Last weeks discussion of the week we asked what you thought the current state of pigeon racing was? alarmingly the general consensus seemed to be that the sport of pigeon racing was dying and the main reason fanciers felt this way seemed to be cost. The Pigeon Insider has fanciers from all over the globe so it was pretty interesing to see some of our friends from other parts of the world say that the sport was growing. Maybe we can learn from each other and get the pigeon racing sport to grow universally all around the world by learning what each one of us are doing.
So in this weeks discussion of the week we would like to know?
What do you think fanciers can do to help the pigeon racing sport grow?
Post your comments on what you think each one of us can do to help promote the sport, also let us know if you have any ideas on how to lower costs etc. If your in an area where the sport is on the rise post your comments and let other fanciers know what has worked in your area.
We will be forwarding all of your comments to pigeon racing organizations around the world, Hopefully; together we can help the sport grow universally around the world.
Hi there,
I believe that there is no such thing as a bad pigeon, just bad fanciers. I am now into my third year of racing and I am enjoying it to no end. I am fascinated that when a fancier’s loft does not perform, it is immediately the fault of the poor quality of his birds or some or other disease that broke out in the loft, in fact just about any excuse will do. Except what is sometimes the obvious “THE FANCIER” Have they ever stopped to think that their failures may well in fact be their own fault, too much food, too little food, over exercising, under exercising, over medicating, no medicating…….. huh, me?? Never.
90% of our failures we have brought upon ourselves, the birds react to what we as their “Managers” instruct them to do. Look at any athlete and you will see that the same is true.
With that said, lets take a look at how I feel we could attract people to the sport and prevent others from leaving. Firstly, in general, fanciers need to cut the rubbish, I have never come across a sport that is so secretive, if they are flying up front they guard what they are doing with their lives. Instead of helping those that are struggling to become better. Win at all costs …… that is the motto …… and stuff the rest.
if we as fanciers were to share our combined knowledge, I am sure we would see a very different attitude to the sport, PIGEON FANCIERS are renowned for their general unfriendliness, closely guarded secrets and the lack of willing to share ideas and interests.
Our other huge problem is the act that Pigeon Muti’s (Medicines) have become a Multi Million Dollar industry, with this one being better than that one and that one being better than this one and so …. on it goes. I feel that many of the fanciers that have gone in my short time have become so disillusioned by the confusion between medications and the prices attached to them, they could not take it any longer.
“What product do you use”
“Oh I use …. X product”
“Well I use …X product and it is far better than that rubbish you are using”
How do you think this makes the new fancier feel, hurt, dazed, confused, fed up … well, put yourself in his shoes and you tell me!!
The sport needs advertising, good people, willing to share and help where they can. This is what is needed to promote our dying sport.
Rumor has it that 2o years ago in Belgium there were approximately 200 000 fanciers, there are currently +- 30 000 and of that the vast majority are over the age of 70.
How many will there be in 10 years if we don’t act now.
Passionate Fancier
truer word were never spoken.We need to help each other, DAM the money lets have some fun and enjoy this.
I had pigeons several times in my life and now since I’m retired I decided it’s time to get back into racing pigeons again. To my surprise many things about the sport have really changed! I had to join a race club in another townsince there wasn’t a club in my town. My old clock was way out of date, and there was only two other people raising pigeons in my area. The feed store however still carried pigeon feed but I had to travel to another town to purchase pigeon grit.
This year concludes my third year back in the sport and I have not regretted a moment. I have won my share of races but I have also seen several others drop out of pigeons for various reasons. I agree that promoting the sport of raising and racing pigeons is part of the process of rebuilding the sport here in America. Keeping costs down and becoming more efficient at what we do can also help.Sharing our knowledge and skills can also be of benefit to a newbie. This weekend I plan to give a talk at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Mn. I hope there will be a small crowd I can talk to and engage with my “Late Hatch Race Team”. It should be a fun and interesting time. After all raising and flying pigeons should be fun. Keep up the good work with this web site. Your’s in the sport too, Robert
THE PROBLEM IS THAT NEW FANCIERS CANT COMPETE WITH THE REALY GOOD FANCIERS.
EVEN THOUGH THEY FEEL THAT THEY ARE PUTTING IN AS MANY HOURS AND MONEY AS THE MORE EXPIERENCED FANCIERS.
THEREFOR I SUGGEST THAT THERE MUST BE SOME KIND OF HANDICAP SYSTEM FOR THE FANCIERS THAT KEEP ON WINNING EVERYTHING.FOR EXAMPLE. WHEN THERE IS A 10 BIRD
LIMIT IN THE CLUB A FANCIER THAT HAVE WON THE CLUB POINTS MUST ONLY BE ABLE TO FLY WITH 8 PIGEONS THE NEXT SEASON AND IF HE WINS IT AGAIN THEN ONLY WITH 6 AND SO ON.
Why punish the winner, learn from him/her and improve your situation.Listen at your club to what the winners are saying, if you listen closely you will learn many things.
Dear Sir,
I believe that the following points are very important:
1- Promotion and awarness. As a lot of people specially youth haven’t heared about the racing pigeons. I would strongly recommend to pronote through Schools and sporting clubs by distributing flyers talking about this sport.
2- Fanciers should help beginners by teaching them and giving them advice of how to start with a moderate loft.
3- They can also help by selling to new fanciers with lowered prices.
4- Arrange to send news letters to old & new fanciers (by voulenteers)
Regards,
Sherif
I am new to pigeon racing but not pigeons. I really don’t know if it is growing or declining,but I figure it’s about like every other sport. People get in and people get out. And then some get back in again. I believe you have to love what your doing to stay at anything. I love my birds,so I enjoy the labor and things that goes along with the keeping of my birds. Yes sometimes they do get a little costly,but to me the enjoyment of having them is worth it.
If I was just in it for the money, and didn’t just enjoy the birds for what they are, I would probably get out of it.
The first thing we can do to grow this sport is to race pigeon, not to worry about all the money races.
2nd Help the new flyer out with advice and give them all the information that we can give.
3rd is not to pressure a person to fly when he or she is having problems like high losses. That me I loss about 50% or more birds this year why I have no Idea. When I want to stop and take a week off to try and regroup. I got this song and dance. Oh we will not have a enough flyer yes we know your having problem but we need you. People no longer look at the whole picture they only look out whats good for them and it is hurting this sport to death.
I want to find out if anyone knows about the double up system where you send the pigeons back week after week
I HAVIN RAISE PIGEONS SINCE THE 60`S BUT NEVER RACER`S BUT I`M WILLING TO TRY PIGEON RACING SOON BEFORE I RETIRE THEN I CAN DO IT FULL TIME SO I`M WANT TO START AS SOON AS I CAN RIGHT NOW I`M IN THE BROOKLYN AREA IS THERE ANYONE INTERESTED LETS GET IN TOUCH.
Share, if it had not been for flyers helping me when I was just a kid, I wouldn’t have had a great beginning.One old timer helped us build a proper loft, others donatedgave us birds. Our 1st. “stock” got to go back to the bridges & parking garages we had netted them from! Be supportive,& patient, those guys didn’t “laugh”, they just said we’d do “better” with real racers! Always tried to do the same as I got older, a kid stole birds from me. His dad marched him back to my house a few days after, I knew someone had “broken in”. I told the kid it was wrong to do that, had a nice talk with them both, you know the rest. Kid became an “understudy”- friend- fellow flyer. It’s tough dealing with zoning laws some places too, when I was in “Orange Valley Club” years ago, we had to get a lawyer to help some guys out! Stick together, even if that guy has “fancy’s”, the kid down the street has “barn pigeons” in a old dog house, the guy up the street has a winning racing loft bigger than your garage! Stick together!
well i am from pakistan and myself a novice to this hobby but was very fortunate to have a breeder since the beginning who is been into pigeon racing since last 25 years. The guy is a great help in every aspect he even provided me with a few real bloodline pairs from his own loft.
I try to follow the rule like spielberg said just love and enjoy your birds everything else will come! peace!