RACING A FEW PIGEONS WELL

In most other sports involving animals and people, enthusiasts learn the game by beginning with a single animal.  For instance, in horse racing or any other equestrian event, novice riders usually buy a single horse and begin to learn the intricacies of the sport by riding their horse.  In dog sports like herding or obedience, novice trainers usually buy a single dog and begin to learn the intricacies of the sport by commanding and working with their dog.  Not so in the racing pigeon sport in America.

When novice fanciers start in the pigeon racing sport, the most common scenario is for novices to purchase a significant number of breeders and/or accept gifts from other fanciers.  We have seldom, if ever, known of a new fancier that began racing pigeons by obtaining a single high quality youngster to race or who began with a single pair of high quality breeders in order to raise a very small race team of elite young birds.  For some reason, there seems to be a belief in the American racing pigeon sport that there is safety, security and achievement in racing large numbers of pigeons.  Many fanciers passionately believe that there is a sizable advantage that can be gained over other fanciers when racing a very large race team over a very small race team.  We know of few fanciers who race a very small team of pigeons in a race series.  The predominant belief in the American racing pigeon sport is that size matters.

It is our opinion that this pervasive belief is a myth and causes many new fanciers to leave the Sport in a very short period of time!

Why?  We believe that it is best for novice fanciers (or experienced fanciers) to learn to race a few pigeons very well rather than fly many pigeons poorly because they lack a basic understanding and knowledge of the intricacies racing pigeon game. We believe that novice fanciers should initially obtain a few high quality young birds to train; then select a few of these youngsters to race in order to learn to race the youngster very well.

The primary reason novice and experienced fanciers race large teams of birds is usually because fanciers doubt their ability to evaluate the racing quality of their pigeons and they believe that they do not have the knowledge and training to select the best potential racers prior to the race season.  

In addition, novice fanciers are often overwhelmed by the initial expense of the racing pigeon sport.  It often scares potential fanciers away from the sport.  That is too bad; because it doesn't take tens or hundreds of pigeons for novices to be successful in the sport or to enjoy the sport.

For example, the benefits of racing A few pigeons are: 

• A few pigeons require a few large nest boxes. 

• A few pigeons require limited loft space.

• A few pigeons can be fed the most expensive grain on the market.

• A few pigeons can be fed the most expensive and effective supplements on the market.

• A few pigeons can be medicated using the most expensive and effective medications on the market.

• A few pigeons can be quickly crated to road train on many short training flights.

• A few pigeon's droppings can be quickly and completely cleaned on a frequent basis.

• A few pigeons will be robustly healthy.

• A few pigeons will become highly territorial.

• A few pigeons will become very tame.

• A few pigeons will form a special bond with their fancier.

• A few pigeons are easy to observe on a frequent basis.

• A few pigeons require a few mates.

•  A few pigeons can be handled frequently.

• A few pigeons require a few snap-on race bands.

• A few pigeons require a few seamless rings or bands.

• A few pigeons require less time to scan and enter in races at the club house.

• A few pigeons are much cheaper to train and race than a large team of pigeons.

• A few pigeons require far less time to properly manage than the time required for a large team of pigeons.

• A few pigeons require less physical and mental effort for fanciers; yet they will give more enjoyment than a large team of pigeons.

• The proper management of a few pigeons is far less overwhelming for novice fanciers than racing a large team of pigeons.

These are a few of the benefits of racing a very small team of pigeons instead of a large team of pigeons.  If size does matter in the pigeon racing sport, then we believe that a smaller size is better than a larger size.  Racing a few pigeons well can be far more enjoyable and competitive than flying a large team of pigeons whose place at the top of the race sheet is often determined by random luck rather than effective management.