Pigeon Buying Guide Part 1

Guide to Buying Racing Pigeons – Part 1 of 6

Buying in Volume

In this six-part guide to buying racing pigeons we will cover four approaches to replacing or increasing and improving your racing stock.  The first approach we will discuss is buying in volume. Buying in volume is the least expensive way to buy racing pigeons. Some fanciers buy a large number of late-hatch babies, while others prefer to purchase the pigeon eggs from a breeder.

Selecting the Right Breeder

Before you purchase any eggs or hatchlings, you need to evaluate the breeder. Study the breeder’s loft from some time before you make the decision to buy. Some criteria you need to evaluate:

• Breeder’s overall reputation
• Outcome other fanciers have had with this breeder’s birds
• Examine race and futurity records of the breeder’s birds for:

1. Success of the loft within its own competition
2. Racing success of the breeder’s birds sold to other fanciers

Continue to gather information. Talk with the breeder/fancier.  Inquire as to his most successful pairs of breeders thus far. This is important to know. In lofts the size of 40 to 50 breeding pairs, the breeder should have at least eight or ten outstanding pairs that produce a higher percentage of offspring than the others.

When you have identified the top pairs in the loft, and you are satisfied with this particular breeder, make arrangements to purchase their young. Many fanciers will allow you to come and choose the young while still in the nest, so be certain to copy their band numbers for future verification.

Dealing with New Breeders

You may not want to limit yourself to established breeders when buying racing pigeons. If you find an excellent young pair of breeders, particularly a pair that has produced two or three great racers, you may want to purchase the babies. Quite often they produce a higher quality bird.

European Breeders

You may have the opportunity to travel to Europe to purchase racing pigeons. Prior to your travel, thoroughly research the breeders you are considering. The top lofts in Europe will most likely not sell you their best breeders or best racers, but they should be willing to sell their young.  Be sure to buy from pairs with the high percentage of success to improve the odds that you will get good birds.

Middle-Distance Racing Pigeons

Personally, I like to purchase middle-distance racers. These birds have the ability to fly 300 to 400-mile races as young birds. I find these races to be the most lucrative. So, it certainly benefits me to find birds that can do that. This is something you may want to consider.

Disadvantages of Buying Young Birds

Of course, the obvious disadvantage with buying young racing pigeons is the unpredictability. There is no guarantee in how they may turn out. On average, fewer than 20% of all racing pigeons turn out to be suitable racers. So, keep in mind, out of ten birds you purchase, only two may be ‘keepers’. But, if you are dealing with reputable fanciers, you can buy about ten young birds for the price that one proven racer will cost you. That’s where the value lies.

Potential Advantage of Buying Young Birds

Though, overall, you have to buy many more ‘unproven’ birds to get suitable racers, you may strike gold with finding real gem among your purchased birds.  If this ‘gem’ was in the hands of the original owner, you wouldn’t be able to buy it of any sum of money.