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 by clicking here, I’m really 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?
Pigeon Racing Pigeons 
#1 by Welton Betts on April 8, 2011 - 4:36 am
Hello, Chris
I was 8 years old, my dad and i went to a flea market. He bought me a little parakeet. i was so happy i couldn’t stop peeping in the little brown paper sack that we had it in. We walked around that flea market all day. I looked at it one more time all of a sudden it flew out the bag. Man i cried, man did i cry. We went back to man that we bought it from,can you believe he had sold all the parakeets,all he had was pigeons. He gave me a pair a grizzle hen and a blue bar cock i was so happy. I have had pigeons every since. I don’t know what i would do without pigeons.
#2 by Daka on March 28, 2011 - 5:38 pm
When I was 6 years old I get my first pair of pigeons.All time after that, exept during the war time 1992.-1996.,I had pigeons.In the begining rollers ,and then homings
.It is some kind of illnes which never pass.I am 42 and I still love it.
Best regards Daka
#3 by Randy Penegar on March 28, 2011 - 12:32 pm
I have been a gamecock fancier for over 35 years. I enjoy taking care of poultry.
I have had homing and rolling pigeons for a very long time. They are hardy and clean the yard well that the chickens miss. I have decided to compete with racing pigeons as the fanciers seem to be very loyal to their birds like the gamecock fancier is theirs. I am hopeful this sport stays legal here in the US
Randy
#4 by Mark on March 28, 2011 - 3:31 am
Hi Chris
I am always fascinated by pigeons. When i was a kid, my cousin had local pigeons he kept in our roof and i was really hook by the fact that these birds can actually be train to find their way home. Pigeons always amaze be by their homing instincts, but what really got me into raising pigeons was that when my cousin took out all of the pigeons coop / cage in our roof and sold all of his pigeons, one of his pigeon came back. This pigeon stayed in our roof ceiling for months even though he didn’t have a house and no one was feeding him. This pigeon was gone every morning and afternoon, perhaps finding food, and always coming back at evening. This particular scene got me into raising pigeons and eventually got into racing pigeons with others who shares the same passion in pigeons.
#5 by Jack on March 27, 2011 - 6:41 pm
I watched a movie on pigeons when I was 10. Could have been a Walt Disney thing. Got hooked then and have had the birds for 50 yrs. Quit racing years ago but joining a club again this April.
#6 by ronaldsoriano on March 26, 2011 - 8:26 am
me and my brother were involved in pigeon since 1975, by that time we were just raising pigeon. now,
we are still in pigeon hobby but not just raising but racing with one of the big clubs here in the Philippines.
#7 by michael on March 18, 2011 - 4:35 pm
i got intrested in pigeons when i was about 16 years old me and my friend would go to the local abitoir and climb under the eves and crawl along the ledge and shine the torch on the birds to see if there where any racers and if there was we’d take them home and try and home them’most of the time they flew of once they were fit.But i lost interest because i was intrested in the other birds(ladies) well to cut a long story short i restarted back in 2001 and love the sport,i’d be lost without my birds,it’s hard to wun in my club cause there are some really good flyers but i’ve had my turn and every year i strive to do better than i did the year before,and thats me.
#8 by Mike on March 15, 2011 - 8:30 am
Hey Chris,
Great thread! I initially saw someone selling an “unhomed” flock of pigeons on Kijiji (like Craigslist)… I thought… “yeah, right!” It stuck in my mind and I’d google “homing pigeons” here and there. A couple of months later I went to a poultry & livestock show in the area and lo & behold there were also many pigeon exhibitors. THESE were not the common pigeons that I’d had in mind, these birds were beautiful! Within a couple of months I’d found someone in the region that had some white homers for sale and the rest, as they say, is history!
#9 by Elusiverick on March 13, 2011 - 6:18 pm
Pigeons satisfy my desire to FLY !
At 10 years of age a friend & I would swap birds to send messages to each other after school.
Now 58 & my love for pigeons has not faded one bit.
Get into it & it will be with you for life.
#10 by shannon nelson on March 11, 2011 - 9:01 pm
i have a deep consuming love for my animals/birds that is allways present .
If i could get away with it ‘i would set up a folding bed and wood heater in my chicken/bird house’ and live there .
i love tending to them , fixing the pens , building breeder boxes and starter boxes .
Thanks ,
Shannon Nelson
#11 by Anthony on March 1, 2011 - 2:14 am
Hi,Im from South Africa in Mitchells Plain Cape Town.I developed an interest in pigeon racing after seeing a movie on pigeons ( Champions ). I dont have much knowledge of racing pigeons other than what i read on the internet and a few freinds i made in the sport so far.Last year i started racing and did not fair well although i was told that as a new fancier i did good.I got a few places in the feds but nothing to write home about.In the middle of the racing seoson my birds got sick and lost a lot of birds in races after that.I started reading up on the sport and found out that really messed up during the preperation for the season and during it.This yaer however i hope to do much better by reading and implementing the information i read in your articles.This year im going back with a better understanding of the sport thanks to you.
However if anybody out there in my area or surrounds who have advice for me on the sport feel free to email me.
Im still crawling in the sport hope to be a dangerous man in our area.
Yours in pigeons
Anthony Matthee
#12 by chesley warren on March 11, 2011 - 9:08 am
my dad caught some squabs out of a tabbacco barn before it annual use, show me how to feed them. I was about 10 yr old. I dont remember know what became of them. Later a guy my dad worked for had a coop of about 20 birmingham rollers, I was about 21 yr then, Gave them away later,joined the US Army 1964 was enlisted in ary signal corp. Learned about Pigeons there. Later in yrs, like 1990’s bought some rollers again, had bad luck with them due to hawks, snakes dam cats ? Name it. So i was finally put out of keeping rollers. Now i’m sixty eight yr old bought 5 pair of rollers, and have sealed pigeon coop, floors walls hardware cloth 1/4 in. Have a couple of squabs comming on. I am now waiting for hawks, snakes cats, or what ever . It could be harmful to go near my loft, or bantam or guinea coops!!! Patiently waiting for the next event. Enjoy your informative webb site.
#13 by Gavin on February 17, 2011 - 12:18 pm
Well my experience with racing pigeons started 1st of all when very young. My dad had birds on our farm but raced sporadically because we were far from the nearest club and was not possible to race actively so he gave them up.When I was 6 I asked him to build me a place to keep some pigeons so he gave me a roll of old chicken netting and some corrugated iron sheets and said”there you go, take one of the farm hands and get stuck in” Well off we went down to the poplar bush, chopped some straightish poles and knocked up a structure against what we knew as the engine room side wall. This is where the diesel engine and generator for our electricity was housed.So needless to say my birds didnt sleep for the 1st part of the night as the engine was running right next door!!!! until we went off to sleep and the engine was turned off!!!!Anyway I was given 2 pairs of culls by a friend of my dad and they started breeding. Fast.After about 2 years there were too many for Dads liking as he was supplying the feed so all except 2pairs were left and he packed the rest into a box and we left for East London where Dad had business to do and on arrival that evening we took the birds down to the beachfront and opened the box and off my friends went out over the harbour. Never to be seen again. We were 250km from home so there was no chance that my “commonies” could get home. Tears rolling down my cheeks and sad we went back to the hotel. It was full moon that night. We returned home 2 days later and I went to my “loft” and to my unbelievable joy I was greeted by my black pied cock and his blue bar wife sitting very contented in their nest box!!!Well on asking the foreman at home when the 2 birds got back he told us that Blackie was on the roof at daybreak the very next morning and his hen arrived mid morning. Blackie flew home by moonlight!!!! Dad was amazed and the word went out to his other friends in the club as to what had happened and a friend asked me to breed him 2 babies for which he gave me the rings to put onto the 2 babies. It was apparently a little joke that Dad had put his mates up to just to spur me on. Those were the 1st two rings ever that I had put onto birds.One ring was upside down according to Dad and his friend raced the two babies the next year and the “upside down” hen won 2 races!!!! I dont know what happened to her brother but 3 years later I had to go to boarding school so I had to basically give up my birds, and one of dads friends bought Blackie from me for 1pound. R2.oo in other words!!!! Blackie became a legend in his own right in the club in Elliot in the NE corner of the Cape Province ,South Africa. My love of pigeons was sparked forever. I have a fascination and that is what drives me. 45 years later my love and awe of these animals gets stronger each and every day. They are part of me but am only sorry that I never got Blackie back again!!!!
#14 by Ed Radwinsky ( Elite Fleet Loft ) on February 16, 2011 - 11:06 pm
Back in 1956 when I was si years old I had watched a Walt Disney movie called “The Pigeon that worked a Miracle” it was about a young boy who was confined to a wheel chair do to an injury suffered while playing baseball he didn’t have the will to walk again he somehow got into raising and racing pigeons, he had a coop with a wheel chair ramp.He had one young bird by the name of Pigg, that fell out of it’s nest and got scalped by the older birds so he reared it by hand in his house with the help of his Mom,As Pigg got older he was entered into a Futurity race it was a smash race with many differculties along the way home, as he landed on the coop tired and hungry ,a cat began attacking Pigg, The boy started up the ramp in his wheel chair when it fell over leaving him hanging onto a side railing ,through his love of Pigg he began to “WALK” and got to Pigg just before he became dinner for the cat.and that was the miracle. that’s what inspired me so for my seventh birthday I got what I wanted a pair of pigeons There is more to my saga but thats for another chapter.
#15 by Stan Holloway on January 19, 2011 - 9:46 pm
Yeah, I’m old…but not as old as the tradition of keeping the birds. When I was a boy, I often daydreamed of being able to fly, to be able to see the Smokey mountains like a bird. I’d listened to stories that my grandfather told me of being a “pigeoneer” during WW1 and how the birds would fly past enemy lines over shotguns and specially trained falcons and hawks to carry incredibly important messages to our troops that would not only save lives, but dictate the outcome of the war…those birds changed the world that we all live in…
It’s hard to even imagine a world without computers, cell phones or instant messaging now, but every time I tend to my birds I remember when times were less complicated, when the fate of the free world depended on the abilities and homing instinct of a bird.
When I got back from Viet Nam, I bought several homers and have raised them ever since. I don’t race anymore but now raise white homers for “white dove release”
I think that the racing sport has become cost prohibitive for young people today and that organized clubs should simplify the racing rules to try and attract more younger breeders. Personally, I invite members of 4-H and FFA to my farm and loft and offer to give them a mated pair if they give me one of the first offspring…I offer to help them build their own loft and work with them training the birds. The rewards I have recieved have by far outweighed what I have given….it’s always been that way with my birds.
#16 by allan on January 6, 2011 - 9:46 am
Good day! since my chilhood my brother start pigeon(native)and racing pigeon so everyday my brother teach me how to handle the pigeon and he gave me the best strategy related to pigeon racing.. after 5years my brother stop and sell the pigeon he said to me now you know what is my reason to sell my pigeon?!! all pigeon is not comeback..after 15years i try to apply company so i have a new friend,he joined the club and he have a pigeon quality. he asked me you know wha is the bloodlines of my pigeon? then after 2months i try to buy local bird(cheapy!)my friend he told me beware to buy the pigeon make sure the pigeon is ok or have the right bloodline or pidegre! my friend everyday visit my loft and give the tips and best strategy how to learn the pigeon racing. so her is my comment to all fanciers thanks and happy racing!
#17 by Terry on January 3, 2011 - 3:48 pm
Hi Chris,
How did I get involved with racing pigeons? well I suppose like a lot of fanciers,pigeons have been in our family 60 odd years probibly thats how long me dads raced them, we, thats me and my brother had them years ago just as pets, when I got married and moved away. My brother started racing pigeons as a partener with me dad,Unfortunitly my brother passedaway 10 year age leaving me dad on his own at the age of 75yrs old, I think through the shock of my brother! me dad had a heartattack, while he was in hospiltal, he said we would have to get rid of the pigeons as he said he couldn’t manage that was 9year ago everythink ok,me dads now 86yrs and WE are still racing pigeons and looking foreword to the breeding and racing season, which will start March – April 2011. thanks Terry
#18 by Stacey Nelson on December 31, 2010 - 5:47 pm
I am a very competitive person that hunted hounds for several years. I got married and moved to town, but still had that need for competition. I searched for something to feed my addiction and found pigeon racing on the internet. I researched the hobby for a couple years before I decided to get the birds, and I have been in love with the sport since.
#19 by Wayne Bennett on December 28, 2010 - 9:44 am
Hello, My Grandfather Sam Bennett of Windsor Ontario Canada {originally from Lancashire England} raised and raced pigeons in the late 1940’s and through the early 1950’s I remember seeing a large gold plated trophy in his home, first prize for winning an international pigeon race back in 1950. Grampa passed away in 1957 and his trophy went to a cousin…. after ALL these years I still think about him and what a great guy he was. He had many passions, Fishing, Hunting, His Pigeons, and anouther was his love for wood carving…. Gramp carved Duck decoys{He actually used them for hunting} and many fishing lures. I was just 10 years old when he passed on but he left a real impression on me. I’d like to be able to tell my 4 Grandsons ages 19, 14, 14, and 11 more about this wonderfull man…. is there anyone out there that can furnish me with ANY information about this race or this trophy? Thank You Wayne Bennett Kingsville Ontario Canada
#20 by javier rodriguez on December 26, 2010 - 2:10 am
I got started with pigeons when I was a young 7 yr. old helping my dad with his fancy pigeons. there is no better high as a young boy watching my dads rollers rolling up high up in the sky. I helped my dad feed and water the pigeons. I got my first computer and in search for some rollers for myself i found alot of homing pigeon organizations, looked up for one in my area and found and currently active in the south jersey pigeon club. my highlight so far was coming in 17th over all third aution and earning 600 points. my first year flying.
#21 by Lee Fessenden on December 24, 2010 - 9:02 pm
I got started in Pigeons when I was 8yrs of age and raised a pair of squabs that had fallen out of thier nest in a palm tree in Downey California. I actually got into the sport when I was living in Bellflower California and started buying birds and ended up getting a stray big blue dark checker into my loft and found the owner who lived about a dozen blocks away from me, and he let me keep him and gave me a young hen to mate with him later on. I named the bird King Henery and he was my best friend and flew along side me to get to where I was going and would stay there till I left for home again unless it had gotten dark and he would go home while the light was enough for him to make the flight. The gentleman that gave me this bird got me started in the racing end of pigeons at that time and I fell in love with it and have always had the racers and the rollers that I love.
#22 by Alister murray on December 18, 2010 - 9:05 am
My father kept and raced pigeons in Scotland.He raced them on the south route,and especially liked the channel races from Spain and France.My mother was from New Zealand,but over in Scotland working as a Midwife in one of the hospitals.Dad and mum got married and moved to England where my brother and I were born.We all moved to New Zealand when I was about 6 months old.Dad built a loft in the back yard and joined the local club where he was given birds from the other fanciers.I can remember I was about 4-5 years old and would go down to the loft and sit on the steps outside and wait for dad to come out,so we could watch the birds flying, together.Dad gave the birds away because our house was surrounded by neighbours that had cats,and had endless troubles with them hunting his birds.When dad was in his 70’s and I was about 30,I suggested we get some pigeons and race them as a hobby that we could share together.Dad passed on his knowledge of pigeon racing to me.Unfortunately dad passed away at the age of 75.I kept the birds,but moved north to Whangarei,Which is NZ’s most northern pigeon racing club.We race our young birds in the north island on the south route to a distance of 420kms and then old birds race the south route but go all the way to the bottom of the south island to Invercargill,a distance of 1450kms.The racing can be very tough on the birds with only the best surviving the season,because of the weather extremes.In the north we get the warmer weather but can get high winds,and in the south the weather can become bitterly cold.The birds race up along the southern alps,which are always covered in snow to the top of the south island,then they have to cross the Cook Straight which is a channel of sea between the two islands.Very high winds drive through this channel from the Tasman Ocean and through to the Pacific Ocean.It is not uncommon for batches of birds to get drowned in bad weather,beacause in the high winds the birds try to fly low,which makes them vulnerable to the high waves which can pluck a whole batch out of the sky.In these distance races,nobody has the advantage because of loft position.The birds go through all weather conditions,and face winds from all directions,so the birds that win the races are truly the best.When my birds win,I feel very proud of them,and am always amazed by what this little creature can achieve.
#23 by Louise Caputo on November 28, 2010 - 1:41 pm
I found a foot with a band from a pigeon in my backyard. It says
Kristian and Brenden Backyard Bangers, Brooklyn, New York
I can’t seem to locate them on the web to tell them about their pigeon. Anyone know of them so I can contact them?
#24 by Steve Reed on November 24, 2010 - 5:39 am
I first became interested in birds as a boy at school, although not correct there was a heavy interest in collecting birds eggs amongst my peers. We regularly went bird nesting looking for nests. One or two of my friends kept pigeons, either racing or fancy breeds and I visited there houses to look at their lofts. Then I found out that there were birds that you could keep and race to your loft, I was very interested in this and got my first birds at the age of about 11. The film Kes was also a big inspiration for the keeping of birds. I have not kept racing pigeons all my life for various reasons, but have always been interested in birds and have always kept one eye on the sky to spot any bird flying over. I keep racing pigeons now and have won many prizes but it is not just the racing that excites me, the breeding season, although hard work is exciting too. But the biggest attraction is to just watch them fly and to see them enjoying themselves flying through the air!
#25 by Susan Good on November 12, 2010 - 5:58 pm
I am a wildlife rehabilitator, licensed through the state and the federal government allowing me to keep in captivity and rehab injured and orphaned wildlife. I often get in racing pigeons who have lost their way, are injured or in need of safe haven until they’re up and running again. However, mostly what I receive at my facility are ferals, injured or orphaned. In the past, once I got them tuned up, I have always placed them but suddenly my placement opportunities dried up. So, it was either put up a loft or stop accepting them. I decided to put up a loft.
Anyway, I’m now hopelessly in love with my charges and new hobby…;)
#26 by francis on November 12, 2010 - 7:14 am
my brother is a pegeon fancier and he train his pegeon very well and nobody can beat him in a race when he wistle the birds even in the air they all fly to their
loft and later on i was hooked and became a pegeon fancier now i have 7 pair of breeder and hoping in a futue i will get the grand champion title.
#27 by West Winds Loft on November 4, 2010 - 12:35 pm
Quite some time ago, I was coming home from school. As I pulled into the driveway, one of my mother’s cats proudly presented me with a white with liver colored patches homer. At first glance, I thought the bird was surely dead. But as I had a closer look, the bird moved and looked up at me with panicked eyes. I managed to praise the cat, stroke her, work my way to her mouth and get her to release the bird. I jumped back into the car and took it straight away to our treasured vet (who could resurrect roadkill.) The vet said the bird’s wing had been injured but other than this it was in fine condition and the cat hadn’t punctured the bird in any way. I then took the bird back home where my brother got a carpenter friend of his to come to the house and build a VERY large enclosure in my bedroom. The bird was quite content to spend the winter in a nice warm enclosure being given all sorts of special attention. One of the things I noticed was that the bird was banded and had a message capsule on its left leg. Over the winter I tracked the numbers through the various clubs and registries. I finally got a phone call from one of my inquiries stating that the bird was indeed registered with them and that his home loft was 40 miles due south of me. With the spring came the urge for my guest to be on the wing once again. I took him back to the vet who cleared him for take off. I put a note in his capsule and ushered him outside. It was a warm sunshiny day with a blue sky and puffy white clouds above. I released the bird and watched him draw lazy circles in the sky above my head. Then, suddenly, like a lightening bolt, the bird shot south like Peter Pan heading for the second star to the right. It was an exhilarating experience! I never forgot that bird and I doubt I ever will. Later, I decided to have birds of my own and thus began my loft. No mistake. I love each and every one of my kids. They are the wind beneath my wings. 🙂
#28 by Trish Battersby on November 2, 2010 - 1:50 am
After a life time of enjoying birds in general at 54years of age I have finally decided to get into pidgeons. My loft is in the design stages and I have been going around the district talking to anyone who would talk to me about pidgeons. I cant believe how helpful everyone has been, how passionate, interesting and informative. My grandparents nieghbour had pidgeons when I was a child and I remember visiting there to see the birds. I have always had caged birds but often felt sorry for them trapped in their cages most of the time so pidgeons seem a natural progression for me. Being able to release them, race them and breed them is exciting and new and I wonder why I never thought of keeping pidgeons before. I have done alot of study on the net and didnt realize how big pidgeon racing is overseas. I dont think alot of people know how exciting pidgeons are or what these amazing litle birds are capable of. Im certainly looking forward to getting my loft built and getting my birds and beginning a wonderful new hobby that provides excitement, lots to learn, something for the whole family to get involved in and some lovely people to socialize with.
#29 by chris on October 31, 2010 - 10:17 am
i got involed thought my grandad when i was 13 but at 14 my mum and dad got rid of my shed and birds know im 22 and i got a new shed and 3 birds 😀 so im starting off and iv also started a forum up for people to tlk about pigeons ect so if anyones intested in joining it i would be greatful 😛 im looking forward to racing next year 😀
http://ukpigeonracing.co.uk/
#30 by Slav Radic on October 30, 2010 - 5:23 am
It all started when i was a kid, A friend of the family started looking after me n my sister when i was bout 10 years old hed kept pigeons in the back yard and i would just look on why he liked them so much! He kept the serbian highflyers that hed smuggled from overseas ive fallen inlove with the birds ever since now ive taken over at 28 years of age, he dosnt keep pigeons no more! I just got into racing pigeons last year breeding for a bloke that started racing so that he could concentrate on the tossing and training of the birds while i concentrate on breeding healthy fat squeekers for him, dnt know what it is i just love keeping pigeons enjoy breeding them then whatcing them return from a race its amazing how they come back, i think im hooked on racing pigeons now though i will forever keep the highflyers but i might start racing one day for myself i just dnt know looks like alot of hard work with tossing and time mmmmmm maybe one day!
#31 by michael susi on October 29, 2010 - 1:39 am
i dont know why i love pigeon since my childhood days whenever i see a pigeon flying i stop and keep looking on it. maybe i was born to love this bird and i thank god for it! thanks for giving me this moment to share this w/ u guys out there.
#32 by Christopher Adam Trella on October 24, 2010 - 1:24 am
I always liked to watch them fly,and when they would come to the birdfeeder to eat loved the way they “looked”, strutted, etc. This was when I was a kid(49 now) Anyway,there were lots of guys in the neighborhood that had different types and one fella gave me some fantails! Always thought the Racers were pretty neat, so I built a coop. But, nobody had any birds to “give away” right then. Plus, they were afraid I’d let ’em out and they would fly back and “mess up” things at the loft! We “netted”,-“trapped” our first birds, actually as “pets” they were ok.They’d even “home”! Eventually, some of the guys took pity on us and the rest is history!!!!
#33 by Steve Cicero on October 20, 2010 - 12:24 pm
My Father and my Uncle raced in Hoboken,NJ. My Uncle was one of the Charter Members of the Hudson Count Club. My Dad was the Secretary there for several years as well as the Newark and Lyndhurst Clubs. I was with them almost every weekend since I was like 5. In 1978, we moved the birds out of Hoboken to Kearny after my Uncle got sick.
My Dad and I flew there until 1990, when he passed away. The rest of my family wouldn’t let me keep the birds, so I had to get out. I still miss them and pop over to several places now and then
#34 by William on October 20, 2010 - 9:04 am
Hi Chris
My father raced pigeon way before i was born. So i grew uo with pigeons and it was his passion towards pigeon racing that made me fall in love with this sport. I heard of so many people whos father used to race that hate the sport, being forced to clean the lofts and not to play out side when the pigeons are supposed to return from a race. My dad never forced me to do anything regarding pigeon racing that I didnt want to do. I love spending time with my dad and went every were he went with the pigeons.
Regards
William
#35 by Glenn Eason on October 16, 2010 - 10:46 am
A commie (Common pigeon)fell out of its nest in my backyard. I feed it bread crumbs 7 water till it could fly and it never left my back porch. I made a cage for him out of an orange crate and asked my mother if I could get some more birds. She said no, so I read book’s (How to raise & train pigeons by William H. Allen), found the APJ magazine, went to the Pageant of Pigeons in Glendale, Ca. and i was hooked for life. Then I saw a bird tumble and that is what I wanted to raise… Birmingham Rollers.
Glenn
#36 by paul pashley on October 11, 2010 - 9:07 am
i live in england i dont mind who has my email address its paulpashlet36@yahoo.co.uk
#37 by paul pashley on October 11, 2010 - 1:51 am
my familly has had pigeons over 100 yrs i started on my own in 1977 won my ist race ive been lucky to have flown a good distance breed , my highlight was breediong ist spanish national for a fancier / also ist section for my cousan /because long hours i can now only fly the distance races
#38 by maryl grimmett on October 9, 2010 - 9:11 am
I did not get interested in pigeons! They got interested in me! I had no choice!
One saddle-back, penguin-like hen came to my parking spot and refused to fly up and allow me to park. She was in trouble, dehydrated, starving, and sorta friendly.
Since I didn’t run her over and fixed her up she refused to leave, then decided I would be her mate and tried crashing through the screen door each time I left her outside.
After several hawk attempts and one interested stray cat I gave her a spot inside where she could nest, lay all the infertile eggs she wanted and hang out with me in the rock garden.
Aptly named Penguin she stayed with me until death did us part. She gave me my interest in pigeons and will forever remain #1 in my heart. I am on #2 now, an orphan I found in heavy traffic under an overpass, too little to fly. He is sitting on my hat watching me type.
#39 by West Winds Loft on December 18, 2010 - 10:47 am
This is a great story. Thanks. 🙂
#40 by tidus nestah on September 28, 2010 - 11:21 pm
well my interest in racing pigeons starts when i was 13 or 14 years old i think. at first i do not have any idea in taking care of my birds. as time goes by I’ve learned some things in taking good care of my birds. but for now im still scared to join pigeon clubs in our country because i know to myself that even though i have good birds in my loft i do not have enough knowledge yet. that’s why i am patiently browsing each articles that this website posted. hoping that all of this articles will help me and maybe lead me to success. i hope the administrator of this website will post even more detailed articles about eye signs and pairing.
#41 by Michael Spiegelberg on August 31, 2010 - 9:55 pm
gary yount @ msn . com but put the words all together k NO Spaces ! Good Luck !
#42 by Michael Spiegelberg on August 31, 2010 - 9:53 pm
keith marvin santillan start by emailing this guy , he has been in the pigeon hobby for many years and has started me in the right direction and is very helpful and am sure he can help you! gary yount He helps out those who are just gettng started and will sell you birds for a very cheap – Good Cost , He’s an awesome person ! Let me know how it all works out – Good Luck and I hope nothing but the best for you ! From America to You In Philippines – bicol area ” Peace ! “
#43 by keith marvin santillan on August 31, 2010 - 1:32 am
ahm…i’m just 19 i’m just a starter in this racing pigeon hobby. back in my high school life. I breed also pigeon but native not knowing that theres racing pigeon thats going on my surrounding. for now i don’t race yet instead breeding so many racing pigeon i started with 10 racing pigeons now for 1year i have double the count. honestly racing my birds is not hobby but taking care of them is ultimate happiness.
being so interested in racing pigeons.. before i start breeding i almost created a book all about pigeons.. by just researching, the point is. i’m not creating a book. i just want to know how to take care of my birds well.. i just print what i researched and then read them repeatedly.
before i go further my name is Keith Marvin B. Santillan
from : Philippines – bicol area
Address : 9-L Rivera St. Albay, Legazpi City
some day i wish to have racing pigeon came from or originated from out of my country something like U.S,Germany,England and others.. i don’t no what to do.. for my wish to come true..
for now this Tuesday August 31, 2010 i’m continuously making my birds many as possible.
#44 by pardeep dhaliwal on August 30, 2010 - 6:45 am
my cousion (living in Canada) come to INDIA & stay with us at my home. He has a fond of pets,especially pigeons. I also had a fond of pets. when ever he came to us , we buy pigeons,and leave when he gone back. But this time i didnot leave them but my pigeons got disease and most of them are died.only 2 are left. That was the worst moment of my life. I was unable to treat them because i don’t know how to save them.
but i studied a lot about them & i think i will become a good pigeon holder.
I am from PUNJAB & there was no pigeon racing ,but there is competition that which pigeon can stay in sky for longer time ,& that bird will be the winner.The least time of staying in sky is 6am to 6pm.(i.e.12 hrs)
#45 by Michael Spiegelberg on August 27, 2010 - 10:05 pm
We have 10 Homers — a Bit les Than what I had !
#46 by Michael Spiegelberg on August 27, 2010 - 10:01 pm
I was Raised On A Farm – so we had ” Wild Type ” Pigeons In The Barn — My Stepdad helped me catch some — Ate a Couple — I didn’t Dare , I liked them — at the age of 9 when I seen a creature who could Fly — I was Hooked I still to this day wish I had wings , wouldn’t that be fun ? So I started with wild Type wgich my stepdad let me keep for a bit and then he made me let them go — He said to many diseases — So I seen 1 da what was a Bunch ( Now I Know a Kit ) of Pigeons Flying closely together in The direction North — so i jumped on my bike and followed — straight to their coop ( which nowadays is called a Loft ) so I sat outside the coop just watching in awww … Then an Old Man came out – Looked grumpy so I almost rode off – he said ” Hey Lil One , Come Here ” I said Yeah …. He said you want to Hold one … I said Heck Yeah — so he brang me in his coop and inside he locked the birds in — He said I have somewhere around a 108 birds and am getting a bit old to be caring for them — will your parents allow you to take them — as he set one in my shaking hands — I said 4 sure , they said I could if I could find some — He packed and I helped a bit pack them in old burlap feed Bags until they wre all inside them — He then said I’ll give you a ride and thru my bike in his pickup along with the birds and let me hold that same bird the entire truck ride home – you should have seen My stepdads face and my mothers when we pulled up – they were shocked I had found some — 108 Black and white Homers — and My stepdad ended up knowing the gentleman so I didn’t have to say much — I already had a Huge coop inside the barn so I ran burlap bag after burlap bag out to the coop — I kept them for several years until I grew up and Moved out — I slowly gave them away to alot of differnt folks — I went on to have my own children and 20 sum years later am Now Teaching My own children and back to enjoying the Old Times and this Is why we named our Loft — The New ” Old Skool Loft ” Peace !
#47 by Ubiquitous Jim on August 26, 2010 - 10:40 pm
To be honest I’m not currently involved in pigeon racing. I would like to because the hobby fascinates me. The problem is I don’t know where to begin. I realize there is plenty of information available, but it can seem overwhelming and to complicated. If anyone has any advice or suggestions I certainly would appreciate it. Thanks
#48 by maryl grimmett on October 9, 2010 - 9:13 am
same here.
#49 by Al Thompson on August 15, 2010 - 8:25 pm
I raised chickens in my backyard for about 10 years. Also being a gardener, last year I finally got tired of the chickens destroying my yard so I was ready for a change. It was then that I discovered that the two brothers, who owned a cabinet shop next to our office, had been raising and racing pigeons their whole life. They had a loft there at the shop for their ‘extra’s’. I was struck by how beautiful they were and the fascination of their homing ability. I joined their club and they supplied me with 14 young birds. I converted my coop into a temporary loft. (real loft on the way, but money is tight so should be ready by next year) I live in a residential neighborhood with many trees. The first time I saw my birds flying in a group, circling the neighborhood and diving between the trees, I was hooked. It was so obvious that they were not flying for survival like a wild bird, they were flying because they enjoyed the hell out of flying. I wish I had started this years ago. I hope that maybe I can get some kids at my church interested.
#50 by Atisit Pilanun on August 12, 2010 - 7:14 pm
When I was 10 years old. A friend of mine next door rose pigeons. He got so small loft not even children liked us could go in. 2 year later the loft was knock down because his father needed him to pay more attention to schooling. That was the starting of my pigeon adict.
#51 by ray on August 11, 2010 - 4:26 pm
hello,,like probally all pigeon guys i had homers when i was about 9 years old we would bring them out 7 to 10 miles on our bikes and pedel back home fast as we could to see if we could beat them home and no we never did and i remember we never let them loft fly when they were youngsters to go tripping or routing,i had a cube van box for a coop my dad cut a couple windows in and we used that as a landing board and all they ever did before we took them out was look out the window into the woods so i dont know how they ever made it home maybe they followed us on our bikes,,anyway at the age of 50 in 2001 i seen a man on the front cover of a newspaper in my area holding a pigeon and he talked about a club they had and i inquired about that and joined and i have been having fun ever since the day i joined the club,some sad days when the one you think will be back first but never shows up and one can only blame it on a hawk or wire or maybe a vehicle,i dont win all the time but i win my fair share & i keep learning different things about the birds each year,it seems each young bird batch is different,,as long as i have my health i will be scraping perchs hope all have a good young bird season
#52 by dinesh on August 9, 2010 - 10:37 am
Hi
i am dinesh from India (south India) i am from poor family. i am 35 Years Old., i love pigeon last 17 years . but i don’t have own house but one of my friend have pigeon every day i will watch that . then we also join the club this year but we don’t have that-much racing pigeon. now we are collecting pigeon still now not yet but keep on trying . all tips is very useful to me….
#53 by Andy Buchek on July 30, 2010 - 8:17 am
My father kept homing pigeons when I was a child, so it’s no big mystery. When my dad had a stroke in 1988 my wife and I moved to his farm where he had retired.This is where and why I began to keep pigeons.
It’s so neat to look up and see the small flock flying around the farm and know that those are our birds. Dad has passed on now,but I know that he would be pleased that I’m still trying to raise pigeons.I don’t have time or energy to race them,but it’s still gratifying to have and watch them grow. Sometimes critters get to them or they land on the wrong power line. But I keep on trying.
Andy Buchek
#54 by carlo on July 27, 2010 - 5:12 pm
Ever since i was a kid i am lover of pets specially feathered animals and when i was in highschool my classmate who is a pigeon fancier bring a pair of birds and set it frees during our recess time and fly away and i ask him why? and he told me don’t worry pigeons can find its way home and when we arrived at their place the birds are already there inside the small loft. i was really amazed by their incredible homing ability and instinct, that is the time i got hooked in this magnificent and wonderful hobby. I started with two pairs of birds and a small loft and get along with new group a pigeon mania friends whose life is circled in the world of strong,fast and competitive racing pigeon.Even though i was not able to join and compete in any official club race, I toss my pigeons 20 km every weekends and its a wonderful feeling to see them comes back in loft. My love for pigeons was great that i wont last a single day without holding and looking each and everyone of it.I never out grew my love and interest for this hobby,but unfortunately i have to give up my hobby to heed the call of opportunnity working abroad,and now i am here working in a country were pigeon racing never knew, my only hobby now is to surf into internet about pigeon racing,training, breeding and to know how to become a champion in the pigeon sport, Hopefully when the right time comes i will somehow go back and fly with an enjoyable hobby of a lifetime. Thank you for the good information
#55 by hamed on July 23, 2010 - 1:25 pm
hi chris
Im Hamed from iran and i have good pigeons race .i been for 15 years.ithinks we most have a big syndicate for all of the world bc in some cuntrys they dont have any syndicate for example i iran we dont have any syndicate for pigeons race i think we need a good international syndicate for pigeons racing and fanciars for identify adequate pigeons and fanciars in the world also expedition to the evry cuntrys i wish this vision .
best regards .
Hamed.
#56 by Clem Sedgman on July 11, 2010 - 10:55 am
Hi Chris,
I am 62yo living in Australia and I’ve been racing for 10 years .
I had pet birds when I was 13 to14 y.o. living in the outer suburbs of Melbourne Australia.
This story is much the same as many others around the world but I believe we need to advertise with the help of professionals aiming at the general population but especially targeting retired people looking for something very interesting and challenging to do.
As I have posted before I think a national advertising fund should be set up so we can share our secret with the rest of the world.
Racing has become too expensive for most youngsters to take up but is ideal and most attractive to single males and retirees.
Clem
#57 by mike garrett on June 18, 2010 - 12:12 am
4H at age 12
#58 by bradley on June 10, 2010 - 2:11 pm
i got involved in pigeons when i used to go with my grandad he used to help anouther person who could not finish work early so i used to keep him company sometimes i would go down the pub to help him carry the baskets if the other bloke could not do it,i used to run in the loft to get the ring for my grandad and sometimes we won and other times we never got anywhere,thats how i got in to it im thinking of getting some birds but aint to sure where to put the loft as garden is nearly full,
#59 by john on June 1, 2010 - 11:44 am
Well Chris and friends,
I was born in Ireland then lived in the north of England which I did not know till now was very big on pigeon racing. I met John, the other half of Irish Lofts through a geneology site on the internet and to cut a long story short came to America to visit and ended up staying and marrying my John.
John had had pigeons on and off since he was ten years old and mentioned to me that he would like to have them again, I was all for it and so my knowledge and subsequent love of pigeons was born.
Last year, my first year, I learned to feed, water, clean, band and care for these wonderful birds, I even hand reared a baby from six days old, she now has babies of her own. I am proud to say we earned three diplomas and I received a trophy for young bird 09, I like to think the young bird was me.
So I like to pass on what I have learned to new flyers and hope my enthusiasm and love of my babies, as I call them, communicate to new flyers how rewarding and enjoyable this sport/hobby can be if you are willing to put your heart and effort into it. Onwards and upwards!!
Lynn duffy, Irish Lofts.
#60 by Rudolp on May 29, 2010 - 4:56 am
I didn’t do to well in school. The school Principal advise my perants to get me a hobby. This will limmit my time to play around. So they got me 2 Piegeons 12 October 1974. Needless to say my school work did improve and I was since grade 5 always under the top 5 in my class. The pigeons kept me busy, with little bite of time for homework, that helped me to concentrate on my work. Thanks. Rudolph
#61 by Hal Ham on May 20, 2010 - 12:25 pm
I got into raising pigeons in Jr. high school. A close friend had some and it seemed “cool” to have some of my own. In High School I started racing with a local club. I have been out of the sport for many years but am getting back in this year. I think the thing that would bring more people into the sport is the affinity of a friend, so that means encouraging your friends to become aware of pigeon raising and in my case racing. I think that having some friends over to wait for your birds to come in from a race might spark some interest. When I had birds in high school I had some very tame ones and people who came over were captivated by these birds that would sit on their shoulder or in their hands. I guess being very helpful to new flyers/breeders and being someone that other people would like to be around would help a lot in recruiting. I will be joining the Beeville RPC and the folks I have met there have been outstandingly helpful and encouraging. That helps a lot.
#62 by Dan Golda on May 19, 2010 - 6:36 pm
i became interested in pigeons as a young teenager living in Portsmouth, RI. my neighbor raced “short distance” birds in Fall River,MA, and asked me to breed some of his best birds for racing. my dad then agreed and built this huge loft, and i developed some remarkable birds for him. now at age 67, i built my own loft, and enjoy caring for a much smaller number of birds. i have white kings,5 cocks, and 4 hens. its been 2 weeks since my loft was built, and i have a pair of eggs due to hatch at the end of the month. i plan to train them for release at weddings and funerals. i am the only one in my area doing this. i love the white king for its`friendly calm nature.
#63 by renato pangilinan on May 10, 2010 - 9:00 am
IT WAS A GIFT TO ME BY MY FATHER ON MY BIRTHDAY,LAST 1972 HE GAVE ME TWO PAIRS OF PIGEONS NO LEG TAGS AT ALL BUT I LOVE THEM VERY MUCH. I STARTED BUILDING A LOFT MADE OF WOOD.I NEVER GET INVOLVE IN ANY RACE AT THAT TIME.IVE JUST DEVELOP MY SELF,BY ASKING SOME OF MY FRIENDS ABOUT PIGEONS,UNTIL I GOT INVOLVE IN THE RACE. I STARTED JOINING THE RACE JUST LAST 2005 WINNING AS 6TH OVERALL RACE IM NORTH RACE IN THE PHIL.IT WAS A SMALL CLUB ONLY,BUT ITS GREAT.AND ALSO WINNING LAP CHAMPION LAST 2009 ALSO IN THE NORTH,SOME WHERE IN ISABELA, AND FINISHES THE RACE UP TO FARTHER NORTH,USING ONLY SAME PIGEON THAT WON IN ISABELA.THEN I JOINED THE SOUTH RACE,THAT STARTED FROM NAGA IN BICOL UP TO TACLOBAN IN LEYTE,ALSO IN THE PHILIPPINES, I JUST FINISHES THE RACE , THIS BREED CAME FROM MY CHINESE FRIEND.I REALLY LOVE TO RACE, THATS WHY I KEEP ON DEVELOPING MY PIGEONS.HOPE YOU COULD HELP ME ABOUT IT.
#64 by RAY BROWER on April 19, 2010 - 9:57 am
MY DAD BROUGHT SOME FANCEY PIGEONS HOME FROM A BAR. IT KEPT ME BUSEY I WAS 10 YEAR OLD I HAD TO MAKE A LOFT.AS TIME WENT ON I WENT TO A PET SHOP AND BOUGHT SOME HOMERS. THEY WERE SELLING FROM 25 CENTS AND UP THAT WAS IN 1930. I GOT TOGETHER WITH SOME OTHER KIDS AND STARTED A KIDS CLUB. WE WOULD TRAIN OUR BIRDS ON A BIKE THE SCHOOL LET US USE THE JIM FOR A SHOW WE MADE THE SHOW CRATES OUT OF EGGCRATES.I TOOK BIRDS TO SCHOOL LET THEM OUT THE WINDOW WITH MESSAGES ON THERE LEG THAT THE CLASS MADE UP. WHEN I WENT HOME FOR LUNCH I WOULD BRING THE LETTERS BACK THE KIDS GO T AKICK OUT OF THAT. RAY BROWER
#65 by John Silver on April 6, 2010 - 12:21 pm
Hi Chris,
It all started in 2001. I had pains in my neck and my chest and i could not wake up for work. I went to the doctor and after an examination he told me i was stressed. He said that i needed to relax and get a hobby, something i always wanted to do. I built a loft, got a bird and started racing in 2002. I placed 2nd in my 1st race, since then I have won “Champion Fancier” and “Ace Bird”.
Great Job Insider!
#66 by Spencer Fallon on April 2, 2010 - 2:46 am
HiChris!
I got my first pair of pigeon’s when i was 12.they where a couple of tumblers.3yrs later i left home to go to work,so i had to give up pigeons.Later on in life, when all my children grew up, Igot back into the sport again.And im enjoying every moment of it!I got involved through some school mates, who imagrated from England, where their dad raced Pigeon’s.Pigeon Insider is a awesome website, that i go on every day!Keep up the good work!!1
#67 by Neels Horak on March 31, 2010 - 7:09 am
Hi Chris
I want to thank you for all the info, you will encourage the sport
I started with pigeons in 2006 and started racing 2009 I have a pastion for racing
pigeons sins i can remember the birds is fasinating me and want to become a very
famous fancier one day I started when i picked up a hen that could not fly i took her home and give her water and food add keped hir in a small cage well at that time i got a nother cock from a farmer in Theunissen Freestate South Afrika By then i decided that if i ever want to fly racing pigeons this must be the right time because i am setteled now with a permanent place for me and my birds so i build the first loft in my outside building then made friends with another man this gay had pigeons and raced pigeons all his live Christo Groennewald and then he give me four stock pairs and helped me alot to ring the birds to doctor the birs to injeck the birds to feed the birds to breed the birds now i have more than 200 birds in my loft and this will be my second jear to race my birds CHRISTO GROENNEWALD DIED in motor accident in 2008 so all the things i dont now i look up on internet will it be wrong if i call my pigeons Groennewald Horak because i never asked him what breed the pigeons were he done very well in racing pigeons
#68 by Melvin Knight on March 26, 2010 - 11:43 pm
My reason for being interested in and attracted to pigeons originated from a strong attractions to birds which i’ve had for as long as I can remember In about grade 3 I would spend my weekly 50 cent allowance on a pigeon I would buy from a local man who kept pigeons. I’d put that bird with the othersd I had purchased in a wooden piano shipping container, I had made into a crude pigeon coop. The old saying “once bit twice shy” does not apply to pigeons. Once you have been bit by the pigeon bug you seem to be effected for the rest of your life. Personally I like the infection the invovement Is a great hobby, sport.
#69 by TROY on March 25, 2010 - 7:10 pm
I STARTED A NEW JOB IN TOWN AND WAS TOLD THAT MY BOSS RACED PIGEONS, I HAD NEVER HEARD OF THAT, THEN I STARTED TO LOOK IT UP AND THOUGHT THAT WAS THE NEATED THING IN THE WORLD TO HAVE BIRDS COME BACK TO YOU! WELL I HAD TO HAVE SOME, AND I BOUGHT MY FIRST BIRDS OUTA NEW YORK, AFTER MY BOSS SAW I WAS SERIOUS ABOUT IT HE GAVE ME SOME OF HIS AND HELPED ME JOIN A RACING CLUB, BEEN HOOKED EVER SENCE.
#70 by RON on March 24, 2010 - 11:07 pm
I got started when a friend asked me to go with him to an old barn and catch wild
pigeons. Then we built a make shift loft and raised lots of pigeons.I seen a flock
of pigeons flying around one day in the city. So like any kid with pigeons I had
to find out where they were from. It turned out to be a pigeon racer he took the
time to explain to me how racing pigeons was done. He gave me a couple youngsters
and I was hooked got rid of all the wild ones. This started when I was 12 years
old I have had pigeons know for over 40 years and will continue till I can’t look
after them anymore.
#71 by Jess on March 24, 2010 - 3:11 am
I been to this hobby since I was on high school days. When I saw one of my friend and seen when he race his pigeons quite far and goes back in a speed. Since that I started to look for a good pigeons and get hook to it. BUt I did stopped when I went to college and back again when I already have a job and can support the needs for this hobby. For now I even bought exensive birds to cross breeed and join competitions trying to get a kind of bird who can win the race.
#72 by barry jacks on March 23, 2010 - 9:01 am
As a littie boy i lived alongside a national road. Every winter i would see a
huge truck pull alongside, and after a while release hundreds of pigeons.
This fascinated me as i always liked birds.At the age of 12 i obtained some birds
from a guy that raced pigeons then.I bred a couple babies which i homed, and then tossed, with amazement that they actually found their way back home.Always wanted to race but circumstances never permitted.Eventually got my break, 26 years later
after buying a property in the city. Put up my loft, and i have now been racing
for the past 4 years.
#73 by rick on March 21, 2010 - 6:50 pm
I got started as a kid 8 years old a man on our block had them and when he left the sport I got birds from him .When Iwas older and bought a home I got the bug when visting my wifes sister and husban who happen to train hunting dogs.They had a few racers in their pen and I was back in to pigeons. Racing came after a met a man named Denny Lyons he had caught one of birds when I went to pick it up at his home we talked and he invited me to shipping night that was 20 year ago.I’m still flying.
#74 by Gwilym on March 19, 2010 - 4:41 pm
It started with cats and dogs and the pet canary in a cage.
At the age of 12 I was into breeding chickens and selling the eggs for pocket money.
I always sat on the top of our roof watching the batches of racing pigeons circle.One day a homer hit our telephone wires and had a torn crop.My grandmother rest her soul helped me to sew the crop together with needle and cotton .We kept the bird in a small cage for a few weeks , after letting it out it started to home so I could not wait to get more birds to watch them fly in circles around our home.
I introduced myself to a mr. Cole who was one of the top pigeon fanciers in our area in 1957.He took a liking to me and told me he would let me have six young birds which I had to earn first by cleaning his lofts every Sat.morning at the end of each month I would have earned and owned a bird.I was so pleased that I started feeding his stock birds and later got involved with tossing the birds and was given the opertunity to learn the tricks of the trade of racing pigeons.As a junior I joined the Western Province Pigeon union and did very well .
In 1965 I was draughted for military training for 2 years so I had to get rid of my babies it was a sad day when they were sold at the club.
After the military stint I started a apprenticeship as a electrician Got married in 1981 but moved into a flat for 7 years where i could only keep budgies and canaries.But I still could not wait to get them birds I moved to my own home and started keeping pigeons. Unfortunely my work kept me away from home and I had to get rid of the birds again .
In 1987 I walked into a pet shop and saw diamond doves which caught my fancy , I buoght a pair and started breeding wild doves.Today I have a good collection of wild doves from all over the world from New Zealand to the phillipine Islands, 16 spesies in all total which is my pride and joy.
I have converted lots of guys from booze to birds so keep those birds circling someone will surely come knocking on your door and with a little kindness you could change his life forever at 65 I still think of the good times I had with Uncle Johnny Cole even if it was just talking pigeons.
Kind Regards and thank you for the wonderfull articles.
Gwilym.
#75 by Lynn on March 13, 2010 - 11:43 pm
My Great Grandfather keep pigeons. Racing Homers (Wegges) mated to Silver Kings for food during WWII. They used the “Homers” to carry messages. My father kept a large Avery of doves, finches and pigeons. I took the racing Homers after the war and bred racing birds to carry messages and finally joined a local club.
I was GIVEN imported SIONS in the 50’s and have kept those birds progeny in line since then. The original birds were imported in the 40’s. I have the original Pedigrees. I have integrated some Heitzman Sions into my line, and fly them today.
#76 by Robert Denny on March 12, 2010 - 12:26 pm
Over 60 years ago as a boy growing up in New York City I helped my dad with his racing pigeons. After retirement from teaching math and coaching football and basketball I decided to put up a loft and reclaim the fond memories I had as a boy on the lower Eastside of Manhatten with the birds. With hammer in hand and a good wife we put up the loft. It has been interesting getting back into the birds. With the use of the internet I have meet some great people around the country. You might say that I am back in the classroom as I am always reading to expand my knowledge about the birds. The journey has been great. Hope to stay with the birds for a long as I can.
#77 by Craig poido on March 12, 2010 - 5:11 am
nobody can make you like pigeons you simply like them or you dont what atracts us to pigeons well thats the big subconse question poido
#78 by Mark Johnson on March 11, 2010 - 3:05 pm
I had a natural love for birds from a youth age so when I was introduced to racing pigeons I fell in love immediately. I was very curious to learn as much as I could about them and the sport so I became involved in the Jamaica Racing Pigeon Club. The club has been inactive for a while now but I was on the Racing Committee for approx. three years before I started racing my own pigeons.
#79 by mads on March 8, 2010 - 9:31 pm
well that is an interesting question when i was about 14 or 15 years old i always had chikens in my home but pigeons always facsinated me not only did i like but i also hunted them if you can beleive that by the way they taste pretty good any way at that age i bult a huge loft which was nothing more than a square box only 18 feet high and about 15 feet wide i had a good size yard at the time my parents thought that as long as i kept it clean it would be ok pretty soon i had over 60 birds flying around the house i had always heard about the war birds thought it was interesting sometimes i would take a few and toos them see what happened i was afraid to toss more than a mile or two but anyway i cant remember that far back however i think they were just regular birds becuse i remember buying them taking them home clip[ing their wings a month later they would be able to fly they would not leave my house so i guess if they were homers they were not pretty good any way i did that for a whilke i really enjoyed it and there colors were incredible but as you know life goes on we sold the house i got married had no time life runs fast 25 years later 2 wife 5 kids later im back mid 2008 i decided to get some birds which i got at the local pet shop next thing you know i joined arpu they directed me to the local club i joined got some really nice birds i have lost a heel of a lot of them but i still enjoy this as much as i did the very first time because of my losses i will be racing the first time this year young bird i guess when the pigeon bug hits you it hits you anyone that visits my home i have to show them my loft its incredible how many people when you speak to them about thse birds and the distance they go they are always amazed typical reaction (i did not know that )my answer have you not heard of the pigeons that the war use have to transport messagesfrom the front lines to headqurters i guess i dont know what planet some people live in or what rock they are still under here is my other answer (havent you heard of the geese that fly long distatncesevery year from one end to the next always land at same locationwell these birds are like that) then the response is o yeah i know about that they dont know about the war birds incredible nayway i enjoyed this littl rant enjoy your site very much see you at the races mads
#80 by Irma Albinana on March 4, 2010 - 3:06 pm
my brother and I had racing pigeons when we lived in Habana, Cuba.
We left in 1974
I now live in Colorado, and care for pigeons that fall out of nets at a power plant. I had rescued a few and kept them at my house. they are basically wild, but I have put boxes for them to stay at night. I have a few home grown.
I love pigeons!. I am always defending them at work, at work, theu try to kill them.
#81 by Wally {SCHE Club in south Florida} on April 27, 2010 - 7:39 pm
My nombre es Wally naci en Marianao Habana Cuba lei tu e-mail y tambiem compito palomas mensajeras espero que no tomes amal que te escriba, Bueno aqui en Miami hay bastante palomeros me alegro que allan cubanos en otras partes de los Estados Unidos que compitan palomas mensajeras P.S. I love pigeons too……..
#82 by baba on March 1, 2010 - 6:31 am
its five years since in this but i am not yet into serious racing some interest drove me into this exciting sport i had many varieties of pigeon before settling for homers still iam in look out for proper and real help to develop this sport
#83 by Jerry Harry on February 22, 2010 - 11:08 pm
When I was 10 I needed a job for movie money , there was a man named Woods I beleive, lived on Forest Park in Ft Worth, Texas.He would pay for me to help clean the loft, which was so easy with the wire floor about 50 feet above the canyon. His loft was built out over a LARGE canyon with a wire floor, he had LOTs of homers. One day he asked if I wanted to come by Sat and watch a race come in,so I showed up.There where about 10 guys there and we had a great time betting on time and just being together taking pigeons. I did not add anything but I really enjoyed the the free drinks(cokes) and being accepted by those grown men. He gave me 4 pair and said I had to give him the first round of young birds but after that I could have the birds.
#84 by Chris on February 18, 2010 - 7:44 pm
I was 9 when I got my first pair of pigeons.I join the cub @ 11, on a big club with big numbers of pigeons.On the 2nd year I was 2x1st with a super grizzle cock, wich was my 1st pigeon home for about two years, after 10 years I sold the pigeons and move to USA. For about 3 year I leve on apartment and can’t have pigeons, then in 2004, I bought a house and PIGEONS !!!!
Chris
#85 by mike on February 17, 2010 - 7:11 pm
my father got me into it to keep me out of trouble and for something for us to do together without fighting and now I cant get away from it to much fun competing
#86 by terry on February 16, 2010 - 6:32 pm
I was a military brat, so we didn’t stay in any one place to long until my dad retired. when he did, i was working on a farm in 68 an a friedn asked me to watch his birds on the farm for him.After that i was hooked. my folks let me move them to our back yard, and i flew there for a couple of years, then i noticed girls lol.after HS graduation i went in the marines for 7ys, rode motorcycles a while and noticed a gent in pa with birds……….BAM they struck again.20 yrs from my 1st date with pigeons and now theie back to stay.
terry
#87 by Henry Lindsey on February 16, 2010 - 4:44 pm
As a kid I always had some animal, bird, or reptile as a pet. Couldn’t have a lizard, my Mother was afraid of them, but had snakes, turtles, alligators,coons, rabbits,dogs, cats,various wild birds and common pigeons. My Dad liked pigeons and we would catch them off the street or anywhere we could. Most kids had pigeons in those days. I believe raising pigeons was the all time biggest hobby back then. My friends and I would take the birds a mile or so on our bikes, race home and call one another when our birds got home.It wasn’t until one of my sisters boyfriends got a pair of race birds from someone he knew and gave them to me that I started raising racing homers. Well I was proud as a peacock,I actually had a pigeon with a band on its leg.I was the envy of my neigborhood. My Dad built me a loft, made a bob trap w/ coathangers and I was in business. We had a weekly Market Bulletin that had a pigeons for sale column. I would find the ones with racing homers and on the week end my Dad and I would go around buying them. You could get them for $.50 to a dollar or two. The local feed store would sell grain by the pound. I started noticeing pigeons exerciseing and would watch where they would land and started visiting lofs in my area. There were about 8 or 10 close enough to get to by bike and I would visit as often as I could. They were always willing to let a kid scrape the loft or do various chores around the loft. The whole time I would be asking questions. Every now and then I’d be given a youngster or and old bird. I would read anything I could pertaining to homers. The only thing that kept me from flying was the clock. A new one cost about $100 and I didn’t have it and my Dad didn’t either. By the time a local club member gave me his old timer I was discovering girls. Sort of loss interest in the birds for a while then joined the Marine Corps. Came back home got married and moved around to various rental houses.Like most who had pigeons in their blood I finally was able to get the birds again.The thrill of seeing the birds return from a race is undiscribeable. Even with the new electronic clocks I’m still outside waiting for the thrill of seeing the birds return. Get a young kid interested in the birds and it will keep him out of trouble,teach him life lessons for caring for and raising living things and eventually he’ll come back to the birds later in life.
#88 by Rolando on February 16, 2010 - 1:15 am
I got interested in pigeons and a variety of small animals since High School until my later years in College. Now I am working that spending my time to the hobby I like is so hectic that I have to stop and concentrate more on work. Spending your free time with live animals is so relaxing that I wish that I could relive that time of my life. Maybe in the next few years I will start again to care for these creatures.
#89 by winston on February 15, 2010 - 3:04 pm
I got started with pigeons as a child I was 7 or 8 years back in Barbados W.I my Dad had a friend who had racing pigeons at that time all I know is that thies birds you could take them any where and let them go he used to send his over to Trinidad they would come back home my dad friend gave me a pair and he thought me how to keep them healthy after I had raise my first four young he gave me 3 more pairs he told me he wanted to see if I was realy instersted in the birds I had to look after the birds before I could go out with my friends and play my DAD would always say they are yours to look after if you do not take care of them I will give them back to my friend.
I would ride my abike about ten miles with the birds in box let them go, my DAD would let me know which came home first.
IT keep me of the streets and thought me how to be a beter person.Ihave made some life long friends with thies birds in Europe (so DAD help your Children get started) it will pay off!
#90 by Tony P on February 12, 2010 - 12:20 pm
Way back, in 1958, at age 10 I was invited (conned) by a school mate to “help clean his dad’s pigeon loft and train the birds”. I showed a greater interest and facination in the birds and became the “official trainer”(my school mate still had to clean the lofts LOL! I was gifted a pair of birds by this man – the hen was a Federation winner from 640 miles and the cock a two time winner from 580 miles. What a start! Competing as a junior the next year, I took 8 positions in the first 12 including first second and fourth in my very first race. Repeated the win for the next two weeks, took third in the fourth race and the first five in the fifth race – and these results were against senior flyers. Wish I could repeat this now!
#91 by Justin on February 10, 2010 - 3:34 pm
I got into pigeons in the late 70’s back in Brooklyn. Neighbor moved in to my building and made a coop. I was so amazed at the pigeons. He taught me alot . Eventually he moved out. Then I built a coop in the same roof. Had tipplits homers flights owls etc. Back then didnt even know my brother use to have pigeons . When I told what I was doing he helped out when he could.We had mixed stocks. Back then there was a flyer almost every block. Had fun crashing our stocks together and try to catch each others birds. I had like 150 birds. Others had 3 to 500 birds. Fun part was going to the petshop.It was JOJO’s. He had about 400 flights on the roof. He sold birds for as low as a $1.50 and a bag of mixed feed was $7 for 50lbs. Then i left pigeons in mid 80’s. Here I am now 25 years later back into pigeons. Into homers this time. Started with 5 homers now I have 38.Breeding right now hope to get some racers and join a club.
#92 by Arrie Goodwin on February 8, 2010 - 9:53 pm
I got in to pigeons we I was about 8 or 9 Years old. A man gave me two hens and to cocks. Then the next years he gave me the bands.It was just something to keep.I mever race but on vacation we took the birds to Ar, or Al. 500 milesto 1000 miles .
When I turn 16 my dad got red of all my birds.
when I gor my wif of 20 yesrs now she got me back in to birds that was about 19 years ago all I have now is white raseing homers
Arrie Goodwin @ A&I White Dove release
#93 by COLM GIBSON on February 8, 2010 - 8:07 am
IN 1968 I WAS 12YRS OLD LIVING IN DUBLIN,IRELAND.MY MOTHER USED TO SEND ME TO A LOCAL VAN SHOP FOR FOOD, A FLOCK OF RACING PIGEONS FLEW AROUND A HOUSE ACROSS FROM THE SHOP EVERY MORNING,I WATCHED THEM SWOOP LOW AND THEN SOAR HIGH IN THE SKY, I WAS WATCHING THEM ONE SUNNY MORNING WHEN AN OLD MAN WITH ONE ARM ASKED ME DID LIKE THE BIRDS I SAID I DID HE GAVE ME A PAIR OF PIGEONS,I MADE A SMALL LOFT AND BEFORE LONG MY FRIENDS HAD BIRDS ASWELL,WE USED TO SEND THEM BY RAIL EVERY SATURDAY TO WEXFORD AND THE STATION MASTER WOULD LIBERATE THEM,FIRST PIGEON HOME THE OWNER HAD TO RUN TO THE TOP OF THE ROAD,FIRST TO THE CORNER WITH PIGEON IN HAND WAS THE WINNER.I AM A MEMBER OF A LOCAL CLUB “DONNYCARNEY RPC”AND HAVE RACED FOR THE LAST 17YRS AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE 2010 RACING SEASON.
COLM.
#94 by Art2 on January 27, 2010 - 10:36 am
My Dad introduce them to me when I was a child. 5-6 years old. He raced I helped. Well kind of.
#95 by frank on January 25, 2010 - 5:46 pm
i started when i was nine years old my brother bought 2 birds from a flyer down the street for 50 cents each . we had an old chicken pen and added shavings and an orange crate and we were now hooked on the love of our 2 homers. we then started to look for other flyers in our area and found one who was willing to let us watch his birds come home and explain the art of pigeon racing. 2 years later we had a call from this flyer and it was sept and he was cutting down for the winter , he said bring a create and i will give you a few birds . the year was 1959 and we joined a club the next year and flew our first yb race. the way to attract kids would likely be throught the 4h programs in your area ,this is where you will find kids and adults that like animals and will likely have room to keep birds. if the build a very small loft give the kids 6 or eight birds and teach them how to look after the birds . if they do well you may at some time in the future get them to join a club , this would likely happen later in life after schooling and girls have come and gone or the fathers of the kids may want to get involved .
you can do all the avertising you want but you need the flyers of today to be ready to help get new people started . beaware if they start to quick and do not know how to handle the birds properly and do not have any guidance you could set your self up for local bylaw problems
frank
#96 by erwin on January 25, 2010 - 8:10 am
i started with pigeons when i was 7yrs old,now i’m 38.i got fascinated with them because one of our neighbor had a loft then and i use to climb on our roof just to see his birds but then i don’t have any idea that those pigeons can be raced.i started with white pigeons,i clipped their wings and trained them to go to their loft walking not flying hehehe.
then when i reached highschool i started acquiring good birds from a pigeon market called Aranque market.i believe all of us pigeon fanciers here in Manila didn’t miss the chance of having our first racing pigeons acquired from that pigeon market.
#97 by frank on January 24, 2010 - 7:18 pm
hi
i started with pigeons at an early age in 1957, i joined a club in 1960 and fly my first yb race. i have continued to this day and have never missed a year of racing.
for the new people in the sport do not overcrowd your loft and learn to love the sport for the birds . in todays world everything is about winning money and not the pleasure of watching your birds train and return from 5 and 6 hundrd mile races . if you are starting out pick the brain of top flyers in your area and do not be afraid to ask questions , most flers would be glad to help
frank
#98 by Jaco Haasbroek on January 23, 2010 - 1:28 am
I am an animal lover, and birds are my favourite. As a kid my dad who worked at the harbor, use to bring pigeons from work that was covered in oil. Then I would clean them and nurse them. But as a school kid I couldn’t afford to take care of them afterwards. After school when I got my first place, I started to keep small birds, budgies, finches and cockatiels. Later I got fantail pigeons, but sold them again. And recently I decided to get rid of my small birds and only to start keeping pigeons, as they were in my mind all the time. The idea of letting them out and fly around, and to come back is such a good feeling. And I think it is a way of relaxing too. Taking your birds out a distance to toss them and see how they come back.
#99 by Emad Ghaly on January 22, 2010 - 4:16 pm
I don’t know exactly why I love pigeons.I remember when I was 5 years old, I used to ask my mom every day to bring me some pigeons.May be because I grow up in a poor area with so many people raising pigeons.I am now 45 years old and I can live
without my kids and my wife but not without pigeons.I can feed my pigeons and stay
hungry.It’s something inside myself I can’t describe.When I close my eyes,I just see pigeons.It is the best pretty bird in the world.It can take you out of your
problems in the life.
emad Ghaly
#100 by waynef on January 22, 2010 - 11:55 am
I was 10 years old, I was at the feed store with my Dad and they had small booklets on different animals(sheep, rabbits etc) I spotted a booklet on pigeons, Fancy pigeons to be exact. I took that book home with me and read every word and etched the photo’s in my mind. Because money was tight and My Dad was working two jobs and raising rabbits for added incomeI couldn’t buy any fancy pigeons. I talked my dad into allowing me to use one of his extra hutches to keep a pair of Ferals. Long story short, school, military marriage, kids kept me from keeping pigeons. I just recently retired and was looking for a hobby to keep me busy. Cleaning out a closet one day I found that booklet(I forgot I kept it) thumbing through it, I made plans for a loft and now I have 13 pairs of racing homers. I don’t plan on racing I just enjoy watching them fly around the house, and doing training flights everyday.
#101 by jojojojo on January 21, 2010 - 9:30 pm
i started keeping pigeon when i was 5th grade, then i stopped for im not able to support their feeding and keeping.
i just to have it and not racing it, but some racers in ourtown invite me to join to their club.
since then, i got involve on this sport.
#102 by erinn on January 21, 2010 - 6:38 am
I started to love pigeons way back when I’am 6 yrs old.It is a summer vacation that i visited my cousin in our province and gave me a pair of pigeons.then because of studies I’am forced to removed all my pigeons.Every now and then I kept on looking at the sky hoping to see flying pigeons.Several years past,I’m finished with my studies,got a permanent job,got family..I decided to buy a pair,not knowing that there are certain organizations who are conducting this racing events.Until I meet several fanciers who oriented me about racing pigeons,my interest on pigeons got wider..It is almost 2 years that I got back on raising pigeons that are intended for racing and breeding such tremendous flying lines..I’am just a newby with this sport,willing to learn,..that’s why I’am very thankful that all of you guys are here willing to share ideas,secrets and experiences.It is a great help..Thanks…
#103 by tommy on January 17, 2010 - 8:24 am
i have pigeons ever since i was in gr2. my cousin was a founder member of the first coloured club in george south africain 1950.i started to fly in a local club in 1986 and is still in the same club ever since.i have never flew to become a champ of champs,but will do so in the near future.we as so called coloureds in my town have not yet tried to start our own club and i would like to invite them to start a club of our own.
maybe we lack some confidence in doing so.i am sure if i look in our surrounding towns they are doing ok.
thanks anyway for a great website i really enjoy every bit of it.
regards .tommy
#104 by Craig on January 14, 2010 - 1:50 pm
Hey Chris,
I am wondering if it would be possible for me to import (racing pigeons) eggs from the US. I am fascinated by these birds and was in Oklahoma and New York on a working Visa and I thought of it then but with the bird flu doing the rounds at that time, there were alot of restrictions in place. Please let me know if it is doable. I live in Chennai – India.
#105 by Joseph L. Capistrano on January 11, 2010 - 8:39 am
#106 by Joseph L. Capistrano on January 11, 2010 - 8:37 am
I saw a friend of mine who use to have racing pigeons when i use to be 18 yrs old. Then i ask him if i could buy from him. He just gave me a pair and helped me construct a 30X30 loft. I’m not satisfied so i told him to construct me a bigger loft. Then i bought more pigeons but this time i bought young birds so i can make them fly. Weeks past and my young birds are now circling to the air and flying back home. I was so happy then when i see my birds fly into group, specially when flying high. Months past when i am staring at them inside their loft, i have observed they are sweet to each other because the male birds are courting the female and specially when they have sex. They are sweet to each other as pair, When they lay eggs they alternate in incubating it. When the eggs hatched they are responsible in feeding their young. They have a human like instinct because they protect, feed their babies. They make me feel good when i see those manifestations in them.
#107 by dave on January 11, 2010 - 1:14 am
it was my brother who introduce on having pigeon as pets…when i was a young boy my brother was fun of pegions we got lots of pegion at hom..when i got to college i start buying my own pegion because my brther sell his pegion…at firts it was my hobby..but then some of my friends ask me to come with them on a loft visit with a pegion club member then i started to by good racing pegion for racing on the same club that we’ve met..
#108 by jack dillon on January 10, 2010 - 4:39 pm
I grew up in the city of Dublin, {Ireland} in the fifties,we lived in a small neighborhood of red bricked houses, the only outdoor space we had was a very small yard,where a little coal house and a toilet were joined together. my little Pigeon loft consisted of two tea chests butted together and mounted on top of the coal house.I was about seven years old when i started keeping Pigeons, in those day’s there seemed to be Lofts on every street,most fanciers flew pigeons for fun,it was a joy to watch the various lofts flying their pigeons in the evenings,especially in summertime when the birds would fly for long periods.Colored pigeons were highly valued in those days and Sparrowhawks were rare,i was addicted to pigeons, and so was a few of my pals, we spent most of our free time snaring pigeons with cotton line and a bag of bread crumbs,always on the lookout for stray racers which every fancier seemed to want.Corn was cheap and i lived close to Guinness Brewery so i would collect the fallen barley from outside the malt house,My uncle kept pigeons in the back of a tenement house, his loft was well built, raised off the ground by four feet, and guarded by two fox terriers who were great ratters too, kids used to rob pigeon from unprotected lofts and sell them on,this was the main worry as you rarely lost pigeons when you didn’t race, as i never got to race pigeons when i was young, i never knew anyone who did race them, though you would occasionally spot groups of men with baskets of pigeons at the train station,as a teenager i drifted out of the hobby, mainly through working away from home, when i married in the late seventies i began breeding canaries and finches and took up shooting and fishing and working Gun dogs and after thirty years of that i am back with the Pigeons now for the last five years and enjoying every minute.The love of pigeons never goes away, its a great hobby, weather you are into racing or just fly, or show pigeons, the pleasure they bring is priceless. See my Pigeons on Youtube jackdillon888
#109 by sTACY "bubba' wILSON on January 4, 2010 - 4:34 pm
Like so many had pigeons when a Kid, we caught wild one and raised from them. Doctor told me I need some thing to keep me busy both physical and mentaly (boy, he didn’t know how mental it is) since I retired. I really think that a new flyer must just have a liking for pigeons. That make the best type that will stay with it. I’ve seen a lot come and go that just wanted to win or make money. Those don’t last. BUBBA
#110 by john glemser on January 4, 2010 - 10:04 am
When I was about 8 years old, there was a Barbershop about a block from my school. Every morning around 9:30am I would see birds flying in a circle for about 1/2 an hour. That’s when my search began. I found out that the the birds belonged to the man that owned the barbershop. He lived 10 blocks away from me. After a few weeks of watching the birds I got the nerve up to go in and talk to him. He was an old immigrant and spoke broken english. He had no wife or children. He told me to come back on a Sunday afternoon, and he would let me go into the loft. When I first laid eyes on them, close-up, that’s when I got bitten by the pigeon bug. The old man let me work in the shop, sweeping up hair and scraping the coops, which I simply loved doing. He even threw a couple bucks in every once in a while, for me to spend. He didn’t race the birds,just kept them for his enjoyment. On Sunday afternoons we would let the birds out and I could see the joy in his eyes. At the time I did’t know what he was thinking,but it must have reminded him of being back in his own country, with his family and birds. After a few years my old friend died and left me in his will. He left me his loft and all his birds. I have had pigeons ever since. I am now the President of my club,and one of the top flyers in the nation. Thanks for listening, John
#111 by Jay Slaughter on January 4, 2010 - 4:44 am
Back in 1958 all of my friends had some kind of pigeons of some sort or other. There were a lot of kids in surranding areas back then that loved raising pigeons and it was a good way of getting them off the streets. They were involved in good productive activities that would teach them a lot about life itself. I live in a poorer side of town were kids didn’t get much parental guidence. The rasing of pigeons was a wonderful hobby for those kid also. I really only had one parent back then which was my mother and she couldn’t afford to help me buying pigeons or buy the materials to buy a loft. (I don’t know back then it was called a loft, I just called it a pen.)
My next door neigbor was a home builder and he and I got to be good friends. I would go over to his gargage at night when was was working on restoring a old car a 1918 Nash. I would be there to aid him with whatever he needed me to do. I would polish the crome hand him his tools and I loved doing that for him. I got to be a good handy man for him at the age of 8 years old. My own father was very ill and couldn’t leave the hosiptal for many years. My next door neighor’s name was Mr. Bangter and he help me build a Loft with the extra lumber he got off some of the jobs here was doing. well, that was half the battle is getting a home for the birds.
I lived about a mile from a railroad yard that bought in rail cars full of whole wheat that they would drop in to a large opening under each of the rail cars holding the wheat. After the train would leave a large number of pigeons would get a belly full of that wonderful wheat the spilled during the time it was being unload. I was able to catch me a few pigeons but they were really dirty and smelt bad, so I let them go.
I got a job at a corner grocery store cleaning up the meat trimings that fail on the meat department floor. I would work for about two hours a day and the owner would pay me each day after work. He would pay me two brand new shiny dimes. Before I knew it I had me enough money to buy me my first two bar homer. It was as young one so I could train it to home to my Loft. Soon I was able to buy a young hen that costed me $1.75 and by the way the cock that I bought earlier cost me $2.25. Boy did I think that was a lot of money. I also went the the rail yard and picked up whole grains of wheat for my birds along with some food from the feed store back then. I
I loved my birds, I would watch them by the hours and see what they did all the time, I couldn’t get enough of watching them. They mated and started a family of there own. Boy was that the most interesting thing to watch what they did to take car of the two eggs, the feed their babies. I could go on here but it was better than any course of nature I could ever get. I learned to love birds of all kinds and how to take care of birds by cleaning their loft. I am now 60 years old and I am getting back into the hobby of raising pigeons.
#112 by terry , area13loft on December 29, 2009 - 8:12 pm
i lived across from a co-op found a baby .now 36 yrs. later a friend here in ft.wayne in.(darl) has a family called golden nugget (jansen based) i bought 2 hoping to breed but ended up with 2 cocks now 2 yrs later ,they are beautiful ,fast .smart ,i cant posibly think if i had them all my life, like most of you.but now its all i do ,my wife says id sleep out there if i had a cot.
#113 by Johan van der Walt on December 24, 2009 - 9:57 am
Hi guys,my father had pigeons all his life. I got involved when my farther introduced a junior section in there club whereby you could nominate 10 pigeons for your son/daughter and they compete against each other during the season.You were allowed to nominate 10 pigeons for any junior who was still at school even if he was not your son/daughter. The only criteria was that that junior had to be at the club on basketing night and at the strike out.By doing that our club grew and when the guys started working they carried on with there own teams.
Regards
Johan
#114 by Bill Abendroth on December 23, 2009 - 9:53 am
When I was in my late 20’s, a friend I worked with would bring his race teams to work with him, arriving early, he would release the birds for a training flight back home. This would make the training toss about 50-60 miles for him. I would arrive at the shop early and wanted to see the birds liberated each morning. I was late one morning and was sad that I had missed the release. This is when I realized that I was hooked. Bob give me four pairs of breeders (prisoners) and like most fanciers, throwed together somewhat of a loft. Not knowing any better, I just made the loft as one pen. By luck, this was in mid December, in a town 35-miles Southwest of Houston, Texas. When I told Bob that the birds had layed eggs, he brought me 8-bands and told me when and how to band the babys. As time pasted, I would talk to Bob every day at work and he would give me pointers on how to seperate the breeders, keep the young birds seperated, and how to modify my loft for racing, in which I did. I also, being dumb at the time, joined the club he belonged to, in far North Houston. Well, the young bird season came along the next fall and I had my birds trained. Not realizing that taking my birds to train them, I was teaching my birds to break away for Bob’s birds almost immediately and come home. I sure didn’t realize that I discovered a training technique that would push my birds to the front during the races. You see, my loft was 65-miles on the long end and the guys in the club kinda thought of me being pretty dumb in trying to compete with them. Well, I won five races that first year and come Old Season I won six more race (2nd – Champion Loft and 2nd – Champion Bird). One bird really stood out from the rest, the club members named him “Big Red). He won the 500-mile race and was the only day bird. All this brings on a completly new loft that I really can’t afford in those days (early to mid ’70’s). I won a few more races and learned what a pedigree was and tried to get better stock with “Big Red” being one of my foundation cocks. I still don’t know exactly what bloodline he was. I has to sell out my birds and loft because I was offered a job overseas and my wife at that time wasn’t doing very good taking care of my birds the 28-days I was away from home. SO, I AM OUT OF THE SPORT UNTIL 2007!
I was working away from home (now living in South Alabama) in Texas. My present wife and flying partner called one Thrusday afternoon and told me there was a beautiful pigeon hanging around our place eating out of the bird feeders and drinking from the bird bath. She also told me it had bands on both legs. I said I would be home for the week-end and would try to catch the bird. WE DID! She is now one of my best breeders. I contacted the gentleman that owned the bird and after a long conversation he suggested that I keep her. Here goes another make shift loft. I now have two lofts, one is 8 ft. X 12 ft. and the other is 12 ft. X 32 ft. I am now retired, and back in the pigeon sport. I have 24-pair of breeders in breeder boxes at this time and looking forward to a good Old Bird Series this next Spring and a Great Young Bird Series next fall.
I will only say one thing about all of this, if you have flown the birds before and quit, all you have to do to get the bug again is put a pigeon in you hand, and you are hooked again!
Bungalo
#115 by Aamir on December 22, 2009 - 2:05 pm
I start my pigeon hobby when i m at the age of 8 years. my two elder brothers already involved this hobby. But their hobby is limited for high flying pigeons.when i reached at the age of 16 years i got colourfull piegons and i purchase racing pigeon in 1998 from Lahore, Pakistan
#116 by TATSCRU LOFT on December 22, 2009 - 1:34 pm
Well it started when I was about 15yrs old in 1983 in The South Bronx, N.Y. I live on a 5th floor buliding and I had 270 tipplets on a window coop. As I got older I had a chance to put a coop on the roof 8’X8′ with a screen size of 8’X8′ holding a total of 254 print canadian tipplets high flyers 4,5 hours on the wing on a good day they wouldn’t be seen for hours on end they just fly, but then as time passed I seen a friend that had a black homer and a grizzle homer too, and they where very fast and they are smart too, He would take them to Brooklyn,N.Y on the train and release them and they would get home so I tried this with my pigeons”tipplets” took about 40 birds on a check up that is what we called training in the tipplet world in N.Y.C. Anyways to tell you I got back nothing that day but I did get some back a couple of days later but to know that the homer can make it back in a couple of mins, sometimes under an hour so they caught my attention I said to myself, Self, someday I will get a homer loft. As time passed by in my life I grew into other things getting married,work, kids, and became a grandfather too, and now I’m getting back into the sport of pigeon racing living now in Worcester,ma. It’s here where i met a man by the name for Frank Pacheo whom gave me a couple of good youngsters to start me up so i can join a club. I now the opportunity and a place where I can build my 1st loft, it’s not easy but a dream in progress. I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time since 1998, it’s like a baby coming into the world. I just got lucky you can say meeting Bill Desmarias the Director of the A.U. Northeast zone whom helped me out with getting started with a good stock of breeders. Also I express my greatest condolances to the Greenhall family my heart goes out to his family and I give my blessing to the The Greenhall Family in loss of a great man Dr. Frank Greenhall, I didn’t know him but i’ve read of him. And I’ve been bleessed to have some of his pigeons in my loft and keep him in the sport. I like to do well and pass on the love for the sport. In 2010 it will be my 1st year in the club. looking to make a mark in the pigeon world. Lets see what happens!
#117 by Aamir on December 22, 2009 - 1:33 pm
I am from (Bahawal Nagar,Punjab, Pakistan).I have 30 racing pigeons, but in our city colourfull pigeons hobby.There is no concept of race, but fancier 50 to 60 pigeons flying their home. They combine thre pigeons with the others fancier than calling back and catch the other fancier pigeons. Here I alos plying this game. But my pigeons can,t travell, I want my pigeons travell of 5km, or disappear some time. here we flying our pigeons 6 month september to march. In this matter any one would like ot help me and give me the tips.
#118 by Tom Barnhart on December 22, 2009 - 12:41 pm
The following (except for the last paragraph) is taken directly from my website.
The actual beginning was in 1959, and Harold Barnhart of Tiffin, Ohio, decided to return to the love he developed as a farm boy in Putnam County, when he had a barn full of common pigeons and rejoiced at the sight of a squab that showed evidence of being either white, pied, or anything else that was not the standard run-of-the-mill blue bar or blue check. He no doubt figured it would also be a good pastime for his teenage son who always showed an interest in animals, birds, etc. His stated goal was to get “a couple pair for the kid”. He just liked pigeons, plain and simple, and although he travelled with his friend, the late Harold Bour, to several pigeon shows in Ohio, he never exhibited a pigeon and he never became someone who worried about breeding to a show standard. Within a few years he was out of the pigeon fancy entirely.
As you probably have guessed, I was “the kid” he was speaking of, and I’m still at it. We started out with a lot of 50-cent and dollar pigeons back then. Our first “good” pair was a pair of English Trumpeters that cost $3.00. I remember my Dad turning down a good pair of yellow saddle Fantails because the asking price of $6.00 was too high. (And heaven forbid that we even consider that pair of white Show Kings Paul Huffman wanted to sell for ten dollars!) We had a loft full of homers, rollers, trumpeters, and other assorted fancy breeds that had eye appeal, like the 50-cent mismarked red nun and the $1 red baldhead roller cock with the oversized bib. (Dad was always a sucker for a pretty pigeon.) I eventually settled down to raising American Giant Homers, and I raised them for thirty years, eventually showing a cream bar hen that was District Champion at Bay City, Michigan, in 1979. (Actually, looking back on my first few years in pigeons I had a pigeon buddy/best friend who suggested I use the name “Hawkeye Lofts”. At the time I was a big fan of American Giant Homers and my buddy said I should call them the “Hawkeye Strain” because they had that menacing look about them. So for a while I billed my loft “Hawkeye Lofts”, but that would have made more sense if I lived in Iowa instead of Ohio.)
We started flying in 1989, a few years after moving to the outskirts of town where we didn’t have to worry about ordinances, etc. We have been flying ever since, through good times and bad, wins and smashes, and although we still judge both fancy and flying birds, have no plans to leave the sport and go back to just showing.
#119 by Loft 2968 on December 22, 2009 - 5:13 am
I started raised pigeons when i was at 9 yrs. old and we didn’t race but as a hooby and then later we raced thru a street fight only and to win small amount of money. In late 70’s we don’t have club in our place but for the love of the pigeons we keep pigeons thru colors , looks ( specially with big nose ) wherein we think that time is the best birds for me. While at young age we should teach childrens on how keep pigeons but not directly into race so they could appreciate first the beaty of the pigeons before teach them to race. For me teaching them on how care pigeons is the best methods and turned them as a passion or hobby then later encouarage childrens from basketing and waiting of the bird to return from the training. While doing these they could appriciate the ability of the pigeons how they came back from released area to loft. I just keep back from race pigeons only 2007 when was i assigned to province wherein i meet a friend who race pigeons and later introduce me to club president. Then it started again my passion of pigeons together with my nephew who teach him on how to keep pigeons and race. My nephew now is my loft man and at the same time i gave him all the details to have pigeons from loft constructing , training , medicines, vitamins and other related to pigeon racing. Last dec 13, 2009 we won 2nd overall ( 780 entries ) which only our third race of the club and our 2nd year as member of the club. Now my nephew handled our loft and he meet also other racers and not only for that he encourage his friends to keep pigeons. ( his 4 of friends now keep pigeons and beacome a member of the club ).
#120 by Alt Visser on December 22, 2009 - 3:57 am
I was lucky to be born into a racing pigeon family on my late fathers side.My late father started racing in 1950.I was born in 1960 amongst the pigeons.The love for the birds was always there.1979 I had to do 2 years military service.That was the only time i did not feed pigeons at morning and evening.Back from military service i bought a plot with my savings.With the help of my father we first build the pigeon loft and only when that was finished we started to build a small house.For many years the pigeon loft was bigger than the house.Must say that is still the case.You will understand if i tell you that i have 350 pigeons.My poor wife has received for her birthdays and Christmas gifts pigeon lofts, clocks,baskets and you name it for pigeons.Fortunately she has kept her cool about it.I have never raced well or won big prizes,but the enjoyment or satisfaction that i get from the birds cant be described.Now who told me or what lead me to love the pigeons cant be explained.Was it genetically fixed from the ancestors that came here from Holland.My father told me that the great- grand father raced pigeons in Holland.There must be something genetically imprinted in humans because i find the same love we have for pigeons here in South Africa that i have found in Spain ,Poland and England.My 2 sons dont keep pigeons but i am sure one day one of the grand children will have the right genetics and race pigeons.We pigeon fanciers are all family, even if you meet somebody in a far away country it will only take seconds when at the pigeon lofts and you will treat each other as long lost brothers.
With Love in the pigeon Sport
Alt Visser
South Africa
#121 by billy stepp on December 21, 2009 - 11:59 am
is there any one out there in the siber world that is willing to help out an old disabled man get started with fantails,ore racer thanks,anser at stepphouse@yahoo.com phone 828-817-0647 if so call or email me,thanks again billy.
#122 by abbas on December 21, 2009 - 8:25 am
When I was young and was in 3rd class from then i am keeping pigeons. In early stages I have only local pigeons then i got some fancy pigeons like pouters and kings. Later on when I was in 10th class i was introduced to homers by a friend I read about it in a magazine of local club and from then onward I have racing pigeons. I love pigeons. I have just imported 4 pairs from Germany and races r coming up in March. Thanks
#123 by Gavin on December 21, 2009 - 5:56 am
For my 8th birthday my Grandmother sent me 8 birds by rail from Cape Town to the station in Pietermartzburg(South Africa)Which is about 1800 km. When the news came that I needed to pick the birds up at the station,I was not at all exited about the pending arrival.My mother drove me to the station to collect the bascket of birds.The instant I laid my eyes on them I was a total fanatic.It hasnt changed at all,now looking back 38 years.There is no hobby in the world that comes anywhere near this great sport of ours.
Greetings to all fanciers worldwide.From sunny South Africa.
#124 by Janneman on April 20, 2010 - 2:45 pm
Gavin,
Im based in R-Bay, north of Durban. Over the last couple of months I’ve done some pretty serious research regarding Pigeon racing,lofts,diets,training schedules,etc.
So seeing SA people really encourages me to even further get involved into the sport. I couldn’t gather whether you are a member of a club or not, but I was looking at clubs in my area and cant find any!
Do you know of any fanciers in the Zululand area? If so pls forward me details as I’d like to contact them and learn more or maybe even join a club.
Regards.
#125 by Wikus on September 5, 2010 - 12:28 am
Hi Janneman,
You can Contact Manfred Marx, he resides just outside Richards Bay on the way to Mntunzini. In Richards Bay you can contact Adriaan Naude in Arboretum. Also Rudie Hovelmeyer in Arboretum. I used to race pigeons back there in the ’90’s.
You’ll find their contact numbers in the directory. Good Luck!
#126 by Don Fisher on December 20, 2009 - 6:47 pm
It goes Back to the grade school and I lived on my uncles farm and he had a barn. We use to climb up and catch them a put them in cages. Later in the 70’s My step dad got some kings and we raised a few and later my grandfather build me a loft we through walnut shells down on the ground and we did fine. had some fantails and helmets and others. Most of all we had fun. I Had one that went to a neighbors house and it came back with a note on its foot. I did take some out and they returned. Met a kid from school and his dad raced and had some imports but we were poor. I had no way of obtaining a clock (cost). Time went on some college travels and a moved to Hawaii family kids etc. I later found a bird and tried to return it in 1998 and the called the pet shelter who had a man call me who use to fly He told me I should fly so from their 1999 My first yb season and I have.nt stopped
It is always a good day coming home to my birds.
#127 by big mike on December 20, 2009 - 6:24 pm
when i was in the 5th or 6th grade my father told me if i did well in school he would let me raise pigeons . my older brothers already had racing homers. they never raced them because it cost to much money and my dad would never pay for that but none the less it was fun just watching them fly around the loft for hours on end. when i finally did get birds i told my dad i wanted to raise all white ones and that is what he got me. after i grew up and got my own place i built a loft and began raising racing homers . to this day i still have several pairs of all white birds . i have joined a club a couple of times but i still have not raced any birds i am 55 now
#128 by Kenny Soulant on December 19, 2009 - 4:43 pm
Like most fanciers, I learned about homing pigeons when I was about 10 or 12 years old. I really believe most of us guys and gals got introduced to pigeons when we were in our early youth, before or teen years. A man in our neighborhood kept them in his back yard. I don’t know his name or can’t remember it. I don’t whether he raced or not. He gave me a pair and my mother was good enough to let me keep them. That was at least 60 years ago. I kept that pair for maybe a year and then my interest turned to sports or possibly girls. I’m not sure.
I married and had two boys of my own. I had to give a talk to a group of “Y Indian Guides”, similar to the Boy Scouts. A neighbor down the street had pigeons, and on my way home from work I stopped in and asked if I could borrow a pigeon for my presentation. Like “show and tell”. I asked my two sons if they would like to have a pigeon. Need I say more. I was in my mid 30s about this time and had no intentions of racing. I did’t know anything about pigeons period, much less racing them. I told an associate about my pigeons, the two of them, and before I knew it, a fellow by the name of Charlie Cullpeper showed up with ten baby pigeons, told me about his racing pigeon club, the Metairie RPC, and that was my reintorduction into this wonderful sport. Due to family and work,I got out of the sport for about 20 years. I’m retired now, and back at it, and I enjoy ever minute of it. You always have something to look forward to, whether it be racing, mating, breeding or just training. It sure gives you an reason to get out of bed. That’s a great thing.
#129 by Gene F Miller on December 19, 2009 - 4:19 pm
In the City where I grew up there was a pigeon keeper on almost every block. Some kept them for food, some for pleasure, and some for competition, both in shows and in the races. It seemed as though almost every boy in my age group at the time (10 to 12 years) had to try out keeping pigeons. I travelled around until I obtained my first pair, a pair from an elderly lady that kept homers to raise baby white Kings for food. She sold me a pair of homers for $3.00. I brought them home and quickly converted a gardner’s shed into a pigeon loft. It was a 4′ x 8 ‘ building with 4″ selves on the insides that had been used for storage of gardening items. It had one window on one end and a door on the opposite end. I obtained several apple boxes for nest boxes, and punched a hole in one end of the building to set up a land building board and traps and I was in business. I soon filled that little loft with 30 or so pigeons that I had obtained from all over, and had a small flock flying around that I was so proud of. I lost those first two birds I had bought on a 30 mile toss but I soon learned there were others to replace them. My father loved my hobby, I had to mow the lawn on a regular basis to earn money to buy pigeon feed and they kept me out of trouble most of the time. My grandfather critisized me coniually until I started to win National acclaim with birds I raised myself, until that time he said I was only furthering others fame. Its been 47 years years now that I have kept racing pigeons and it seems like I have less time than ever to devote to my charges but I cannot see the day that I will not be involved in the sport or in promoting the sport. Over the years as I have travelled accross this country and abroad the pigeons have always given me an inspiational viewpoint from which to start my journey and Ihave always been able to find a place of common interest, no matter where I travel.
#130 by Andrew Sinkleris on December 19, 2009 - 10:38 am
My Uncle Frank was a big pigeon man in Riverside NJ where I reside. He was the first to bring birds from the Karp strain in Cleveland in the 30’s. I was raised at the ancestral home and there was a pigeon loft remaining in the tool shed with a few bobs left and some nesting bowls. I always wanted to raise pigeons as a child. No luck.
When I grew up and was left to my own devices, I was able to get some birds from Bob Prisco who preformance bred rollers. I had them for about 20 years or so, then I purchased a few from Chas Hubbs, who had the same strain that my uncle had in the 30’s. When my uncle left for the war he gave his birds to Les Manz, who when he died left them to Hubbs. It was my privlidge to have been a friend of Charlies for some years as he was also a friend to my uncle who had since died.
Both of them were Pigeoneers in WWII. I had always been a WWII buff and decided to become a WWII Pigeoneer reenactor. I have built a PG-68 Combat Mobile Pigeon Loft and I take it to reenactments and talk to people about what they did.
This got me into Racing Homers and I still have both in my coop at home.
If you let me know how, I will send some pix of the loft and what I do
#131 by Uncle on December 19, 2009 - 9:58 am
I got into pigeons from very young age by going to the local dockland and catching them in the corn mills. I had liquorice alsorts, Tiplers, Tumblers, a madina as well as ex racers. But I was young and when I fell in love with my first girlfriend dad had to take over as they became second best. I moved on with life and got myself my own home to which first thing that happened was a pigeon loft appeared in the garden ‘as they do ‘ and this time I had found friends in the sport of pigeon racing and of course they helped me along. Three years later I had what I thought to be a good team of birds and was ready to give the sport a hiding with my rockets, I joined a small local club called The Stoke Flying Club, I entered about 8 races in the youngbird season and actually won the very first race with a bird bred from two strays! not to say that I did any good from then as I never won anything else but a 5th. That was my only season as I had hurt my back at work and became pretty useless for months, not being able to stand up let alone walk’ so not able to work, then the woman left me and the house had to be sold and me and the birds moved back in with mum bless her. After a while the birds became too much for me as well as the cost and they had to go. Twenty years later I met the most wonderful woman who for some reason fell in love with me’ I was the lonely man at the end of the bar and she was the barmaid, from there on we have now been together 7 years and during that time I took advantage of her garden shed which was only 5 x 4 but it got me started again. Obtaining wood from building sites saw me put up an 18 x 10 loft and I had my first season 2009 to which I won 3 x 1st – 2 x 2nd – 5 x 3rd – 3 x 5th – 3 x 6th but it seems that I love pigeons but they don’t love me because I’m out of work again and the fear of having to rid them all again is close! But I’m only 50 years old and recessions come and go, I’ve seen two now and I will have a fourth go at keeping pigeons. Who asked me How did I get started in pigeons?
#132 by Henry Negvesky on December 18, 2009 - 9:06 pm
How did you get involved in pigeon racing or pigeon keeping in general?
I grew up in a small town, People had chickens,rabbits,& hunting dogs. One of my neighbors was at a farmers auction and bought a crate of pigeons for 50 cents. He sold them for the same price. They were mixed birds (tumblers,show&fancy pigeons,and some homers.]This was about 1956,we had hunting dogs and rabbits already. The rabbits we stocked the woods to train the dogs and used some pigeons. We had to use the homers for this because they came back home. I had the pigeons until I went into the army. I got out of the army in 1968. I got back with pigeons in 1987 to race them. When a person is exposed to pets they want to have their own and to have the best.
#133 by Bob Schaefer on December 18, 2009 - 8:18 pm
I think this web sight is on to someing with this kind of a dilog going on, who knows it may open some doors to others who would like to get in to the hubby as apposed to the sport but who can really not afford the start up cost of buying birds. barttering is the way to go although i have given guys in my comunirty starter birds for free just so that i was no longer isolated in my hubby, the bigs racing guys up here are to far and to few between. these dilogs are encouraging.
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#134 by billy stepp on December 18, 2009 - 7:28 pm
my phone number is 828-817-0647 and i dont mind if people has my email address its stepphouse@yahoo.com i live in columbus nc.thanks billy.
#135 by billy stepp on December 18, 2009 - 7:24 pm
well guys be glad to tell what got me interested in pigeons i use to rais small birds you know parakeets finch love birds and cockatials,then one day i desided to get ride of all them after talking to some friends of mine so i started looking and found that i could not afored to by them i never did make money on the other birds i gave away more than i sold,so after seeing them fly and looking on the internet i desided to call all my friends that had birds and started trying to make deals sence i could not afored to by them,so one day one of my friends that lives a prety good ways from me who raised birds call me and started getting pigeons and he brought me some and i traded every thing almost that i had and know i have 18 standared tumblers and apair of american fantails,and she setting on two eggs now . the fantail is my choice but i cant aford them ither you have a lot of people like my self that would like to have the pigeons but cant aford to get started,you see i am disabled and have very little money to get started the way i would like i would like to have more fantails and would be willing trade some one 18 standard tumblers for 5 pair of american fantails or indian i love the pigeons and the fantail is the pigeon of my choice,but alot of people like my self cant aford to pay what people are asking for the even if they give you a good price on the you cant aford the shiping cost
#136 by Bob Schaefer on December 18, 2009 - 7:09 pm
Wow, a loving kid thats in to this huby in this day and age and a girl to boot! I have about 50 white homers and i would be willing to barter for a Pair of Roolers. have your father contact me at 1845-701-2893 if interested. i will give you some young ones that i rased if your father is interested in bartering with me. He sounds like a really nice man and your both lucky to have this love of the hubby in comon, it made me and my father feel close also.
i was moved by your story. “when you called the higher power answered”. wild pigions are the desendents of Rock Doves and you where correct in releasing them as these street birds carry dealy germs and can wipe out whole lofts if you allow them to eat or drink out of your domestic pigions feeders and water cans. Do you vacsenate your Birds?
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#137 by Gille on December 18, 2009 - 6:27 pm
Ok so how we got started….
My daughter wanted a bird as a pet. But we had two cats, so i said we couldn’t have one in the house. She was 7 at the time. She told me that night as i tucked her into bed that she was going to pray and ask God for a bird. I laughed and told her she had my permsiion to go over my head. Ha ha….
A few days afterwards a pigeon landed on our house roof. I had been outside building something. The sound of the saw is what I think attracted it to our house. It was banded. We set out water and some wild bird seed. I made it a small house after a week as it didn’t seem to be going anywhere. One night I got out the ladder and climbed up onto the roof and with a flash light got the band numbers. We contacted the owner through a website for the racing pigeon group she was registered with. The nice lady said my daughter Shawnin could keep the bird if it choose to stay. So I set to work and made a aviary on the outside of our garage. It was made of old doors. The bottom a solid wood door the outside a glass screen door and the ends old windows with a roof and shingles. We named him racer. But come fall racer got a strange look in his eye when i let him out for his daily flight. I knew what he was thinking. Can’t explain it I just knew. Sure enough he headed south. He was from somewhere around St.Catherines. Shawnin was very upset. So I told her we would see about getting her a pair of birds.
After searching the internet and learning about all the different kinds of pigeons we settled on Rollers as they tended to stay close to home and they rolled! You see Shawnin like birds because they always caught her eye. She was born weighing only one pound four ounces. She was litterly the size of a barbie doll. She spend the first 5 months of her life in the hospitial until she was big enough to come home. During that time they gave her IV fluids to keep her hydrated. At once time they gave her too much. This pulled at her retinas and she has had to wear glasses since. Her vision may have been impaired but she never missed a bird flying by and it always made her happy to have seen one.
I contacted Ken Currie in North Bay and he agreed to try and breed us a pair come spring. But his birds were not producing. Come fathers day he called to say he still had none. The middle of summer I called and it was the same. So Knowing her birthday in August was comming soon I built a large coop in the garage and made an entrance into the aviary. Then the day before her birthday i took a net and whent into the city where i spend the day looking like a mad man and managed to catch only one male pigeon. The next day a wild female flew onto our rooftop. She was so hungry she flew down to eat out of my hand. So into the coop she went. I called Shawnin and took her in to see her birds. The phone rang. My wife brought the wireless one out into the coop. It was Mr.Currie, he has two pigeons for us and would be over the next weekend. He advised letting the wild ones go as they might make the young birds ill. So after i explained things we watched the two birds take to the air and vanish. The next weekend Mr.Currie came by and we got our first two birds. We named one Wisdom and one Dove. Turned out they were both male. Christmas day Wisdom was out flying and hit a cloths line at a neighbors behind our house. It has been calm but suddelny got very gusty. I didn’t find him for two days.
Dove seemed very lonely so come February we travelled to Barrie and picked up three birds from Tom Rankin. When spring came we sent for bands and enrolled Shawnin in the Canadian Pigeon Fanciers Association as a junior member. And there we were about 35 birds later going through our third winter. It was just this past year that I decided to breed white homers for wedding releases. We’ve given away many of our Rollers. Out of 35 we have 4 left. I am hoping to build up a descent sized wedding release business to provide my children with a part time job and income. We have close to 40 white homers now. Of course Dad gets to do most of the work..ha, ha. Well that is how we got started. I got the bug from my daughter and I think marketing this hobby to parents of those kids who just love being outside and involved with nature will bring alot of familes into the hobby. Just don’t let Dad know he’llbe doing more than building a coop or the whole idea couldget squashed before it gets started. 😉
#138 by peter dempsey on December 18, 2009 - 6:01 pm
I was brought up beside the railway station during the racing season
large liberations up to 35 thousand racing pigeons were released almost in my back yard
at the early age of 7 yrs my friends and I would catch those birds that failed to leave the site we would also retreve any eggs that were laid in hampers at that time well over 50 yrs ago most of the local lads had a bird or two
I then progressed on to going to older members that were racing on race days I would run almost a mile to the only clock in the club it was a case of first come first served, the fastest runners were always in demand
I supose I have been facinated by pigeons all of my life
while like all young lads growing up in a large family I never realy had the money to persue racing searous
having to wait to marry and raise my own family before taking up racing
like most on this site I would like to see more youth get involved
and everything must be done to incourage them into becoming involved in what
can only be described as a SUPER HOBBY
regards to all
petert
#139 by Dave Brennan on December 18, 2009 - 5:42 pm
We had had a Mourning Dove for 3 years and when it died a friend of mine, who had raised homwers years before, obtained two young Blue Bars and gave them to me. A loft was rapidly constructed on the back of the garage and the birds moved in. Both were males. He obtained a pair of older females and we were in business. I joined a local pigeon club and started learning. The first Young Bird Season I didn’t race and the second YB season I started training with about 30 birds and had 13 left for the first hundred mile race which I entered. Three of the 13 came home the next day and the other 10 disappeared into a Pigeon Black Hole. The third, and latest year, I raised 80 or so young birds and flew six races gaining a club second place on one 200 mile race. Two 300 mile races were not flown considering that divorces are pretty expensive here. SHE said that the 300 miles was too much for the little fellows. Maybe next year.
#140 by Bob Schaefer on December 18, 2009 - 5:40 pm
I am 67 years old and grew up on the westside of n y city where my father flew homing pigions on the roof. he also bred and showed fancey short face tumblers as did his father before him up in Harlem. on everyother street guys flew Birds. it was a working mans hobby and i use to love to watch my father training them. i would tag along for the ride in his old Modal T ford that we do about 50 M.P.H. with all the windows rooled down in the summer as we had no A.C. or a radio. there where no electronic devices to destaract us from interacting with each other as my father and my older brother would discuss stradegy and after carfull examination of the birds feathering and eyes they would perdict which birds would be the first back to the loft and they where correct more times then not. we would live a guy on the roof with a Chico and when he saw the birds coming up over the water towers he would let the Chico go and the birds would brake and dive from out of the Pins as we called it, that where birds are flying so high that they looked like Pin heads so we did indeed have our own word coulture that let you know who really took the sport seriousrley or was just a flash in the pan novalest. l miss that about this sport today. they are some great memories. today i fly white homers in my yeard but my older brother still races them in Harden Park down in the bronx N.y.
#141 by THGE ONE LOFT on December 18, 2009 - 5:36 pm
ive been working with birds since i was about 6 and ever since i do this for ever now i have all my kid involved in it and a gain alot of friends thruog it so i quess ill die doing birds about you guy i met you guys by way of internet and its been nice and informative so far tyhanks for keeping the hubbie alive,,,,
#142 by Raymond Julien on December 18, 2009 - 4:59 pm
Hi Chris,
I have always like pigeons. At the age of 7, I was going to a pigeon loft close to our home and found them so attractive. At the age of 17, I got my first pigeons and I still have some at the age of 74. What attracted me all this time has been all the process we might work to breed good and healthy pigeons: Selection, feedings, special mixture of seeds, health, medicine, genetics, etc.
I participated in races of racing homer for about 12 years and did very well, winning up to 15-20 first positions quite often. I was one of the first fancier in Canada to use the darkening system, studying all ‘Ad Schaerlaeckens articles’ and I still read all of them. Since that time I stopped racing them but I still have the same line that gave me so much success in those years. Each Fall, to make my selection of the young ones, I go to release them at 50 miles (80km) and keep only those that arrive first. I no longer have the possibilities to train them a lot more.
Now my pleasure is to breed some fancy pigeons and Saddle Homers with all those nice colors. I like to show them and even I visited pigeon show in USA, Europe and Canada
Raymond Julien,
Canada.
#143 by John F DeCosta on December 18, 2009 - 4:15 pm
When I was about 13 hyears old a friend of mine talked about pigeons and I went to his house to see. He had rollers and there were so many pretty combinations and they were nothing like pigeons I had seen around town before that. He talked about daughter to this one and son to another and he flew them as they rocketing up in flight together in a tight group. They rolled like fire balls and it was so incredibe like nthing I have ever seen. I went to visit a few times and eventually he brought me to his source a big breeder and very popular guy in the roller world at the time,Marty Slazas;I continued to visit and view these spectacular demonstrations and then There was a Homer guy also not far from me. This was an old timer. He was a big racer and eventually I met numerous pigeon racers and Pigeon keepers within a short bike ride away. I then tried to build a loft in our garage and received 5 homers from one of these homer guys. I had fun training them but had a difficult time with no trap as they would fly through the main garage door and retrieve them after dark. I eventually lost them and later built a real coop but this time I settled for rollers and enjoyed them for a veryu long time. This was my start with pigeons. If there were clubs that shared experiences with little cost maybe young people would take an interest!
#144 by Becky on December 18, 2009 - 4:10 pm
I had liked birds all my life, especially since 2nd grade, that was when they became my favorite animal. When I was 9, my dad decided to get me two pairs of utility kings. I figured I’d try it, since I’d had chickens forever. My dad had told me stories about his birds. Of course it wasn’t long before I wanted homers, rollers, and every other neat-o breed my dad had. It wasn’t long before I knew more about pigeons than everyone else I knew. In my free time, I was out with them, or learning/talking about them. Altogether, I’ve had Homers, Rollers (flying and show), Indian Fantails, WOE Tumblers, Kings, Carneau, Runts, Nuns, Satinettes, and Lahores. (As of now, I only have my homers, satinettes for droppers, and indian fantails just for fun.)
Of course the idea of racing caught my attention. I had wanted to for years, but finally in the fall of 07, I decided I’d try it. So in 2008, I flew my first young bird season, and I don’t plan on quitting until I’m forced to. I won my first two races on the club level, and hopefully I’ll be able to repeat that. This year I only flew one race, so next year I’m planning on coming back with a bang!
#145 by Robert Lynch on December 18, 2009 - 4:01 pm
In 1975, a good friend of mine, who also raced pigeons, gave me a Brittany Spaniel puppy when I lived in Iowa. I went to the library and checked out a book on training bird dogs. The book suggested that you use either quail or pigeons to train the dog as pheasants had less scent during the summer and were harder to use training a new bird dog. I didn’t know where to get any quail, but had access to an old barn with pigeons. When the friend found out I was using pigeons to train the dog, he gave me a dozen youngbirds, and told me how to settle and train them. I worked approximately 25 miles from where I worked so I trained them to my work before training them on line. In the fall I joined the local Ames, IA racing pigeon club that flew with the Des Moines RPC. On the very first race, I shipped 6 of the 12 birds. On race day I’ll bet I had 50 birds arrive at my house, only 2 of which were mine. I won that race and have not been without racing pigeons since. When I moved to Georgia in 1976, the pigeons came with me!