Feathers Magazine Article McLaughlin Lofts 2004

Frank McLaughlin was born on March 5th, 1962, in Quincy Massachusetts, USA, a suburb of Boston. His interest in birds began as an infant when his parents placed a bird mobile above his crib. Frank inherited his passion for birds from his father, Frank Sr. From the age of three, Frank can remember always helping his father care for the chickens.

 

While visiting a local farm with his father at the age of seven, Frank was fascinated by a pair of fantailed pigeons. Frank Sr., seeing how taken his son was with these pigeons, purchased the pair.  After a few years the fantailed pair turned into twelve pigeons. Frank was amazed one day when some of his fantailed pigeons got loose, flew around the neighborhood, and eventually came back home and walked into their pen.  

 

Frank excitedly told his father what had happened that day with the pigeons. Upon hearing the story, Frank Sr. told his son of a man who kept homing pigeons and suggested that Frank might be interested in meeting him. The next afternoon Frank and his father went to meet this man. When Frank saw the nest boxes, red checkers and babies in the nests, his life was forever changed and he was hooked on racing pigeons. Soon after this visit, Frank Sr. built a small garden loft for his son.  

 

To this day Frank Sr. assists his son with the daily care of the now world-renowned stud of racing pigeons. Frank Sr. was always available to offer his guidance and support, yet always allowed Frank the freedom to manage the pigeons as he saw fit. Frank Sr., a keeper of champion bird dogs, believed that champion bloodlines were important for success. In the fall of 1977, after a few years of moderate success, Frank Sr. purchased their now famous "554" upon hearing of his son's admiration for this fine Fabry cock.  Soon after the purchase of this cock, his children and grandchildren proved to be outstanding racers and breeders. The success of the 554 Fabry line elevated McLaughlin Lofts to National awards and recognition. Descendants of the 554 line still dominate racing today throughout the United States.   The next major impact pigeon was imported from Germain Imbrecht in 1983. This cock known as The Old Imbrecht, was a grandson of the Old Red Naessens. A long line of champions followed with major winners with the distance up to 608 miles. What was even more remarkable was when the 554 Fabry pigeons were crossed with the Imbrecht pigeons.  The pigeons were even faster with extreme endurance.  The McLaughlins  realized that they would be forever on a quest for champion racing pigeons. In 1985, some of the best of Karl Meuleman's blood was crossed in adding strong bone and superb character. These Meuleman crosses immediately racked up even more impressive wins. 

 

Through the 1980’s, McLaughlin Lofts continued to rack up the national awards, numerous Boston concourse wins, 1st Average speeds, as well as champion lofts.  The results came with such regularity and dominance that the competition realized the caliper of the great pigeons housed at the McLaughlin residence. The desire to improve never ceased and many of the best bloodlines in the world were introduced. Few were good enough to compete with the existing families. 

 

The next big impact family came from the performance Meuleman loft of George Litherland, known as Wain Lee Lofts.  These pigeons complemented the pigeons housed at McLaughlin Lofts, making the combination of bloodlines unbeatable.    In 1991 the McLaughlin Lofts relocated to Hanson, Massachusetts. The first few years were spent building the dream lofts and starting a team. 

 

Success struck in 1994.  McLaughlin Lofts won several concourses and 1st New England Open 400 miles with the 554 Fabry “Magellan”.  Half of the club's old bird races were won in 1994 and again in 1995. The major successes continued right through winning 1st. New England Open 600 miles 1997 with “Dragon”, 13 hours 37minutes on the day in 95-degree heat against nearly 3000 birds. The results came very easy due too the quality of the pigeons. Weekly The McLaughlins’ have pigeons winning numerous combines around the globe. AU Registered Champions and Hall of Fame pigeons are regularly bred from McLaughlin stock.  Moderate effort unleashes major results!  2003 old bird season was again outstanding winning 1st. Concourse 500 miles and 1st & 2nd. 600 mile concourse.  This was the third time McLaughlin Lofts won 1st Boston Concourse 600 miles since 1989.  

 

In the early 1990’s a new family was being searched out. McLaughlin Loft's heard about the  amazing results from the Staf Van Reet pigeons in the United Kingdom. This family was dominating in every country and had such prepotency that they were winning generation after generation.  McLaughlin Lofts bought the greatest Van Reets available. From the start this new family won excessively in every climate and course all across America and Canada. They won as young and old birds on every racing system. The Van Reets won top combine bird in the largest combines in America.  A Van Reet bred from a McLaughlin pair broke the young bird speed record in 1996, which was the fastest speed ever recorded by a youngster in America. Hall of Fame winners and the top racers in America were now regularly being bred from the McLaughlin Van Reet stock.  These pigeons win so readily that many first year fanciers become combine and club champion with this blood.  

 

The Van Reets are now in great demand. They truly are amazing!  They win all distances but dominate up to 9 hours on the wing. The tougher the short distance race the better.  They take inbreeding and never need to be crossed but will give any family crossed into, superior power and homing ability.   

 

The McLaughlins introduced a new family in the fall of 1998, having experimented with one foundation type Casaert hen from 1994. These pigeons are from the Belgium fancier, Maurice Caseart. This family of pigeons has now impacted America and is the ultimate family to use as a cross.  Winners in major competition are being reported weekly with McLaughlin Casaert blood.  The Casaert family explodes when crossed onto the Van Reet pigeons.  The Casaert pigeons, being best when crossed, produce winners at any distance depending on the pigeons bred onto.  Equal 1st 600 mile Boston Concourse 2003 was a Casaert Van Reet cross for McLaughlin.   

 

Recently after ten years of experimentation with the family, McLaughlin Lofts have introduced a top Belgian long distance family, “The Super Crack Crusson”.  These pigeons are starting to win long distance one-day races against thousands of pigeons.  They are dominating in tough long races around the globe.  McLaughlin Lofts top long distance racer and Ace Distance pigeon of the South Section, Boston Concourse 2003, was a Super Crack Crusson cock.  

 

Frank Jr. heads the three-member team at McLaughlin Lofts. Frank Jr. has the ability to select superstar pigeons with regularity. Frank Jr. travels to Europe twice a year to select new stock.  He also manages the day to day activities of the pigeons with assistance from his father and brother Daniel.  Daniel focuses on out of area futurities with big success.   This loft continues to breed champion after champion. Many fanciers claim, across America, if you need a great pigeon, call McLaughlin Lofts. This pigeon loving family is held together by the mother, Mary, always being a gracious host to the numerous visitors. A great Italian meal and plenty of pastry always tops off a visit.  

 

McLaughlin Lofts produces such a high percentage of champion breeders and race winners that one must understand there is really something special going on in the small town south of Boston, Massachusetts. Bird for bird, there is probably not another loft in the United States of America that produces as many champion breeders as McLaughlin Lofts.  

 

The lofts are garden lofts and every section has walk out flight pens that can be closed during the harsh winter storms. The lofts are ventilated from above with thermostatically controlled fans. From floor to peak is about 15 feet for maximum air volume. The young bird loft, stock loft and widowhood loft are all 12’ by 24’.  There is an additional loft that is 32’ with flight pens off the back giving six individual sections. Each section has grated floors.

 

This 32’ loft has a 16’ flight pen on each end. At this time the small breeding sections have a couple pair in each. As of the spring of 2004 an addition will be coming off the right front of the 32’ loft, adding an L shaped addition for more individual breeding pens.   McLaughlin Lofts always remains ahead of the competition with the pigeons being introduced.   Van Reets have just now become a famous strain in the United States and McLaughlin Lofts have owned them for over 12 years.  The Casaert pigeons now follow in the Van Reets footsteps and have become the next potent family to hit the US shores.  

 

Frank races 40 cocks on conventional widowhood system for the old bird races with a progressive schedule starting at 123 miles and finishing at 608 miles.  The widow cocks are exercised mornings and occasionally afternoons and given a light to heavy feed with predominantly barley for the shorter races.  Hens are usually shown before the short races but nothing is shown and no stimulation is given for long distance.  Frank believes it is best to keep the cocks calm in the shipping baskets.  "A good pigeon has desire to return rapid to his home", claims Frank.  The love of the nest and territory is what wins distance races, not teasing and exciting.

 

The widowhood loft is not heated but humidity is kept below 65 % at all times by keeping the lofts closed tight on damp days.  Low humidity is very important to maintain and achieve form. Before the season begins the birds are treated for worms, canker and sometimes respiratory ailments.  Every couple of weeks during the racing season Frank alternates treatments for canker and respiratory with the favorite drugs being Suanovil and Flagyl.

 

During the young bird season the young bird hens are flown on the dark system and the young cocks are flown on natural light.  Frank feels the cocks perform better as yearlings when they are left on a natural light system.  The young birds are trained moderately and the cocks are raced maybe three races out to 300 miles with the young hens going nearly weekly.

 

Frank looks for pigeons that have much character and personality.  All his pigeons love to fight and show off around the loft with an extreme possessiveness of the nest. One common factor is all good pigeons are very athletic, buoyant and flexible with superior feather quality.  They move effortlessly around the loft.  Frank does not put much emphasis on eye sign but loves richly pigmented eyes and mates opposite eye colors together.  Eye sign enthusiasts would love McLaughlin pigeons.

 

Frank feels he was at an advantage starting with pigeons at such a young age.  He is able to look at or touch a pigeon whether it is 20 days old or 18 years old and sense greatness.  All great musicians, athletes, etc. started as children and were able to form the connections in their brain when young to help excel in the event.  Maybe the same holds true for pigeon racing.

 

Today there are many champion breeders housed at McLaughlin Lofts.  One of the foundation pigeons that has bred winners for generations through 600 miles is AU 97 PLY 2434  Blue cock.  He is the best of the blend of the old families.  This cock produces nothing but champions for generations through 600 miles.  The half brother to 2434 won 1st. Boston Concourse 500 miles for McLaughlin Lofts 2003.  This 500-mile winners dam was bred from a daughter of "Dragon" when "Dragon" was mated to an inbred Fabry hen.

 

Another superstar and possibly the most famous breeder in America is the Van Reet cock, "The End".  He is such a prolific breeder that his children regularly produce winners in every nest.  Now, many generations later, his progeny are winning in America, Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, and South Africa to name a few.  A great grandson to "The End" won 1st Boston Concourse 600 miles 2003 for McLaughlin lofts.  Who says these pigeons cannot go the distance?

 

McLaughlin Lofts breeds from many pair that have had children that raised Hall of Fame winners, Ace Pigeons and multiple combine winners.  The big advantage at McLaughlin Lofts is the shear high number of champion breeders in one location.  Most lofts have a hit pair but for one loft to have so many pair with a legacy of champions bred from them is unique and so very special.

 

Keys to success are great pigeons housed in excellent lofts trained moderately, kept healthy and nutritionally complete.  Frank understands minerals are the most important aspect of pigeon nutrition and many types of pickstones, mineral powders and grits are available at all times.  "Vitamin deficiencies do not affect the pigeons anywhere near the way mineral deficiencies do".  "You could raise beautiful young on nearly any feed if all the minerals are available.  Take away the minerals and the young do not grow to their potential".   Minerals are always free choice in front of the pigeons.

 

One cannot stress enough that if pigeons are not overcrowded most health problems never occur.  Less pigeons housed in clean dry lofts outperform the bigger team in poorer conditions.  The more territory a pigeon has to protect, the more desire the bird will have to home quickly, which leads to more wins.

 

The pigeons housed at McLaughlin Lofts condition very easily.  The birds never gain weight and always feel in condition with full feeders in front of the pigeons year round.  If a pigeon is not continuously buoyant with great feather quality it is not housed at McLaughlin Lofts.    

 

Top racing pigeons come from long lines of top racing pigeons.  Champions have much character, alertness and vitality.  Superior pigeons are very light on their wings, athletic, fly with ease and love to exercise.  Finding champion pigeons is really simple.  Go to the best lofts and buy from the best pairs you can afford.  Late breds from the top widowers can be a great place to start for the beginner.  The best racers are crossbred from different families. Do not be afraid to breed from crosses.  Many of the best breeders ever were bred from unrelated parents.

 

Frank used many natural products but loves Apple Cider Vinegar and friendly gut bacteria with whey protein to keep the intestines acidic and prevent bad bacteria from taking hold.  This mix keeps the intestines sound and healthy and also helps to re-establish friendly gut flora after any medication.

 

Frank Jr. wants to thank his father for allowing him to manage the pigeons from the age of 10 as well as provide Frank with all the help and support needed to achieve such amazing results.   He would also like to thank Tony Melucci and Vin Sciaraffa for all of the wisdom, insight and friendship provided over the years.