thinking bout racing pigions any advise for a complete newbie.

[silverfilly]

Hey guys and gals. I dont have any pigions right now but for some reason have wanted some, I am interested in racing pigions but I am woundering how you all sudgest starting out? is threre an inexpesive way to get into racing? any clubs to join? wheres the best place to find info and buy ur first birds? also is it better to start with young ones or older ones?

Thanks for any advise

 

[FrChuckW]

Silver, you can go to the American Racing Pigeon Union website and they will send you some information pamplets about raising and racing pigeons. The should also be able to direct you to any local racing clubs as well.

But for starters you will need a sturdy loft with a flight cage attached. The size will depend on how many birds you plan on raising and racing. Or if you really get into it, you can build two lofts, one for racing and one for breeding.

If you get young birds make sure they haven't been flown by their current owner. If you get older birds that have been flown and/or raced then they will have to be kept captive and never released as they will home to their old loft. If that loft is no longer there, then they will become street pigeons, or worse, feed for predators likes hawks & cats.

When breeding your birds, you will want to provide two nest boxes for each pair. This will allow them to have squabs in one nest and eggs in the other.

You can also do a web search on Racing Pigeons and find several links to sites that will have a wealth of information on them. For supplies I suggest Foy's Pigeon supplies. I have dealt with them for years and they are very reputable business people.

 

[Mary Of Exeter]

So glad you decided to start racing, and you couldn't have picked a better time! Fall is nearing, which means young bird season, and after that will be the time you start putting your birds together for breeding babies to race next year.
Since young bird season is so close, you won't be able to participate in racing until next year, BUT this is good because if you find a club nearby, hopefully someone will take you under their wing, and you may be able to visit with them on a race day, and see how it's all done

Also, you can participate in the shipping nights, helping load and band/scan birds, and get helpful advice. Two winters ago I finally decided I would start then instead of waiting, so I went to each shipping night and meeting once I joined, and really learned a lot for when it came time for me to race that fall

After I post this, I will look for clubs in your state to help you out.
There is an inexpensive way - free birds

Usually there will be people in your club and combine that will be willing to give you some birds to start out with, and if not, will breed you some youngsters next spring to race. Once you find a club, talk to them, and tell them you're looking for some decent birds to start with. If they have any heart at all and want this sport to continue, they will help. You will want birds born this year or older to breed from. I personally have about 17 pairs of breeders (mostly because I can't decide who to cull from the breeding program

), but you definitely don't need that many. I'd say at least 35 young birds are good for first time racers. So that's 6 pair of breeders. But you do what you can, and what you can afford. People can help you out with young birds, so if you can only find/get less breeders, you'll survive

With these breeders, you can either pair them up this winter, or sometime next year. I only raise 3 rounds (clutches. they lay two eggs per clutch) out of each breeding pair. Sometimes 4. Those birds must be banded with seamless 2010 bands. You can get these at any online pigeon supply store, such as Foy's, Siegel, JEDD, or Global pigeon supply. Or you can buy them from the club, or straight from the pigeon organization. For racers, you will want either AU (American Racing Pigeon Union) or IF (International Federation of American Homing Pigeon Fancers, INC. (yeah I know, LONG name, haha)) bands.
Those babies will be raced next fall, usually around the end of August/beginning of September. Only birds banded in that year can participate. Old bird season is at the beginning of the year, usually at the beginning of spring. All yearlings (previous year's babies) and older can race. YB racing is typically no more than 250 miles, and OB usually stops at 500, but depending on where in the combine you live, you may be farther or shorter. By the way, the combine is the group of clubs in your area that you will race against. Some clubs prefer to have a few club races with just you guys, before the combine races start.
I would say more, but I don't know how much you already know, so I'd prefer to just stick with answering whatever questions you have next, haha.

I'll be back with club info and links.

 

[Mary Of Exeter]

List of clubs:
http://www.speedpigeon.com/state_kansas.htm

AU site:
http://www.pigeon.org

IF:
http://www.ifpigeon.com

Supply stores:
http://www.siegelpigeons.com
http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com
http://www.jedds.com
http://www.globalpigeon.com

 

[FrChuckW]

Mary, excellent information and links. Speaking of which here is a link for the plans for a Starter Loft. With a little bit of work you can make it as big or little as you need.

http://www.redroselofts.com/starter_loft.htm

This shows step by step directions with photos and a complete list of materials needed. You can download each page as needed or all at once. Hope this helps out.

 

[silverfilly]

Wow thanks for all that info. The plans are great as well thanks for posting that. I was going to make a loft for them off the side of my barn though. I dont have a lot of funds right now, geting ready to go to school. I will be reading through these site tonight and im sure ill hav a lot more questions.

ETA: is there any books or magazines I could read about racing?

 

[FrChuckW]

Check out some of the suppliers as well the pigeon sites. Their are a couple of good books out there as well as some excellent videos/dvds