what kind of bird is this?

[sourland]

The only problem with keeping her is that she would have to remain a prisoner for the rest of her life. Possibly she might settle into my loft, but more likely she would head for home if released.

 

[dinahmoe]

do they always head for home if released?IDK much about them.so you would have to raise your own birds in order for them to return home,right?makes sense tho, i was thinking they would adjust after awhile in captivity.
still learning,thanks for the info.
D

 

[deerman]

Sour most racer will tell you to release them........no they will not cull them if they make it home. Sound like if he wanted the bird he would at least ask you to release it.


Now some old birds can be broke to a new loft....they did it all the time during those used in WW2.

Lost will be high....the longer you have her , the easier it will be.

Few tricks.. clip wings when she has young about 2 1/2 weeks old...don't release her mate, he will feed the young if she doesn't return. its not a sure thing. clip wings so she can still fly a little, not high.

I did it with birds had for a few years...guess i lost about half...flew back to old home. I Only try after i had a good flock of flying birds.

In the case of this hen you have, she maybe a super birds . just got weak, know its crazy. reason i say so is because she wasn't even stopping to eat ,just wanting to get home. They sometime run into bad weather.

 

[sourland]

She was about 60 miles away from home. I'm not sure what length the young bird races are up to - know they get longer as the season progresses. Even though I've done this several times I am amazed at how rapidly a nearly dead bird bounces back. They are truly tough creatures. I've read books about homers during the war and how they could be taught to home to different locations and also from one location to another - fascinating. I will release her without trying to settlee her to my loft. If she stays fine, if she goes home better still.

 

[NewHopePoultry]

If the bird makes it back home, then no the owner might not cull it, but usually if the owner has to go get the bird, they will cull it.
Some birds can be retrained to another loft, but it doesnt happen all the time.
If the loft is big enough, then the bird shouldnt feel like a prisoner (Get a mate, let them have young, etc)

If one of my birds doesnt make it home and its within driving distance, then I would go get it, otherwise I would tell them to keep it or find someone in the area to take it.

 

[Chicks & Guineas]

We had a leg-banded homing pigeon show up one day a couple of years ago looking a bit rough. He took a day or two to get acquainted with the guineas, then followed them in to roost for the night. He stayed and rested up for a couple of weeks and then left. He returned once a few months later and visited for a couple of days. Haven't seen him in a couple of years. We called him Walter Pigeon.

 

[deerman]

Quote:
Sound like a good plan....not really the bird fault it didn't make it home.....i would try my best to go get them , or let the person release it.

60 miles not really that far , she may take off home , but a young bird if she find a mate ,and nest she may stay.

 

[Mary Of Exeter]

Not all racers are culled if they don't come home. Most fanciers I know make an effort to get their birds home and give them another chance. I know I do. I also take in unwanted homers. I have one that was rescued at a college right now. It was lost on a race. It's from Maryland, which is too far to drive. I never heard anything back from the owner. It currently has either paratyphoid or PMV. When it gets better it will stay here until someone contacts me and tells me otherwise. The bird was on campus for a week and a half before it was caught and given to me. It was almost starved to death with a VERY sharp keel but otherwise bright-eyed. I'm currently feeding it via syringe down the throat as it cannot get up well enough to eat. It sits with its head curled upside-down.


If you find a missing racing pigeon, PLEASE catch it. Contact the owner and ask what they want you to do with it. Some will say to let it go and it will go home. Others say keep it. Or they may make plans to come pick up the bird. Either way, it is better than the bird being on its own in danger of predators, disease, and starvation.