help advice lots of questions

[kevinw]

Hi everyone, i have just found this site:, i want to start as a hobby racing pigeons but i dont no where to start so here is a few questions what i need help with they are stupid questions as i havnt got a clue:

1: where do you buy a race pigeon? + costs?

2:how do you train a pigeon to come back?

3:how do you no when it is ready to race?

4:how does a race work?

 

i am so sorry for posting this questions but i havnt got a clue what i am doing.

 

any help would greatly be appreciated

many thanks

kevin

[Peckedhen]

Well, I'll tell you what I did, I too knew nothing about pigeons. First I read as many books as I could find on keeping pigeons, next I looked for a loft and stopped and asked the owner if he could give me some advice.  I think that most fanciers are only too pleased to tell genuine people all about the hobby. Not only did I make a new friend that day, I also found a mentor who has generously given his time and shared his knowledge to help me get going with pigeons.

He found some good birds for me to buy in British Homing World (the fanciers weekly paper), helped me to build and equip a loft, breed the birds  and then taught me how to train the birds to home.

Good luck.

[anthony13]

hi kevinw your best bet is to find a local fancer and you will  get alot more advice that way and they can show you the ropes if you put your location on here am sure there will be some one near you  who can help . i hope you injoy the sport

[peterpau]

Mate if you are near me I will breed some for you to start with. Ask on here people will help

[sapper756]

Hi Kevin where are you from m8?

[kevinw]

im from cardiff

[jimmy white]

Hi everyone, i have just found this site:, i want to start as a hobby racing pigeons but i dont no where to start so here is a few questions what i need help with they are stupid questions as i havnt got a clue:

1: where do you buy a race pigeon? + costs?

2:how do you train a pigeon to come back?

3:how do you no when it is ready to race?

4:how does a race work?

 

i am so sorry for posting this questions but i havnt got a clue what i am doing.

 

any help would greatly be appreciated

many thanks

kevin

 

the questions your asking are not stupid ,, best way to find out about pigeons , is go to a local "good pigeon flier" ,,,keep looking at this forum, and ask as many questions as you can  

1,   pigeons can vary in price from free to thousands of pounds [some times the free ones are best :)if from a good flier

2,pigeons are best trained as young birds, starting about 10 to 12 weeks old when their flying well round the neighbourhood , take them just  a few miles [after you've got them used to the basket ,i,e eating and drinking in the basket] usually take them in good weather 3 ,,,5,,,10 ,,15,,20 miles keep them at the 20 mile point until their coming home very quickly .i,e b4 you get back when training these distances ,keep them peckish and reward them when they get home, with a little seed , then their feed ,,don't let them out after this ,, take them again the next day :)then maybe even further

3 the race programme in your local club is usually mapped out for you ,,,,,dates etc old birds first usually starting in April , then yb,s staring in late July or Aug

3, the races work by , you taking your birds to your local club where they will be basketed in their baskets [handing in your entry form with your ring numbers of the birds you are sending] a special rubber ring with a code number will be put on each bird with a" ringer" just a small instrument that flips the ring on,then all the birds would travel to the race point in a large pigeon transporterthis is usualy on the friday evening , then the birds are released on the saturday morning ,,,,when the bird returns from the race , you would have to have a pigeon clock which would be set by your club.when the bird enters your loft ,take the rubber ring off place it in a special "thimble"put this in the clock and strike it , then the clock will tell you the time your birds rubber ring  was put in the clock , all the clocks,and rubber rings  of all the members are then checked by a clock committee , then you will be given a receipt of the time of your pigeon ,,,the best time does not always win the race as each loft had its exact measurement from the race point to the members loft , some members are flying further than you, some maybe flying shorter than you , the result is worked out in velocity i,e yards per minute, so the fastest  velocity wins    I'm sure if you keep looking at the forum , ask questions ,look up all past posts you will get the hang of it in no  time ,,best of luck kevin

 

[just ask me]

great post jimmy maybe would be an idea if we set up a thread where if new fanciers come in they we can send them too it keep things simple like the way u just have well put up some info on it and then is closed so it doesnt get to completed as it might frighten new fanicers off i can only imagine when a new one comes in sees us talking about meds diseases and all that id imagine it would frighten them think it would be a good idea

[Lennut Tar]

Hi everyone, i have just found this site:, i want to start as a hobby racing pigeons but i dont no where to start so here is a few questions what i need help with they are stupid questions as i havnt got a clue:

1: where do you buy a race pigeon? + costs?

2:how do you train a pigeon to come back?

3:how do you no when it is ready to race?

4:how does a race work?

 

i am so sorry for posting this questions but i havnt got a clue

what i am doing.

 

any help would greatly be appreciated

many thanks

kevin

 

Welcome Kevin W. You have come to the right place to learn etc, & there is no such thing as a stupid question here  ;D ;D ;D. (So ask away about anything etc) It's just sometimes ???????????   ;) the reply's may be somewhat confusing, shall we say. But have no doubt !!!!!!!!!! they are the greatest bunch of blokes & women  :K) :K) :K) you could ever meet on line, to gather advise from in my view.

Enjoy.