This weeks discussion of the week is…
What do you think the current state of pigeon racing is?
For example do you think pigeon racing is growing or dying and why, express your views and share with others your opinions on the current state of pigeon racing by placing your vote in the poll below then posting a comment in the comment section below this post.
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I raised pigeons with my father 20 years ago, when he died we sold the farm. I think with the internet people are more connected, but also have more distractions, i.e. video games and immediate gratification “objects” in their life.
The comment on loosing birds stems back to immediate gratification. Birds are atheletes of the sky, you must train them, work them to get results. A toss once a month is not the same as training them. If you drive to work…10-40 miles away… toss a few each day.
I know I will hear negative comments on this but I also think too much direct inbreeding dumbs a bird down… sometimes they won’t trap, can’t find their way home, they obviously have recessive traits which have been amplified…this is where the skill of the breeder comes into play. You can only blame 50% on the birds… YOU are it’s keeper.
hey all im 22 and re joining the sport as i been out it for 9years lol 😀 so im back haha my little brother whos 15 joining me this time to learn 😀 and tbh i think the sports dying due to BOP tbh people fed of of lossing birds to them
I am new to pigeon racing so I really don’t know if it’s growing or dying. I voted growing for I hope it is. One thing is that maybe if more people really knew about it and the fun and possibilities that were there more people might get interested.
In my case I never thought of it until a friend told me about his pigeons and the racing of them.
I’m sure there has been promotions done on it but maybe if wider coverage was there… Maybe..!!
I am new to pigeon racing so I really don’t know if it’s growing or dying. I voted growing for I hope it is. One thing is that maybe if more people really new about it and the fun and possibilities that were there more people might get interested.
In my case I never thought of it until a friend told me about his pigeons and the racing of them.
I’m sure there has been promotions done on it but maybe if wider coverage was there… Maybe..!!
Hey Chris
difficult ? if we consider the horseracing industry do we think its dying ? dont think so .. wat ar dey doing right. I dont think there is enuf advertising in the industry. Also maybe the bigger names (Fanciers) in the industry need to set prices more reasonably to allow a broader distribution of better birds to the industry .. i am not so sure they will see it this way as they ared probably happy with selling a few birds as opposed to mass distribution which would open up the industry. Clubs need to find ways to raise money as opposed to just squeaker sales/bird auctions… mayvbe even try
something like betting. Radio stations and newspapers shud also try and help with publicity … one of the richest races hapn in SA but the publicity does not strike me as strong as e.g football or horseracing. We should also target schools and churches etc to promote the sport. i hope this as a bit more positive, we cant simply say its dying, we are not a dying breed our association with birds goes way back in time for us not to adopt a positive strategy. rgds shane
The sport is slowly dying. Not because of video games or cell phones because of the money races. These big money races have hurt this sport more then anything. People now days worry about the money races and less about flying.
After being out of the sport for 10 years I have decided to start racing again with the old family I have had, the Slimme x Putts. As I am from Cape town, South Africa, the SA guys will know them well.
The problem starts when you try and build a loft.
1.If you are renting a house and do not know your fellow next door, you are heading for trouble.
2.You need building plans for a loft that has a roof over your head which is the standard I surpose for many types of lofts.
After going through all these growing pains, and thinking of the huge loft and hundreds of racing and stock birds I had in the past, I decided on the following which ties into your question of where do we think the sport is going.
1.In Cape Town the prices of houses are very high so for me at the moment renting is the way to go, and then the houses are small which means a small loft as the back yard is very small
2.A small loft means only a few good birds(STOCK OF MAYBE 5-6 PAIRS).
3. If the loft is small enough you get away from building plans.
4. You have not got hundreds of race birds training around the loft so your fellows next door calm down to a simmer.
So, this is what I done, I built a tumbler style loft. I built 3 sections of 1.8m high x .6m deep and I devided this into top and bottom with a wire floor between.
I built 3 of them, bolted them together giving 2.4 m lenght x .6 deep, giving you 6 sections with 6 perches in each section.Thats 36 birds.Each section has its own trap and door, so it from the pirch straight outside. Works like a charm.Even my stock birds are loving it.
So in closing, yes, members may not be getting any more, but we also don’t need to go hugh on lofts and buying expesive birds, there are other ways of doing it and still having just as good a time with the birds we all love so much.
Allan Bieske
Cape Town
3.
Hi Chris,
Here in the Philippines pigeon racing is becoming more popular. Both young and old loves the sport. If you ask me its growing here in the Philippines. The only problem would be the financial status of the individual racing and breeding the pigeons. In our country many clubs came out but not all of them are establish some are just starting. Some fanciers can only join smaller clubs because they cannot afford to join the well known clubs due to the cost they will be paying to participate in the young and old bird categories. Like me I cannot afford to become a member of a big club because the cost of the rings they are issuing is to expensive for me. I cannot even afford to buy imported pigeons abroad. Fortunately I have good friends around that lend me quality pigeons. But still I haven’t achieve a good ranking in pigeon racing still waiting for the luck I need.
Thanks and regards,
Joel Mijares
TOL its true to being a member there in philippines is very expensive especially for only the ring they will issue they cost a lot,even when im there i cant afford to join that club,i have a lot of good pigeon before and i have a lot of winning pigeon before,,,i’ll stay in manila…good luck na lang tol,,,
Hi Chris
Here is South Africa the sport is defniately dying. It is very difficult for a new guy to find his feet in the sport. With the increase in cost to start off and the big losses in the beginning of the season is some of the main factors – i think. We often find new guys that race for a season or two and then give up the sport.
William Warner
South Africa
Here in The Philippines pigeon racing is growing. From Mano Y Mano pigeon race most commonly known here as “street-fight pigeon racing ” wherein as early age of 6 year old kid to 80 year old senior citizen races, these is only for non-registered race. Pigeon clubs/associations grows like mushroom wherein every town or province has its own pigeon clubs not one but at least three(3) clubs. I’ve temporarily stopped racing due to some personal issues, maybe in the middle of next year i’ll start again with new strategies.