phil01825

At 17 my eldest surprised me the most. He is an animal lover generally but is mad on cars as most 17 year old boys are. We have been building a car for the last few years to have fun on the race track as a family and to see his interest blossom so quickly with the pigeon bug was a great surprise. He only wants to keep yellows at the moment but when racing starts he will soon realise that colour isn't everything. Has anyone had any success with the yellows or are they mainly for looks? My 14 year old is much more racing orientated. He was looking at all the pigeons at the show and, initially, he was leaning towards all the gay pieds. Then after a conversation with John Wolfenden he suddenly forgot about colours. The only problem I have with him now is that he has started heavily looking into eyesign, and he is starting to think he is an expert. Still as long as he stays enthusiastic I won't be trying to dampen his ideas.

Thanks for the welcome. One of the best things that came from our visit to Blackpool is that both the boys can't wait to get some in. My eldest has said several times , to friends and family, that he just went to see the pigeons with just a passing interest but after all the conversations with fanciers selling birds and being able to handle them he can't wait to start up. They're going to have to wait a while but I have promised to sort out the loft in time to get some late breds in before the end of the year.

But the Government doesn't know how pigeon racing works. If it's eyes are opened by these accusations and supporting videos and they see a vote winner to get some of the tree hugging voters on side they might review licensing, however, they have bigger problems to deal with at the moment. Common sense says it will be a long time before any action takes palace, if at all, but the same was said in the Fox Hunting fraternity and look how quickly that became law and there is little sign of any reversal.

A little bit of light, maybe, in a darkening tunnel. The BBC have had a reporter looking into the arguements of PETA. It's conclusion at the end includes a statement from the RSPCA that they feel this is not their territory. So just PETA pushing for the ban at the present time! Although no one, in high office can afford to ignore this, maybe there will be a few good years at least to continue enjoying our sport. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21938429

Hi, I gave up pigeon racing 10 years ago due to family committments. Last year I was pestered by my 2 teenagers to take them to Blackpool and as I had never been before decided to take them this year. We thoroughly enjoyed it and met some great fanciers there. They are determined to have some in the old loft later this year. My eldest wants show racers and my youngest wants racers so the bug is now starting to raise its ugly head again!!! Damn I've tried packing up several times but each time I get pulled back into keeping our wonderful amazing feathered friends!!!!

This PETA Article has been a long time coming. I've thought they would start for quite a while as they don't like anyone keeping animals for pleasure. When you read the article on line and watch the accompanying videos we have little defence As a whole they are pretty much reflect what has been happening in the sport, gambling and duration in the transporter excepted. Guys with responsible positions in the racing fraternity have admitted the losses, largely blaming the channel. Guys online have shown how fanciers cull the birds and we can't deny selection at the end of the season, if there is a surplus of birds in the loft. Someone's going to have to be very clever with the defence. It's probably not only PETA, but the RSPCA we need to worry about because with 40,000 fanciers all with lofts in the back garden it could get pretty awkward as we are a large community easily policed. I packed up a few years ago and after taking my two teenagers to Blackpool for the 1st time this year (myself included) I am looking forward to getting back to pigeons later this year. I really hope this doesn't take hold and destroy a wonderful sport. I've got to be honest, living in the south, I've rarely raced the channel and always preferred North road racing, if it was available, as I never liked the thought of my birds getting into trouble over it and seeing the video with loads of pigeons trying to get off the water wasn't particularly good pr for channel racing. PETA and the RSPCA need dealing with quickly