pigeon-napped

nutverlal · October 5, 2006

When anyone caught a pigeon - it was returned to the rightful onwers. Kits were flown together if you lived nearby another fancier.

The sportmanship was around in the good old days.

I was given a pair of black badget tumblers. They caught me stray/lost pigeons. If they had rings on or were stamped they were returned to their owners. Even feed watered and released the following day. This including racing pigeons.

This year in February 2006 we decided to build a new loft, increase the number of pigeons. So far today we have returned 9 lost pigeons (eight were racers). In our kit we have lost 30 pigeons only two were returned to us. One pigeon keeper wanted to keep him and gave us the wrong address. We managed to trace him and get our pigeon back.

Where have approx 30 pigeons disappeared to?

we are seriously thinking about getting packing up the large kit and just keep few pigeons. Spending time and money to build up the kit, seeing them fly. When they do not return is heart breaking. They are being caught by other pigeon keepers who are not sportsman.

The question I have, has there been an amendment to the rules on catching pigeons. If you catch a stray/ new pigeon found with your kit can you keep it, break its neck, feed it to the ferrets or sell them to the pet shop or give them to a friend to eat. When was this rule bought into pratice. Is it still a criminal offence not return pigeons, especailly when the animal is clearly marked.

I still cannot get around keeping someone else pigeons unless they said keep it?

Does anyone feel the same way? and how can we get back to the good old days and bring back the sportman ship?

please do reply?

jimmy white · October 5, 2006

as far as shu is concerned ,,,,,,,,rule 19

collect500 · October 5, 2006

yOUR RIGHT. eVERYTIME I GET A STRAY IN I REPORT IT DIRECTTO THE OWNER IF THERE WINGSTAMPED OR TO THE RPRA ECT IF NOT LOST 4 YOUNG UNS MYSELF THIS YEAR NONE REPORTED

GIVING THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT AND SAYING THEY HAVE BEEN HAWKED OR WIRED

BUT KNOW PEEPS WHO KEEP ANY STRAGS THAT ENTER THEIR LOFTS AND AS THEY DONT RACE OR SHOW THEY GET AWAY WITH IT

mealybar · October 5, 2006

1,000's of birds lost this year; and I've only had a couple of strays in all year. Usually with my loft where it is, you bring the odd one in every day or two, but for some reason not a feather this year really. Mind you I've seen a fair flock in the fields, cant be all ferals :-/

October 6, 2006

IN OUR RACE FROM SCOTCH CORNER WHERE 1,000,S OF BIRDS WERE LOST 100,S OF THEM WERE REPORTED BY FANCIERS FROM ALL OVER ,MAINLY ENGLAND MAYBE THEY GOT FED UP WITH THE AMMOUNT THEY WERE GETTING IN BUT THEY WERE MUCH APPRECIATED WHEN THEY WERE ALL RETURNED, AND I KNOW THEY ARE STILL TURNING UP QUITE OFTEN

Pompey Mick · October 6, 2006

When I first started racing in 1963, if you entered a non-club ring you were expected to show proof of ownership, in fact in the young bird races you paid extra for non-club rings. Nowadays almost every ring on a race entry sheet can be 'foreign' so to speak.

The RPRA will produce a list of registered rings for the last ten years for any member if required, perhaps members should have a copy to hand in the event of disputes.

I feel that 'stray racing' is not that common, it is too easy to pick up on.especially if the bird appears on a result sheet, it's not worth it.

As for lost YB's I too wonder where they go and I do feel a vast number end up feral,but they don't survive for long. Many years ago my late father was Pest Control Officer for Portsmouth Council and we regularly cleared the ferals from roofspaces, one winter we cleared over 2000 ferals(not one rung bird in the roof space colonies but we did catch rung YB's in the traps).

Owners were notified and birds were repatriated. When racers 'go wild' thet are not readily accepted by the feral flocks and are often found on window cills and balconies, consequently they find it very difficult to survive a winter, also the rung birds are a prime target for the kids of which some are only interested in the rings.