Pigeon Talk

[CCUK]

I would not return a lost racer because I am told they are usually euthanized. The racing pigeon business is cutthroat and really quite inhumane. Birds that don't bring in money - those which are slow or which get lost - are killed off. It may be different there, but in the USA the birds are often sold for cheap to shooting clubs or hunting dog trainers and die awful deaths.

I try to contact the owner first. I can normally take a good judgement of a person's intentions when I talk to them. Boomer would probably never have raced again had he returned, lucky, who is another racer I rescued had a broken leg. I tried calling the owner, no answer, so I texted. His number was on a leg ring. He told me he didn't want it and to kill it and eat it or whatever. I replied 'ok' to the text then he backpeddled because I could have reported him. There is a dark side to pigeon racing but not all owners are cutthroat. This owner wants this one back as it has been doing well. The last race had £1100 prize for first!

 

[CCUK]

IMO if I was a racer and wanted to euthanize useless birds then I wouldn't bother even trying to get them back if they were lost.
I've returned several lost racers to their owners that were injured and every time the owner either drove several hours to pick the bird up or paid to send me a box with a prepaid label to send the bird back.

Pigeon couriers are big business! Some of these birds are worth alot of money....so long as they keep winning!

 

[backyard pigeons]

Sorry yall! I've been gone a bit. Was out of town.

All my birds are good, except for one of the squabs dissapeared. My coop is mouse proof to my knowledge, so it can't be that. But at least the other one is doing ok.

Everyone's birds are looking good! That was a close call WV! Glad you had wire between the to.

Good job returning\releasing the bird ccuk! I know some wouldnt have returned it.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

Sorry yall! I've been gone a bit. Was out of town.

All my birds are good, except for one of the squabs dissapeared. My coop is mouse proof to my knowledge, so it can't be that. But at least the other one is doing ok.

Everyone's birds are looking good! That was a close call WV! Glad you had wire between the to.

Good job returning\releasing the bird ccuk! I know some wouldnt have returned it.

Im sorry you lost one... but very happy for you that the other is doing well!

 

[backyard pigeons]

I would not return a lost racer because I am told they are usually euthanized. The racing pigeon business is cutthroat and really quite inhumane. Birds that don't bring in money - those which are slow or which get lost - are killed off. It may be different there, but in the USA the birds are often sold for cheap to shooting clubs or hunting dog trainers and die awful deaths.

this really isn't true. They will not ask for a bird to be returned if they are just going to kill it. The racing business does have losses, but keeping any animal involves losses. It isn't cruel to race pigeons. Just because a bird doesn't win a race, doesn't mean the fancier is going to kill it. Often a racer will have a pen devoted to solely birds that are too old to breed, aren't a good racer, don't produce good offspring etc. So I hope you don't say that all racers are cruel to their birds, because they aren't. Their are exceptions, as always. Racing is a fun sport that I hope to get involved in some day.

 

[backyard pigeons]

Im sorry you lost one... but very happy for you that the other is doing well!

thanks! How's your little farm doing?

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

thanks! How's your little farm doing?

Wet..
Its good tho, thank you for asking.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

I do have 4 Call ducks currently sitting.. they have figured out the places where I can see them, but cant get to them.. they are taunting me I do belive..

Well, one I could get to if I really tried..

 

[Serin]

this really isn't true. They will not ask for a bird to be returned if they are just going to kill it. The racing business does have losses, but keeping any animal involves losses. It isn't cruel to race pigeons. Just because a bird doesn't win a race, doesn't mean the fancier is going to kill it. Often a racer will have a pen devoted to solely birds that are too old to breed, aren't a good racer, don't produce good offspring etc. So I hope you don't say that all racers are cruel to their birds, because they aren't. Their are exceptions, as always. Racing is a fun sport that I hope to get involved in some day.

I do think it's cruel. Taking birds from their mates, trucking them off and making a game out of that. Pigeons are companion animals to me and exploiting them in that way sits wrong with me. I got that information from a guy in Chicago who races and that is how he told me he gets rid of culls.

 

[backyard pigeons]

I do think it's cruel. Taking birds from their mates, trucking them off and making a game out of that. Pigeons are companion animals to me and exploiting them in that way sits wrong with me. I got that information from a guy in Chicago who races and that is how he told me he gets rid of culls.

Well, typically a bird will race for a season, and if it does good, it will then be paired and will not be raced again, but it's offspring will. This doesn't always go for old bird races though. Yes, I agree, pigeons are companion animals and they often fly in in groups of 2-3 on a race. If they don't fly home in a group, a half day fly won't harm them without any other pigeons, although living without any other pigeons could.

I hope this hasn't seemed rude in any way, I just don't want you to shoot down pigeon racing when it doesn't have to be cruel.