew, respected and loved him will now miss him.  I feel honored to have been able to introduce my Grandson Michael to such a giant pigeon legend as Doc. I also wish to thank my friend Dr. Lester Paul Gibson for his excellent book.  His many years in editing the Pigeon Genetics, News, Views, & Comments news letter.   For his tireless efforts in answering mine and so many other’s pigeon genetic questions and emails.

To the late Joseph W. Quinn for his many observations, books, CD’s volumes of research data and personnel time so freely given.  To his lovely wife Mary for allowing Joe to spend time chewing the fat with so many of us pigeon nuts.  Joe is truly missed by all who’s lives he touched and he touched so many both within the sport of pigeons and elsewhere.  A combat infantry officer, Korean War veteran, teacher and pigeon nut; a  true legend of a man.    To Paul P. Cook, Jr. for his book Genetics Made Simple.    To Bob Mangile for his research data and pigeon genetic website.    To Frank Mosca for sparking my interest in this subject through his written articles, genetic website and many emails. To Dr. Axel Sell, for his excellent book on pigeon genetics.    To my friend and fellow genetic nut, Dr. Randal Herring for his generous donation of rare color homers and answers to my endless questions. Last but not least, to my good friend Tom Barnhart who started the whole ball rolling by encouraging me to start this web site project.   I think Tom’s exact words to me were  “Ron your killing my email in-box!!”    “You need to set up a webpage for those photos so I can simply log in and see what you’re asking”.    To make a long story short, I did as Tom asked and this is the result.    I hope you all enjoy it. These fine gentlemen and others, conducted the long years of research needed to determine what we now know about pigeon genetics.   It is from their hard work that I began to compiled these next few pages.   I would encourage anyone who desires to learn more about our birds’ genetics to make an effort to obtain copies of their works.

Information found on this website was obtained from the following reference source publications:

Origins and Excursions in Pigeon Genetics by Dr. W.F. Hollander.
Breeding and Inheritance in Pigeons by Dr. Axel Sell
Genetics Made Simple with special reference to Pigeons by Dr. Paul P Cook, Jr.
Genetics of Pigeons Columba Livia (Gmelin) by Dr. Lester Paul Gibson
An introduction to Pigeon Science and The Pigeon Breeder’s Notebook Feather, Form, and Flight both writen by my dear friend Joseph W. Quinn
Franks Mosca's Pigeon Genetics website
Tom Barnhart's Pigeon Genetics website
Bob Mangile's Genetic site website
Pigeon Genetics, News, Views & Comments by Dr. Lester P. Gibson, Editor

That's my Grandpa John R Huntley on the left back in 1916 with one of his prize racing homers.    I'm the guy in the center with my prize show winning hen.   She won best overall flown racer in the Carolina Pigeon Club 1999 show as well as best flown old hen.    My eldest Grandson Michael Bingham is on the right with his recessive red Russian Tumbler.  Michael is now a Civil Engineering, P.E., from Clemson University. He is now married with two daughters, living and working in Pennsylvania.   Between the three of us we make 100 plus years of pigeon flying, handling and showing.   It skips every other generation. I think that's kind of neat.  My other two grandsons Cory and Jake also like pigeons when they were kids but they live in an area where they sadly could not keep them.   So just to make sure they don't miss out on all the fun I always save some of the loft cleaning duties just for them.

When finished looking over my site’s material, please take a minute and visit my Links Page.   There you will find links to all the major pigeon organizations, supply outlets, pigeon publications, pedigree software and of course other pigeon genetic sites.    In addition, you'll find several pigeon clubs and individuals flyers web sites. Don’t forget thou to come back to this page when you're finished so you can choose one of the links on the Pigeon Web Ring.     Whatever you choose to do, I hope you enjoy it.