Pigeons, to a lot of people are the image of wild birds that fly
around the courts and parks, and frequent the streets of many cities. I would like to introduce you to another relative
of the pigeons, the aristocratic racing homer. Below, I have covered a few basic factors to consider when entering this
sport as a first timer or beginner.
The sport of racing homing pigeons is fascinating and
educational. It is a sport where the whole family can participate. This sport offers the same challenges as those
of horse racing. Each of these sports revolves around genetics, nutrition, physiology, mathematics, weather and carpentry
skills. The biggest difference with racing homing pigeons is that, this sport can be done with no costly establishment as
it can be down in your own backyard.
Animals have been known to help relax people from everyday stress
of modern life. With pigeons, it is the feeling of watching from your own yard, mating and breeding of a new pair of
pigeons, watching them build their nest, to incubating their eggs and feeding their young ones as they grow. It is the inner
pleasure of watching this process and seeing these young birds responding to love and care. Oh, what relaxation.
A LOFT
To become a successful pigeon racer, you must first have a loft that
is properly constructed and designed. When designing your loft, an important factor is coming up with ways to keep intruders
out of the loft such as rats, cats, dogs, other wild birds and thieves from entering. Just as the homes we live in, it is our
castle, so the bird’s home is his castle. It should be constructed to fit and blend in with your neighborhood. It should
be kept both well inside and out, as you never know when visitors may stop by.
Before you start your loft, read as much information on recommendations
of building a loft and visiting other pigeon fliers. Pay particular attention to building codes in your area. Build your
loft so major openings such as doorways and aviaries face away from the direction that bad weather prevails. The loft should face
the south or southeast if possible. Have the loft face the morning sun if possible. The loft size should depend on how many
birds you plan to keep. It should at least be 1 to 2 cubic feet of air space per bird. When building the loft, you should
have three major sections: one for breeders, one for young birds and one for old birds. The old bird section should be subdivided
into two compartments so you can separate the hens from the cocks after the old bird-racing season.
Lofts must be well ventilated without air blowing directly on pigeons.
Remember, your ceiling should be only high enough that you can stand erect in it when inside, about 7 feet. (This is really helpful
when it comes to catching a pigeon.) Having your loft elevated at least 18 inches from the ground, will allow air to circulate under
it and keep it dry. The slope of the roof should be from front to back, which allows rain to run to the back of the building.
The roof should extend over the walls on all sides about 12 to 18 inches. Having a picket fence around the edge of the roof will
make it easier to train birds to land on the landing board and not on the roof. Your trap should be installed on the front of the
building in the center of the landing board.
AVARIES
Avaries are an essential part of any well-designed loft and they allow
plenty of fresh air and sunshine for the pigeons. They can vary in size and shape. Avaries are wire-covered with welded mesh
of hardware cloth with no openings more than ½” wide. Perches should be placed in the avaries for birds to stand on.
The inside features of your loft should consist of perches and nest boxes
and a place for water, food and grit containers. When making your nest boxes or perches, make sure the materials don’t splinter and
cause damage to the bird’s flight feathers. Make all perches and nest boxes removable for easier cleaning and maintaining. An
important feature to consider should be ventilation as this will help keep the ammonia smells from remaining in the loft.
SELECTING A PIGEON
Now here is an important issue. Where do you begin to get your pigeons
to start your own pigeon family? Obtain the best quality stock at a price that is reasonable to your budget, as this will be your
foundation stock. It is better to start with two pairs of really good pigeons than with ten pairs of mediocre birds. Remember,
you want your stock from a family of winners so go to a top notch flyer that breeds potential winners. One method that is recommended
for starting your family of pigeons is to start with late hatches. Other methods of obtaining pigeons would be from retiring old birds,
champions, direct stock purchase or advertisements.
Your next big challenge will be the breeding of your pigeons. The goal
of your stock selection and the kinds of pairing will be important if you want to be successful and a winner. There are two familiar
methods of breeding. There is the method that is the straight (pure) family line that is based on the concept that families are
genetically closer and have similar genes. This method isolates the genetic characteristics that make champions of this family line
famous. The other method of breeding is the hybrid way where crossing two inbreeds lines produce off springs that surpass the capability
or performances of their parents. Whichever way you choose to start your breeding program, remember to be patient, make inquiries, ask
questions, get second opinions, seek good sound advice and remember most of all, don't jump at the first opportunity to put unknown pigeons
in your loft.
FEEDING
It is very important that you maintain a healthy-feeding program to follow.
Use the highest quality feed that is affordable to your budget. Make sure it is kept in a dry place, free from bugs. You wouldn’t
want to eat food that is buggy, so why feed your upcoming future winners with buggy feed. There are many commercial brands of feed on the market
that provide a balanced diet for your pigeons. There are many beliefs on this subject and each flier differs in which is the best way, how
much, the type and the list keeps going on. There are also many supplements offered that can enhance results of the pigeon. Do not
over feed pigeons or they will get fat and will not fly.
WATERING
Water is essential and without water, pigeons cannot survive. Always keep
fresh water in their compartments or sections. Bacteria can multiply very quickly in standing water. Bullet containers help to keep
pigeons from putting their feet in them water. Change the water and clean the container every day.
GRIT
Grit is highly recommended. It is a mixture of crushed oyster shells,
limestone, ground bone, granitite, salt, charcoal and other trace minerals. Grit helps the gizzard and aid in digestion. Always
give pigeons fresh grit 3 to 4 times per week.
RACING
Pigeon racing is like horse racing, but done in the sky. A group of pigeons
are taken to a liberation point and released. The exact time of release is noted and the race is on for the first bird home. As the birds
return to their own lofts, they are clocked by removing a countermark (a rubber band that is numbered) from the pigeon’s leg. This band is
placed in a special clock. This clock tells the exact time the pigeon arrived. There is a more modern clocking system that is done by
electronic clocks where the pigeons wear special coded bands on their legs. Its like a bar code.
