Black Diamonds

These were the first pigeons I ever owned. We used to show our pigeons before we got into racing, so we always had the blacks around the loft because we did well in shows with them. We culled them and made our own perfect family of well balanced, buoyant, beautiful soft and silky feather pigeons.

When it came to racing, we were in for a good surprise. These pigeons come to find out, descend from Holland. The man I got them from bought out a whole loft of imports and pigeons back in the 90s. These pigeons were directly from the winning source, and they had some color to boot.

Pictured above, the hen that started it all. NPA 06 2330. She is behind all the pigeons in my Black Diamond family.

So far in her 6 year breeding career, 1601 is responsible for 4 generations of winners. She has bred numerous diploma winners, money winners, and her descendants have also scored very well against some of the best competition in America. Her great granddaughter was 15th Final New England Derby OLR 406 miles. Each year I get calls about her descendants doing well or winning somewhere, and it amazing to know that at 14 years old I bred a hen that would play such an important role in my loft and now many others. 

These pigeons are hardy and tough. They will clock in 800ypm races or 1600ypm races. Does not matter the distance, they can handle anything. I have had them top the combine in the 800-1000ypm range in young birds. I have also had them come very steadily in the 1300-1450ypm range. 

 This all comes back to even when we first started flying, I knew these pigeons were special.  We did not know what we were doing at the time, and the hen 2138 was always in the front of the pack with her sister 2140. We bred a few young ones off our blacks and gave them to a friend of ours who we share birds with. He was selling them to fanciers to fly in the same combine as I was in, keep in mind all were children and grandchildren off the original breeders.
This hen also went on to take 38th at 500 miles. The first long distance pigeon we clocked EVER... she was a direct daughter of 1129 x 1601 an inbred half brother half sister mating. This was one of the first pigeons we ever clocked off of our foundation hen 1601. From there, the list goes on and on!

One of the most notable races we had, we were 3,4,7,8,9,11,15... 250 mile race young birds. 13 day birds! We had 7 of the 13 on the day. Our last pigeon clocked in the dark and was beat by next morning pigeons. Out of those 7 pigeons we clocked on the day, positions 3,4,7,9 were from our black diamond pigeons. One cock bred 4 diploma winners in 2017! 1601 is fast becoming one of the best Black Diamond breeding hens in the USA!

Down below will be our breeding team of black diamonds. Each year, I will be adding more children direct from the 1601 hen for stock. These pigeons are here to stay. Out of all the pigeons I have had, these are the most durable and hardy pigeons I have owned. When it comes to a smash race or it gets hard, count on Black Diamonds to be at the top!

Pictured above, Ri 18 1249. I jumped this hen from 5 miles to the New England Open 300 as a late hatch, and she made it back the same day. I stocked her immediately after. 2019 was her first year breeding and she bred a futurity money winner at 350 miles with only 49 day birds. Fast forward to 2020, she bred 15th final New England Derby 406 miles. As of 2022, there are over 15 top results down from 1249.  She is going to be special!