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.
