New: some Help Please!!

[tango_kid]

Hello,

Breif intro: Names Mike, 14 year old who is about to start my Gcse's. I Said it was breif .

Recently decided i would like a new hobbie to spend some time and possibly money on. I then came acros pigeon racing/fancying. I then began the usual internet serch to get info prices and find out whether the hobbie is correct for me. Unfortunately there are no amazingly good intro's for novices in the uk so i thought id find what seemed to be a reputable forum and join it. This is why i am here.

 

I then asked my mum whether she thought racing pigeons of fancy pigeons would suit me most. After a breif description of each i came to the conclusion that what i wanted was a breed of fancy pigeon that looked nice, was fairly cheap to keep, Hopefuly could fly around in your garden and that if i realy got into it i could enter in shows such as driffeild ect. I am not looking to breed them however. I then looked at the normal type of pigeon: Fantail, garden doves ect but they all seem abit.....dull. So here are my questions:

1) What sort of breed would suit me?? (the ones i have in mind are birmingham rollers and portugese tumblers but there might be birds that look nice and do the same type of thing, oh and that are fairly cheap initialy)

2) How would i house such a bird? could i let it fly around the garden i know it would come back to me??

3) If they can fly around the garden how do you train them to stay in your garden and your garden only??

4) Is there any good breeders in the east yorkshire area that i could be alerted to??

Thanks for reading my essay and hopefully for replying. If i come up with any other questions i wil let you know!!

Thanks, Mike.

[jimmy_84]

Hi mike and welcome i am glad to hear that you are taking your time in deciding what birds to get unlike me as i rushed into pigeons with all guns blazing thought about it 1 day had 15 birds the next only to lose them due to stupidity 2 years ago and have lost many more since i have had many different breeds and have now found rollers suit me and my children best

[tango_kid]

One more thing: I would prefer a type of pigeon/dove that you can leave out and not have to keep inside.

Also we feed the local birds so there is alot of seed on the lawn often and we have chickens which any pigeons /doves would be able to eat the feed of.

Mike

[tango_kid]

Oh and if somebody could take the time to explain pretty much everything you need to get started with both race and fancy pigeons it would be greatly appreciated. It's just that people keep on talking about clubs and numbers and lofts and stock pigeons and everything else and i have no clue.

Thanks, Mike.

p.s. sorry for all the questions

[jimmy_84]

hi pal 1st you need to decide what birds you want to keep then get in touch with a local club i keep rollers and joined the Northern Roller club. I joined so that i could get rings for my young birds i have 4 pairs and they are flying stock which i breed from and am in the process of building a kit box for a kit of 20 flyers you need not join a club or have stock birds or numbers untill you decide what you are doing i have kept birds for 2 years and have had all different types and now decided to keep rollers therefore joined a club which suits my needs the rest is your choice get young birds preferably straight from the nest or not flown the loft as they will settle better with you i still learning so not the best for advice but there alot of nice people on here willing to help out new starters

also try this site

 

http://fancypigeonchatter.forumakers.com/

 

Ps i started with a couple of old hutches which i still use now in the brick outhouse but am looking to get myself a proper loft when i have the money but my birds are happy with what they have here so i am in no hurry

[pjc]

Mike, good luck with whatever type you decide to keep, we have racers, show racers, Old German Owls and Kormorner Tumblers, which all have there good and bad points.

One thing I would comment on in you above posts is that unless you live in the middle of the country with totaly no neighbours then do not think about leaving the birds out to free fly all day long!

There are many reasons not to, i.e

you will get complaints from neighbours if the birds start going in there gardens or sitting on there roofs,

The birds being out will attract raptors and you will start losing birds,

The loft being open is the prone to unwanted cat visits etc,

You will have no control over your birds if they are allowed to do as they please.

 

If you want to give them plenty of fresh air then design your loft with a flight or aviary so the birds can enjoy controlled freedom while your not there and then you can let them out to fly when you are there. This way you will also get the pleasure from watching them fly and then if the feeding is correct be able to get them back into the loft for security when required.

 

Phil

[jimmy_84]

One thing I would comment on in you above posts is that unless you live in the middle of the country with totaly no neighbours then do not think about leaving the birds out to free fly all day long!

There are many reasons not to, i.e

you will get complaints from neighbours if the birds start going in there gardens or sitting on there roofs,

The birds being out will attract raptors and you will start losing birds,

The loft being open is the prone to unwanted cat visits etc,

You will have no control over your birds if they are allowed to do as they please.

 

If you want to give them plenty of fresh air then design your loft with a flight or aviary so the birds can enjoy controlled freedom while your not there and then you can let them out to fly when you are there. This way you will also get the pleasure from watching them fly and then if the feeding is correct be able to get them back into the loft for security when required.

 

Phil

 

very well said phil had the same problem when i 1st started out with cat's and the neighbours but that is sorted now i have full control over birds and they have the freedom of a flight on the loft

[pjc]

we have seen a recent thread about neighbour problems so its even worth talking to the neighbours first as well.

[jimmy_84]

mine are ok now as i dont have as many birds as i did at 1st and all the kids like to come over and watch the birds and help feed them and water so all are happy also 1 of them comes over often himself and helps out and when i go away he steps in for me untill people see the birds they just think eew pigeons dirty city rats with wings as i did untill i got them myself and you come to appreciate them

 

This is what we as a fancy and sport need to make the general public realise that a pigeon does not just hang around outside the town centre waiting for food from you they are really intellagent creatures i couldn't see my life without birds in it now i go out to them and chat when me and her indoors row silly i know but hey WTF

 

Jimmy

[tango_kid]

Thanks for the info guys this is realy helpful.

Jimmy_84: how big are the hutches you are useing because this would probably be the most cost effective way for me as i am not earning at the present?

Also what are fly stocks and what are kit boxes? And with the clubs how much do they cost and is there weekly meetings or somthing?? That applys to racing and other clubs. Also how much do differnt types of pigeon cost? How much do pigeon rings cost? And Fialy if i decided to go down the racing route please can you give me a step to step guide on how to get there please.

Thatyou so far your your contributions they are truly appreciated.

Thanks Mike.

[pjc]

Mike, try to find a local fancier that would be prepared to mentor you that way you can learn about the birds, how to care for them etc etc,

Then if you still feel its realy what you want and you have the support of your parents then go for it!

 

Phil

[tango_kid]

Does anybody know of any fanciers In the bervrley area of east yorks?

Also just incase i can't find one i'd love it if someone could answer my previouse questions!! lol

Thanks Mike.

[jimmy_84]

most people when refering to stock birds keep them in they don't fly out i just call mine flying stock becoz i let my birds out

 

my hutches are 3ft x2ftx1ft just adapted to house the birds andmade the front into up and over so only the birds can get in and out and nothing else can

 

race clubs can't answer about meetings fancy pigeons no meeting i am aware of i just paid my membership and ring money but you can meet people at the shows and i think racers meet on a weekly basis due to races

 

all birds cost a different amount i can brred you some rollers but won't be till next year now and you live a distance from me but the birds will be free but would cost for courier to pick them up and deliver them to you they charge about £35 for 6 birds but that not a problem i can breed you 6 to make it worth sending for them or like phil said find a local fancier who will pass on knowlage to you and may even breed you a few birds to start you up i did but then found that racers weren't for me as cost and i don't drive to train them properly so i keep the rollers and enjoy them

 

JIMMY

[tango_kid]

Thanks for the generous offer Jimmy!! How many Birds/hutch do you think is sensible? How long do you let your birds out for per day?? What do you feed them? What is the difference between your stock flyers and your kit box if you fly them both? Do you show your birds??

Thanks Mike.

[jimmy_84]

not really sure yet not got any in kit boxes as not long had my rollers at the i am feeding a breed and wean mix while they are rearing young birds then once they have finished breeding i will but them on just wheat with red band to keep them in good condition, but during the moult i will feed the a moulting mix. I think in a kit box they will kit and fly better or that is what i am hoping for, i let them out for about 45mins in the morning and then again about half 7 during late nights, I don't show or compete with them yet but i may do in the future. just start with a couple of birds and take it from there i rushed in had about 15 birds and not a clue how to care for them and kept loosing birds and then i was told about breaking birds to my loft using a cage or aivary on the front of loft/shed

Jimmy

[tango_kid]

So for six rollers how big a hutch would i need? And how much is the cost of rings/membership to clubs ect??

Thanks Mike

[pjc]

if you have a look through members pictures somebody posted pics of a kit box a couple of weeks ago.

[jimmy_84]

they will have rings on just need transfering to you which i will sort out and i joined the Northern Roller Club and it is £5 per year membership and £2 per 10 rings plus P&P if you or your dad are any good at DIY you could build 1 if you built 1 about 4ft x 4ft x 4ft that would house about 10 birds happily so i was told when i asked

 

Not all clubs are same price i think racing membership is dearer but i'm not sure

[tango_kid]

Awesome, thanks for all the help guys. You've helped me no end. Jimmy, if the parents are ok and it all works then i will pm you some time within the next week or so hopefully. Oh and last question what is a yb? Thanks guys you've been a great help.

Thanks again Mike.

[tippler1]

it means young bird

[jimmy_84]

it means young bird i will defanatly breed you birds next year mate if you are really wanting some no problem

[tango_kid]

Thanks Tippler1,

Mike

[tango_kid]

And thanks Jimmy you got in there while i was typing lol. Top bloke!

Mike

[tango_kid]

Just a thought, wouldn't keeping pigeons in a 4 foot* 4 foot enclosure be like batterie chickens?? Or do pigeons not mind so much??

[Guest peter.j]

is this you

http://pigeonkidd95.piczo.com/