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.
Loading ...Click here to post your thoughts on the current state of pigeon racing.
I am new to pigeons, so I am not totally sure. I sure hope that people’s love for pigeons can make this sport or hobby stay alife.
I think racing pigeon is a dying sport.Not much people love pigeons like us.On the top of that,it needs time and money.
Pigeon racing is rapidly getting out of reach. In my own case total travel for shipping and knockoff is 200 miles each week, not including training miles. Feed runs are 100 miles round trip every 2 weeks. Electronic timers are a godsend allowing family activities during racing, but costly. Feed and meds including shots have doubled. Club members are immature, try every angle to their advantage and make unhealthy environments to promote the sport. Racing is a game, not a serious lifelong quest to win at all costs. In conclusion the sport is losing ground. Cities have banned pigeons and have ordinances making it difficult to keep them.
here in the philippines racing pigeon is fast growing sports many club are forming in different provinces not only in greater manila. one that prohibit the fancier for further pursuing the sports is money , the cost of good pigeons, vitamins etc. the more you get involve in the sports is the more you want to buy champion or good bloodlines which will cost you money. Here in the Philippines which is a third world countries many fancier does not have that strong purchasing power.
To cut my cost on expenses I just keep a couple of good birds and sell the ones I don’t need.
I hope clubs will conduct discussion regarding cost cutting measures.
The sport is holding its own or growing slightly at present. What the sport needs is more promotion, both at the local level and the national level. Currently, the AU is doing a good job in sport promotion, but we need even more. At the local level, we need to put up posters of our hobby at the local feed stores and give our old Racing Pigeon Digest’s to the library, doctors and dentist offices, etc. Put our hobby out front where more people can learn what a great hobby we enjoy. Give talks on the hobby at 4-H, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, FFA, Kiwanis, Lions Clubs, etc meetings. The more we promote the hobby, the more it will grow.
that a good idea man !
I don’t think pigeon racing is growing or shrinking, I think it is holding it’s own. As far as birds being to expensive, that is not true some of the best birds I own were gifts or free. I got into this when I started training a pointing dog and it was sugested that I have my own pigeons. I was given old birds that were being removed from someones race team as well as young birds off some of his best pairs. Later I got a call asking if I wanted to race and that the club had a clock I could buy Unikon for $450 and it came with about 50 bands. I have been able to aquire grandchildren of Jannsens Star Pair, Inbred Gaby witenbuik bred directly off the imports, as well as children bred off Ganus birds never paying more than $100 for any of these. I have been to many club auctions where birds from top lofts in the country sell for as little as $35.
As far as club costs go I have not paid a penny in to my club since I Joined, they pay my AU dues, get me bands and ship my birds. I do however have to drive races now and then with fuel costs out of my pocket, for wich I am credited. Our club races for fun only and bragging rights.
Some one mentioned no one will tell them the secrets to racing pigeons. abreviated it is KISS. All one needs is healthy birds that are motivated to get home. Not all pigeons are winners, but their are more good pigeons out there then there are good Handlers. Always ask yourself what could I have done to improve the birds condition. Do not over medicate, medicines pull your birds down, think of your birds as an athlete, they don’t take medicines to stay healthy. The miracle products out there are people trying to make a buck. I use Yogurt for a probiotic, Apple cider vinegar, once a week to control coxi, and keep clean fresh water in front of them and never over crowd.
i think pigr=eon racing is growing but very slow i think it is growing because look at me i am only 13 but i am in racing have not done my first race yet but just breeding my future winners i will mabey start to race this year and also in another way the sport is dying out of all the clubs i know of only my club has racing for juniors thats why we must incourage the sport…
thanx bye
joshua
I am from the Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago. Here, we have over 200 fanciers, active and inactive. I race with the Arima Racing Pigeon Club. We have a membership of over forty fanciers. Many of our pigeons are imported form countries like the USA, UK, Holland & Belgium. Apart from the predatory problem of the hawks, we race from early as February to October without external problems. Because of the size of our island, we mainly do sprinting with our birds. To get any distance over 90 miles, we have to send our birds accross the water to nearby countries like Grenada and St. Vincent. From my perspective in T &T, the sport appears to be growing at a steady pace. Your in sport, Ahmad
I believe that traditional pigeon racing is declining while one loft racing is growing. I also believe that racing pigeons are continuing to evolve into birds more and more capable of the tasks.What seems to be the hardest thing is for a person to determine what a really good bird is based on his results compared to another bird with entirely different racing conditions.
the love of money ,not excepting the fack that other lofts can win races, and not willing to change, for the good of all in the club . Is the reason for the down fall of clubs in the csra.