In going along with the pigeon racing promotion theme in this weeks discussion of the week we would like to know,
How did you get involved in pigeon racing or pigeon keeping in general?
You see, if we could figure out what got you interested in pigeon racing or pigeons in general for that matter we might be able to duplicate that to get more people interested in the sport and hobby. What worked for you should work for others right?. You already know my story you can read it here (About Me), I didn’t know anything about pigeons but when I realized how interesting and amazing they were I was hooked.
So go ahead and post your comments I’m looking forward to reading them! and see what we can do to help promote this great hobby of ours.
Discussion of the week, How did you get involved with pigeons?
The Leading Online Pigeon Racing and Racing Pigeons Magazine – The Pigeon Insider
I started with Pigeons at a young age. Collecting stray birds from fanciers,breed from them and at the end they were to many to handle. A good friend and i decided to road train them to see if they will find their home. Lost many and many found their way home. Did not know any medicine at that time. I went to colledge and all birds went to friends. I got married in 1979 and met friends whom were active in the racing sport. I bought a small loft with a few young birds from a well respected fancier,homed the youngsters and he told me all the pro and cons about the sport,also what kind of medicines to use and when to use them. Sundays i visited some big guns and just listened what they told me and keep note of all the important things. I am 55 years young today and still going strong. Regards.
I started keeping pigeons when I was 12 years old. Back then I wasn’t really serious about them. I got involved with pigeons due to my friends having them. Then little by little my passion for the noble pigeon grew. Me and my friends started racing with eachother using syncronized watches as timers and our little brothers as watchers with eachothers loft. It was really fun, then we started joing local racing pigeons clubs, buy books, meet other fanciers, join national races and so on. I think friendship plays a big role in developing the love for pigeons and the sport.
I got my first pigeons in the 6th grade in Cotulla Texas My grandpa got me interested in them and there were lots of commons in old houses throughout town. My 1st 3 were a red hen a blue bar cock and a blue check cock. Wasn’t long before I had a couple dozen.One of my friends uncles had some racing pigeons from Corpus Christi Texas and I got a few from him. Had pigeons off and on several times throughout my life and have just returned again after a 15 year absence. I had been wiped out by a mink and or weasel and had just started breeding rare colors. Well I have picked up where I left off with the rare colors and with the help of my friend Ron Deisher I have acquired some great racing stock from the Creator family.Anybody raising rare colors please get ahold of me as I am always looking to meet breeders and see what colors are out there.217 b495 1359 anytime
RIP, Ed you were one of the good guys in the sport. You’ll be missed down at the club.
well i got into pigeons due to were i grew up the flats in the city of dublin pigeon keeping and pigeon racing was very big were i’m from so really easy to get involved it was 1997 i was seven year’s old i was in the block next to my and there is big loft on top of the flats around 100ft up we claimed up and when into it . It was love at first site really its mad now i wanted to make me own but couldin i saved up age’s to buy me first two pigeons they were white doves and they were paired i didin known as i was oly seven and i let one go tought it would of flyin bck to me but it didin and days went by and the other one wasing eating i had’t clue what to do and an old pigeon mad told me but your pigeon in a cage were it can be seen so i done that and the other dove came bck got it and she was grand then now days im racing them in the green hills R.P.C good time’s they were
i had pigeons 20 years ago. tried to get into racing but was to far to travel to the closes club. but now i have the time and the wait to. im trying to locate somegood birds. i have some rollers for my grand son as we speak. i could use a little help. i live in south louisiana. like your articles. thanks
My brother was a pigeon fancier but stop due to working schedule, so by the age of 15 I started it myself as a hobby buying here and there looking for good pigeon , by the time I realize that mostly fancier dispose off bad pigeon and what I’ve got, I again try to look for another set of good pigeon this time it should be with papers proving its a winner but to no avail so I decided to quit the sports its useless and never to come back again,many times some fancier persuaded me but to no avail, until one day my neighbors is quitting the sports and offer me all his pigeon at first I rejected it coz what’s this another bunch of low class birds its useless and a waste of time, but the moment he show me the result and papers it catch my eyes and there I started it again which is in 1998
Jacques, First and foremost if you need help do not communicate in Afrikaans as no one will know your need about the problem you have. I bet there is thousands of fanciers on this website that will be glad to help you in giving you advice and solving your problems.
Rule one of a pigeon is to be 100% healthy and this has nothing to do with its fitness
2. Fat pigeons is called chickens as they don’t prefer to fly well. They are lazy 4 grams of feathered blobs.
3. Fit and healthy pigeons is not given away freely as in your case, especially in South Africa.
4. It is best if you can visit via appointment the champion loft in your area and ask questions plus list down in what is said. You don’t speak, you listen.
5. Also ask if you can buy off his champion birds eggs. As it is much cheaper than buying some of his pigeons. Here I would buy 1 egg of two different champion pairs. Seeing you got pigeons, they can breed that eggs out for you.
Me and my brother has learned from our belated uncle in choosing your pigeons from other fanciers before you part with your hard earned cash.
1. Pick the pigeon up in question and feel it in your hands for muscle tone, should feel ripples of its muscles and wing feathers. Should feel smooth and silky and close spaced
2. Pull its mouth slowly. Any resistance you feel means this pigeon is stubborn and strong.
3. Tip the pigeon upside down and split its keel feathers with your two fingers. Its keel bone should be straight and its colour should be whitish in colour. Check also the colour of its skin as it should be almost red in colour
4. Its whatle the nose of the pigeon colour should be a off white colour. Almost white.
5. Open its mouth and look down its throat for ailment such as yellow colour is most of the time canker
6. It also must have dry feet that is also clean
7. Check its poo. If it is loose something is wrong. If it is solid then its okay but also check for worms in it
8. Now you want to check its medical records
9. Then you want to check its race results. Race results in Federation, Combine and National levels. We don,t take note in club races as it is not relevant to us because the club fanciers is just a bunch of bragards
10. Check out his loft in cleanliness, is the pigeons happy, stress free, active or not
11. Do not fear to ask any question regarding the pigeon you want to buy. He need to sell but you are the owner and boss over your money and not the fancier in question.#
12. Never buy 2 or more pigeons from one loft but buy just one and that is it. Number 2 pigeon is off another loft far away from number one’s pigeon loft.
13. Good pigeons comes from cross breeding and not line breeding or any other breeding method
14. If you want the best of the best pigeons to race with then buy from those who win first place in a national races such as the Comrades races, Sun City million dollar races, Board races.
Send me your personal email address and I might enlighten to you more know how. For the fitness of A pigeon there is loads of factors involve. Is PLZ Port Elizabeth of what? My next email to you about fitness of a pigeon will be to your personal email address. This could be my longest email in enlightening you about fitness of racing pigeons.
Hello Chris and Everyone,
I got interested in pigeon keeping in general when I learned of the pet potential of these birds. I have an indoor ringneck dove named Paz (who’s fourth anniversary as my companion is coming up in June) that has given me an everyday drive to learn as much as possible about doves and pigeons, not only about the domesticated pet species but also the exotic/wild species and their entire zoological genus (Columbidae) in general. This educational journey has brought me to learn about how us human beings have related to them throughout history, and how our cultures have been shaped by them which in turn has shaped some of their species. This entire endeavor has brought me a deeper appreciation for, and understanding of, doves and pigeons.
I got into racing pigeons via my cripple uncle who had raced his pigeons. Me and my brother had to clean entire interior and exterior of his racing pigeon loft plus change drinking water 7 times a day, every day as long as we lived in the house. The feeding is twice per day. I hated it as no chance to go and play with my friends street games. My uncle was one of them in WW2 in flying pigeons in the war effort for the queen.
After the war he brought home 10 racing pigeons that he trained during the WW2. They are Barkers, Stashaerts, Guernseys, Cattryse and huyskens Van Reel. Sadly he passed away last year at 92 years old.
I’ve inherited his racing pigeon loft and all that comes with it. No money though. My brother take now care and race them for me and him. The reports I get back from my brother is most times eye watering good due to my belated uncle’s breeding method, strictly cross breeding only. The same goes for my brother and myself. Today 10/03/2012, my brother had put in a race 5 racing pigeons to fly a distance of 550 miles. They came in by taking the first 5 places leading the competition by full 5 minutes. My brother could not believe his eyes and we won all the money. It was a Fed. race. I’ve changed the old school clock to a brand new Linell ETS clock and linked it to Comproware Hawkeye racing pigeon loft management pro pc programme. This is what my uncle never had.
I live now in England and my brother in South Africa. I shop here what is needed and send it over to my brother. Such as racing pigeon eggs off the best of the best pairs of pigeons. In my next email I explain what I mean by best of the best.
HELLO EK IS OOK VAN SA BLY IN PLZ ,EK HET NOU NET BEGIN VLIEG ,HET N PAAR DUIWE VAN VRIENDE GEKRY ,WAT EK VANDUIWE AF WEET IS MIN JONG ,AS JY OF JOU BROER MY KAN HELP SAL EK BLY WEES ,EK WIL NOG STEEDS WEET HOE KAN N MENS SIEN AS N DUIF FIT IS. DANKIE