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
50 years ago in NYC,Bronx I went to the roof with a older friend who flew pigeons he wanted to feed his birds.At that time when I seen how beautiful the Flights and rollers flew that was it. As I got older we changed from regular Flight and rollers to homing pigeons.Today I live in California and my two sons,36, 32 are now racing and flying homing pigeons of cause I’m involved too.
I was in a technical high school and my teacher that gave me technical drawing lessons , he was a big pigeon fancier as I was doing very well in my subject and there was plenty time to speak to him and every day I want to know more and more from him, he gave me my first loan pigeons to bread with and so I was hooked on to racing pigeons, long live this wonderful sport
I became involved with pigeons in 2007 and when I realized how many domestic (unreleasable) pigeons were being killed in animal shelters for want of any where to go. All the other animals- the dogs and cats, rabbits and reptiles, parrots, rodents, wildlife and farmed animals all had people reaching out to help save them from being killed in shelters but no one was helping the pigeons. They were the only animals that had no rescue to help them, despite being used by humans for thousands of years! So I started helping them and now we have saved more than 600 from being killed through MickaCoo Pigeon & Dove Rescue. Racers: do you ever wonder what happens to all those birds who, despite flying their hearts out trying to get home, don’t make it?
Bless you, Elizabeth, for caring about the pigeons in animal shelters!
Oh yes I have wondered about those pigeons that never made it home. I got my first front row seat of how a hawk snatched one of my pigeons when I was home training them. Most pigeons fall prey to hawks, even people who would use sling shots to pluck them from the sky! Some pigeons that cannot make crossing the waters would drown, and some again would join the wild,common street pigeons. Others would dive into another fancier’s loft from fear of hawks.
Hi Chris, I got started with pigeons when I was a young boy at the age of 14 years old, when introduced to them when a visiting pigeon transporter from interstate came to town to release the birds.
After that I approached a local club, where some members gave myself and my father some stock birds, the year later, I raced a small team against the senior members with little success. After that year, I left the sport. It took me, 20 years to come back to this wonderful sport. These days , I race in a small club in town, but,,, always learning.
Hello, I got started with pigeons in 1962 through 4-H. I had fantails and tumblers. We use to show the birds at the county fair. Had white kings and use to raise babies and sell to a German man living on the block. Saw a flock of homers one day and followed them home on my bike. Rest of story. I am now retired at age 65 and fly racing homing pigeons.
like mike i started pigeons as a 4h project–our county and a couple of others
still offer pigeons as a 4h pigeon project but most of the 4h clubs are declining
in membership as is pigeon on handling in general. to much physical work
and commitment for the youth of today
Hi Chris how I got involved in racing pigeon sport when I was a baby my dad kept racing pigeons and he is a very good in winning short long distance races anyway my dad have to give up the sport but dad always got his BHWorld book every week when he read the book I always sat next to him then he will start to explain to me also tell me what breed that is like Roland Jansen are sprint to middle distance anyway I have learnt a lot from my dad so I asked him can I keep racing pigeons his answer was yes you can son but it is a commitment and enjoyment support then he said the loft is still in the yard and I will get you some good and healthy pigeons from good breeding stud to encourage children to come in racing pigeon sport pigeon fanciers should take there children to there club when racing or take them when training your birds also treat them or have a picnic that way your children will want to come with you all the time thank you Aron
HI CHRIS My name is Gert I got hooked in 2004 while visiting my brother who was flying pigeons for a long time i went every Saterday to him and sat there wating for the birds .HE gave two stray birds and the plans to build a loft.when the loft was finish,he then gave me 50 babies and a friend of his 30 more he then got me an old benzing clock for R600 then in 2005 i flew with these young birds the season two races on a saterday up to a1052km i ended 3rd in the club
I started with Pigeons over 40 years ago,i found a pigeon at my place of work[ Ambulance station]
and brought it home with me.There were many Lofts in the area where i lived but sadly they have gone and are not being replaced,We must encourage new blood into the sport,difficult as it may be or there will be no future for the racing pigeon.One small point which may help,reach out to the junior schools with talks and videos on Pigeons,How they were so outstanding in the great war.
Hi Everyone i first got involved with pigeons when i bought my first house in 1976 my neighbor flew
pigeons and 1977 we modified my garage into a pigeon loft i kept a few pigeons that year and the next year i join a club and have been there ever since but was out for a few years when my boys
were small and then a divorce remarried and and new set up with a wife that love pigeons along with
my mother inlaw and now i fly on my own as i lost my wife last november the birds are what keeps
me going now and i’m also the vice president of our combine Brad.
When in high school I got interested in pigeons. During lunch some friends of mine and myself used to walk to a loft where a man raised several breeds of pigeons and I really enjoyed those lunch breaks. I got a pair of Chinese owls from a friend and a pair of fantails from the man with the loft. After graduation I entered the Air force. spent 20 yrs and never had pigeons due to never knowing if I’d be getting orders. After retiring I was a police officer for about 7 yrs and just couldn’t afford to keep pigeons at the time. After that I began driving a truck over the road and was hardly ever home. Then a couple yrs ago became disabled due to my heart. With a lot of time on my hands now I finally was able to get back into pigeons. Wanted to get into racing but couldn’t find a club nearby. Was on the verge of getting some tipplers or rollers when discovered a small club in my town I hadn’t been aware of. Started going to the meetings and meeting some super guys. I never ask for any birds but three of the flyers just gave me birds. I now have 16 young birds and 2 pair of breeders. Am now in the process of training them for the young bird season this yr which will be my first races. A special thanks go out to the 3 men who have given me these birds and the help and advise they have given. I truly love my birds and am very happy to be doing what I’ve been wanting to do for the last 40+ yrs.