Homing Ability

Hi all

It is all about horses for courses but i can say that that some good distance pigeons have been found when flying in a sprint team and always are that little behind the team and you send them to give them a second chance to find that they win

How many have done that?

don, would you say that sprint are a "type" of bird and so is a distance bird....by "type" i mean shape ,balance, physique etc.....

Hi David

For me sprint pigeons have to be full of power if you look at a sprint runnner they are well built in power

But if you look at a long distance runner they are small light in size

best pigeon i ever owned was a blue and white cock he was tiny but apple bodied he was channel unfortunately lost him on a 155 mile race gutted

ian, do you still have the dark pied cock....the one you sent a photo of? he is a nice looking bird, has he done anything for you?

yes he is in stock loft and yes he has won national at folkestone and got good combine place , plus scored a few thirds and fourths

Some reasons i thought of, for bad homing ability:
1.) Some sort of disease
2.) Bad pigeons
3.) Malnutrition ( Too fat, or underfed)
4.) Too young unexperience
5.) Pigeons Quiting ( lack of iron and vitamins)
6.) Bad luck , if only one get caught.
7.) Bad eyesight wires and trees
8.) Unfit pigeons , increasing distance too quick.
9.) Bad weather conditions.
10.) Still molting some primaries ( Wing deficiancy)
11.) Bad loft, they dont like their home.

I would like members to add some more factors, i cant think of more.

dehydration is a big factor

overcrowding?
as you already said niel, dont like their home....maybe because cats, foxes scaring them ?

The pigeons have to be comfortable at home if not you can forget winning

What about the wrong horse for the wrong coarse?

thatsb down to the fancier not the pigeon

Yes Ian i agree . The right horse and coarse is in the hands of the fancier.

lets look at it this way we all want nice fancy lofts but if the pigeon is happy in a loft that you would not put a pig in then don't change anything if it works

don, i like to look through my old 1980s pictorials and some of the champions lofts are like firewood by todays standards but the pigeons liked it and were happy there like you say....its the love of home isnt it ?

Spot on David

David can remember having a small dog kennel as a loft mant moons ago room for three pair of pigeons which my dad let me have

The three pair raced well and out of 9 races i beat my dad 5 time

It just goes if they are happy then they will fly

totally agree its up to yourself

getting them happy is the key buts its getting them happy is the hard thing

nobody says racing is easy

You can have a fancy loft still does not mean you will win compared to a loft much older but your pigeons are happy in side

glad youve all said that, mines fire wood...

but are your pigeons happy in it

i think so ian, apart from giving it a lick of paint the only thing i think it does need is some vents in the front for more air circulation...

david have you thought of putting spinning vents on the roof you know the ones that turn with the wind they draw air and give you movement of air all the time ive got them in my loft best thing ive ever done