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 see gewer and fewer one loft races that the young flyer can afford to enter. I also have not seen a one loft white or grizzel bird race for over three yrs now. I decided to host one after not finding any online and got very minor response to it and only about ten birds entered so This is another problem is the loss of interest in the sport. It is like anything else we need to promote it towards the young through 4H or some other program or it is going to continue to decline.
pigeon racing is always be there and its not gonna be there at all times,im a fanciers also,but now im here in dubai,maybe when the times come im going back to philippines i will start again to keeping pigeon,here in dubai i have some also but there no race here like in MANILA,like a short distance race.theres no 150km/to 200km race here.but for me RACING PIGEON IS STILL THE BEST.There is the excitement.TANX AND MORE POWER TO PIGEON LOVER.
Hi Chris, Thanks for the invitation to join in with my fellow pigeon racing enthusiasts with this fantastic web site.One can never have too much information,especially as the sport progress towards professionalism.You either keep up with the advances in the way we look after our birds or get lost and left behind.I choose to keep up and seek out as much “info” as I can to help me keep my birds competitive.Is the sport growing or dying? Well I can only say that in my country “NZ” it is definitely dying.The fanciers here are mainly older fanciers having been in the sport for many years.There aren’t many younger people joining up or even interested.If you try to talk about pigeon racing, most people don’t even know you can race pigeons.I remember,I was telling a work mate about racing pigeons and to my amazement he said,what kind of track do they race on.I knew I had an uphill battle to convince people it is a serious sport.I would also like to comment if I may,on the subject of medication and how we are treating our birds.I read far too often and hear how people give their birds medicine for “this and that” as part of a routine management program.Please don’t get me wrong,if a bird is sick and in need of treatment by all means,give it what it needs to get it well again,but I don’t agree with all this “Willy Nilly” treatment programs,giving the birds Drugs their systems just don’t need.You may get the results you want in the short term,but if you want to keep your birds well in the long term,especially if you want that bird for stock,nothing will compare to a strong natural immune system,and you won’t achieve this if you continually drug your birds.All you are achieving is creating a vulnerability to disease by weakening the birds natural defence system.Also in the process allowing disease to become immune to the drugs it is constantly absorbing.Personally I won’t give my birds any treatment apart from worming and giving probiotics regularly,unless the bird is ill and I have a positive result from a proper test.I don’t guess.I have a microscope and check the birds droppings periodically.I also crop flush my birds and only give canker treatment when Trichomonads are being shed to excess.I don’t understand fanciers who say they treat their birds for canker before they breed from their birds.Treatment will stop the stock birds from shedding Trichomonads in the process interupting the exposure the growing youngster should be getting to build a strong Natural immunity to canker.Drugs are fine if you know how to use them to help your birds,but very dangerous if you don’t really know what you are doing.Understand the illness you are trying to treat.Get a positive result from a proper test.Don’t just give your birds drugs for the sake of it.You will only end up with weak birds that will in turn breed weak birds.This is why web sites like this are so valable to the fancier who wants to improve their knowledge.Hope this comment creates some discussion.I would like to hear what other fanciers think about treatment programs and what they think routine medicating is doing to our birds in the “long term”.
In South Africa the sport is very large. The only problem is like all over the world, MONEY. Feed prices going up every month, Petrol prices rocket and to import electronic ring, clocks, or any thing else, cost us a “arm and a leg”
I love my pigeons and will go all the way to make them proud.
I stoped for about 5 years due to medical conditions, and re-start this year. Not mutch has changed exept the feed and medicine prices.
Its good to see old friend again.
Greetings,
Peet
South Africa
I think pigeon is racing is failing mainly due to the cost that is put on pigeon fanciers all over Australia, with little prize money on racers, with the exception of a few racers a year, and then it cost a lot to enter the cost of transporting is increasing every year and now we have to purchase our own truck where rail was a option before.pigeon racing used to be the poor man racing sport not any more the poor man has been left out once again. No more can people retire to a hobby of racing pigeons like was more possible in past unless they have quit a bit of money behind them. I think all members in club should do there most to retain member and encourage other members to join
Dear Chris,
I will be talking regarding Racing Pigeons in EGYPT. Actually, it was fading away since Year 2004 /2005 due to the Bird flew and people ignorance.
But it is starting again and I already re-joined the Egyptian Racing Pigeons Club and hopefully to start breeding & Racing again.
It is growing again slowly but surely. I believe that we need to educate the people and increase advertising more about this SPORT in Egypt.
I will be in touch.
Thanks & Regards,
Sherif El-Shennawi
In australia it is definately declining. All the reasons mention previously have some input into the decline. I also think that the clubs and federations are at fault for not trying different ideas. The big racers and the richer flyers have a monopoly on the best pigeons and good luck to them but they are the one,s making it hard for the not so wealthy to get into our sport.We need to race in classes so the smaller flyer will have a chance. Why not have divisions, ie class1 over 100 birds registered for the year, class2 50 – 100 birds and class3 under 50. Now all birds are rung and nominated at the start of the year and cannot fly in a lower class. At least the smaller flyer can still complete at amuch lower cost. Another reason is that our children are being brought up to respect all animals now and don,t understand why a lover of pigeons doesn,t mind loosing say a hundred a year or killing the breeders that have not performed. Its all about the clubs changing the way they run. I left racing 40 years ago and except for electric timing and 1 loft racing not much has changed except the decline of flyers.
Iether it’s dying or growing, it must be recommended to our youth as of today to compete with their habit of computer games it’s not good for them spending hours infront of their computer. here in my country pigeon racing is growing.people love pigeon racing and caring their pets like pigeons.
Here in the UK the number seems to be dropping by around 5% annually, and this will increase as the older fanciers either give up because they can no longer cope; or die. Few youngsters seem to be coming into the sport
i would never inbreed we as long as i can help it i no most if not all these days breed fathers to daughter ect to try improve the new pigeons witch is wrong in my eyes