Pigeons and Chickens??

[Chick's View]

How horrible to use any type of pigeon at all! That's what clay pigeons are for! I am saddened when I read about any of the training techniques.

 

[biophiliac]

@Chick's View ...

 

[Chick's View]

Being a lover of homing pigeons, I am saddened to read of any type of training where pigeons are used this way. I focus on the positive aspects of the sport of raising and racing homing pigeons. For instance, I just wrote an article about grains and how to keep them from infestation. Based on information gained from a recent visit to an organic farm. Pigeons each have their own personality and it's easy to get attached to them.

 

[LamarshFish]

How horrible to use any type of pigeon at all! That's what clay pigeons are for! I am saddened when I read about any of the training techniques.

Not exactly. Clay pigeons are for shooting practice, and have nothing to do with dog training at all.

If done properly, pointing dogs are trained using live homing pigeons by placing the pigeon upright in a device called a trap or launcher, that is connected to a wireless remote that, when pressed, the launcher simply opens and rather lightly tosses the pigeon about 18" off the ground, giving it a head start in the air, and the pigeon safely flies back to its loft. If done properly, the pigeon is not harmed at all. It is not much different than racers or fanciers caging their birds for travel.

Most pointing dog folks doing this, actually use homing pigeons so they don't have to use pen raised game birds, which usually either have to be shot and killed, or otherwise suffer and die trying to live in the wild. The pointing dog is able to be trained on bird finds an infinite number of times without a bird being harmed or killed, whereas, otherwise, without homing pigeons and remote traps/launchers, each bird find a pointing dog owner attempts to put his dog on ends up being killed, hurt or suffering in the wild.

 

[Chick's View]

That's what so great about the United States. We have the freedom to our opinions with no reprisal for expressing them. Those who train dogs have their thought process and those, like myself, who have homing pigeons, have ours. Raising our babies, training them, watching them return from races gives us a hands-on experience much the same I'd imagine those who train their dogs experience. Having 3 dogs I can appreciate the intellect of them! Having homing pigeons, the level of intelligence they possess is beyond comprehension. May we both have happy training and happy flying!

 

[LamarshFish]

That's what so great about the United States. We have the freedom to our opinions with no reprisal for expressing them. Those who train dogs have their thought process and those, like myself, who have homing pigeons, have ours. Raising our babies, training them, watching them return from races gives us a hands-on experience much the same I'd imagine those who train their dogs experience. Having 3 dogs I can appreciate the intellect of them! Having homing pigeons, the level of intelligence they possess is beyond comprehension. May we both have happy training and happy flying!

Indeed! And, rest assured, I am absolutely in love with my homers, I pamper them like crazy and spend tons of money on their health--I'd never do anything to harm them. Some of them lay with my while I watch TV. Some dog trainers use some of their birds as shooters (as in, they will shoot them if they have too many pigeons). I personally am attached to my birds, so I would never be able to do that, but I don't judge people that do, so long as they eat them and the life doesn't go to waste.

 

[Chick's View]

Humane training is the way to go! I appreciate the care you put into the birds. The sport of homing pigeons is quite extensive and rewarding. As, I'm sure the sport with the field dogs is as well. Our dogs do not interfere with the birds and will lie on the ground as the pigeons are on the ground and never blind an eye. I wish others would get involved in our sport as it really keeps the family together and kids love interacting with the birds, especially if they have a part in raising them. Nice to hear from your perspective!