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Racing Pigeon Season
Well it's here again, towards the end of next month we start racing the birds. I paired up the breeders on Valentines Day, I have banded about 10 babies so far, but there are eggs in each nest. If you've never seen a baby pigeon, they are kind of ugly; mostly beak and barely any feathering to keep them warm, Mom & Dad take turns sitting the nest. Mom takes the night shift & Dad during the day, the babies are fed with what's called pigeon milk, both parents take part in feeding them. The reason most people never have seen a baby pigeon, is because in 28 days he looks just like the parents, they are fully feathered and capable of flight at that time. This is when you start setting them in the flight cage so they can identify the suroundings and acclimate themselves to it. Once they are there for a couple of weeks you start releasing them. At first (unless something scares them) they will sit attop the loft and flap like they are going to take off. They rarely ever do for a while, you call them back into the loft so they get used to the trap (food is the motivator during this time) During the next few weeks they will take off and make laps around the loft. Those laps will get bigger and bigger each day
they will disappear for longer and longer lengths of time. During this time they are doing what is called ranging, and it helps them identify their complete area.
When they stay gone several times for an hour or so, it's time to basket them and take them out a mile or so, after that, the trips get further and further until they are out at least 50 miles. At that time they are trained, rarely ever if done properly will you lose a pigeon(unless something terrible happens to them) once trained at that milage, his next step is hundreds of miles during the race season. Should you be interested in this hobby you can private message me here at The Bubbler, and I will do my best to answer any questions you might have.
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