The 5 GLAND AXES and the COMED BIG 5

The Comed Method is the selection of the strongest pigeons based on their resistance to disease, because the glands are the hidden control centers behind condition, endurance, sleep, and motivation.

At first glance, our pigeon may seem like a simple animal, but under the hood it runs an extremely complex and refined glandular system that secretes hormones. This system is not controlled by one gland or one hormone, but by five interconnected axes.

These axes determine everything: from molting, muscle strength, and the immune system to sleep, stress resistance, and motivation during competition. It is a symphony of thousands of different, interlinked biochemical processes that must work together in perfect harmony.

THE COMED BIG 5 ensures the maintenance and fine-tuning of all the instruments. Below is the clear overview every fancier should know.

1. HPT axis – The Thyroid Axis (Molting & Metabolism)

Hypothalamus (pineal gland) → Pituitary (pituitary gland) → Thyroid → T3/T4 (hormone)

The HPT axis is the pigeon’s engine block. The thyroid hormone T3 governs molting, skin quality, feather development, and basic energy metabolism.

  • Regulates molting and feather quality
  • Determines baseline condition and energy consumption
  • Helps with heat management and flying comfort

A pigeon with a stable HPT axis literally smells like condition.

2. HPA axis – The Stress Axis (Basket Stress & Oxidative Load)

Hypothalamus (pineal gland) → Pituitary (pituitary gland) → Adrenal gland → Corticosterone (hormone)

This hormone is the body’s tension gauge. When a pigeon experiences stress from basketing, transport, a bird of prey, heat, or too many training stimuli, the stress hormone corticosterone rises.

  • Increases energy consumption
  • Temporarily suppresses the immune system
  • Causes oxidative stress
  • Too long elevated = loss of form

The HPA axis is where overload becomes visible—sometimes before the fancier even notices.

3. HPG axis – The Motivation Axis (Nesting Drive & Widowhood)

Hypothalamus (pineal gland) → Pituitary (pituitary gland) → Gonads (sex glands) → Sex hormones

The HPG axis controls everything related to behavior, motivation, and territory.

  • Drives nesting urge, pairing drive, and breeding behavior
  • Regulates motivation in widowhood and nest racing
  • Influences muscle development and recovery

The strongest and most natural motivation comes from the nest: partner, eggs, youngsters.

4. HPL axis – The Growth & Recovery Axis (Muscles & Immune System)

Hypothalamus (pineal gland) → Pituitary (pituitary gland) → Liver → GH/IGF-1 (growth hormone)

This is the most underestimated axis in pigeon sport: the growth and recovery axis, essential for muscle strength and endurance.

  • Stimulates the building of muscle fibers
  • Supports recovery after tough races
  • Strengthens the immune system
  • Determines condition and the depth of the peak form

When this axis runs optimally, a pigeon feels “light,” supple, and explosive.

5. The Circadian–Melatonin Axis – The Sleep & Light Axis (Recovery & Orientation)

Eye (light detection) → Pineal gland → Melatonin (sleep hormone)

Pigeons are extremely sensitive to light. Light and darkness determine their entire hormonal rhythm.

  • Melatonin rises only in complete darkness
  • Controls the quality of deep sleep
  • Regulates recovery, immunity, and oxidative balance
  • Synchronizes the other four axes
  • Plays a role in orientation ability

Sleep is not passive: it is a biological maintenance program that must be carried out every night. A pigeon that does not sleep deeply cannot build form—even with perfect nutrition and training.

The 5 GLAND AXES together form the ORCHESTRA

  • HPT sets the rhythm (metabolism, molting)
  • HPA guards the stress limit
  • HPG provides motivation and racing behavior
  • HPL provides strength and recovery
  • Melatonin aligns everything through sleep and light

The pigeon performs optimally only when all five axes are in balance.

With the COMED BIG 5 we want to optimally support these extremely subtle biochemical processes—without forcing them. (We also don’t work on a computer’s microprocessor with a pair of pliers and a screwdriver.)

all pigeons, young, yearlings, and old,

all year round, so during the breeding, racing, and molting season,

every morning receive *1 tablespoon per kilo of feed of each product from

“the COMED BIG 5”: Lisocur+, Miobol, Roni, Stopmite, Curol *(except on basketing day)

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