steve_b_wales Posted May 28, 2018 Report Share Posted May 28, 2018 After 8 days on my neighbours and my roof, I have managed to capture a racing pigeon. It's unharmed and can fly. checking the ID on the leg ring, it belongs to someone in Cheshire, and was released in France (according to the owners wife) I am waiting for the owner to phone me back to let me know what to do with the bird. If he doesn't want it, could it be given to someone local who keeps pigeons, or is it better to release the bird away from my area, with the hope it will return? We have been feeding it and giving it water, which, according to the pigeon society, is the wrong thing to do, as the more it's fed/watered, the longer it will stay. At the moment, it's in a box, which is not ideal for the poor thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mighty Prawn Posted May 28, 2018 Report Share Posted May 28, 2018 Release him over my hide, anyone that knows me will know he'll be safe as houses! how did you know he was a racer,could you see the rings from ground level? I only ask as in Bromsgrove high st currently there is a pigeon living with the ferals that has a ring on each leg and I wondered if he might be an escapee? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Novice Posted May 28, 2018 Report Share Posted May 28, 2018 I anticipate that if it's a racer that's not made it's way to it's home loft, it's effectively a cull in racing terms. Can't imagine it's owner will be keen to have it back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clumber Posted May 28, 2018 Report Share Posted May 28, 2018 Pigeon fanciers don't usually want a bird back if it can't make it's own way home, unless it's form a good breed line. Others won't want it as it didn't get home. If you know someone who's going north ask them to chuck it out further up the road, if the fella had enough faith in it to send it to france, Nantes used to be a big race, then it may well find its way home. Locally a lost bird is known as a 'strag'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted May 28, 2018 Report Share Posted May 28, 2018 Unfortunately that is true. If it doesn't make it back, then the owner will not want to keep it. A quick neck pulling. Take it a ride before it sets it's location on your home and let it loose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkfanz Posted May 28, 2018 Report Share Posted May 28, 2018 my neighbour raced pigeons years ago he got one in from yorkshire,me bein a trucker then i said i,ll take it with me i,m goin to yorkshire,so released said pigeon just a few miles from his home,,,,blow me he were back in lancashire before me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackbird Posted May 28, 2018 Report Share Posted May 28, 2018 Steve_b_ the pigeon fancier_wales Now that’s got a good ring to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted May 28, 2018 Report Share Posted May 28, 2018 (edited) Friends of mine who race pigeons, first thing they check is the feet for mud. Muddy or Mucky feet and neck is rung as it’s stopped on its way home. Edited May 28, 2018 by figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted May 28, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2018 49 minutes ago, The Mighty Prawn said: Release him over my hide, anyone that knows me will know he'll be safe as houses! how did you know he was a racer,could you see the rings from ground level? I only ask as in Bromsgrove high st currently there is a pigeon living with the ferals that has a ring on each leg and I wondered if he might be an escapee? We captured it and read the ID on the leg ring. 49 minutes ago, The Mighty Prawn said: Release him over my hide, anyone that knows me will know he'll be safe as houses! how did you know he was a racer,could you see the rings from ground level? I only ask as in Bromsgrove high st currently there is a pigeon living with the ferals that has a ring on each leg and I wondered if he might be an escapee? UPDATE: The owner has just phoned, and his son is coming to collect it tomorrow ( from Wimslow) A round trip of 368 miles. Out of curiosity, I asked if the bird was worth anything, but the reply was, 'I can't say'. Travelling all that way, I would presume that it's worth quite a bit. 7 minutes ago, blackbird said: Steve_b_ the pigeon fancier_wales Now that’s got a good ring to it. The only pigeons I fancy are in pie's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The gouse Posted May 28, 2018 Report Share Posted May 28, 2018 My mate at work races pigeons at the top with the big boys from all over the world. is pigeons go to South Africa 6 weeks before the big race in that time they learn a new country and new home. he go’s out to watch them come in then comes home with cheque inaccess of £30k When he sends is young birds to Spain, Portugal France, they get two chance. if weather is bad but still get home get one more chance, But he would always won’t is best breading birds back as he sends some out with the youngsters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackbird Posted May 28, 2018 Report Share Posted May 28, 2018 Great update Steve your a good one mate ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenholland Posted May 28, 2018 Report Share Posted May 28, 2018 years ago I use to keep an up to date serial numbers book from the racing pigeon association , every bird I found dead or alive I would ring the owner just to let him know the situation , they were very grateful , there is nothing worse than not knowing where your bird is, if it is being timed or not, just felt I had done my bit . did hear rumors of racers being shot coming through the French valleys on there way home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted May 28, 2018 Report Share Posted May 28, 2018 as said let it go, the owner will kill it any way,if it dropped of any where. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted May 28, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2018 6 minutes ago, mossy835 said: as said let it go, the owner will kill it any way,if it dropped of any where. I updated my post to say that the owner's son is travelling down to pick up the bird tomorrow - a round trip of 368 miles. 14 minutes ago, kenholland said: years ago I use to keep an up to date serial numbers book from the racing pigeon association , every bird I found dead or alive I would ring the owner just to let him know the situation , they were very grateful , there is nothing worse than not knowing where your bird is, if it is being timed or not, just felt I had done my bit . did hear rumors of racers being shot coming through the French valleys on there way home. I do the same too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted May 29, 2018 Report Share Posted May 29, 2018 I found a dead racer in a local field when dog walking. Looked like something had eaten most of it. I retrieved the ring and got in touch with the owner through the pigeon racing association. Got a nice thankyou letter for letting him know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph5172 Posted May 29, 2018 Report Share Posted May 29, 2018 We had one fly into our bedroom balcony door one evening. Must have mistaken it for a loft or nice high hidey hole Contacted the pigeon accociaction and they passed on our contact number, The owner asked if it was ok and could we keep it in a box for a few days, Feed it and water it then let it go. I’m sure it comes back every year about the same time and sits outside!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted May 29, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2018 Well, the pigeon was collected earlier this afternoon, by a very grateful owner. He informed me that the bird must like Wales, because last year, it ended up in Caerphilly, which is a few miles away from me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyefor Posted May 30, 2018 Report Share Posted May 30, 2018 (edited) I don't know if I should admit this on an open forum but the truth had to come out.... My father kept racing pigeons. The potentially interesting bit... He lived in Bletchley - and he met my mother there (originally from Scotland) after she had been called up to work in Bletchley Park with Alan Turing ("a pain in the ****"") on Enigma and (now long passed on) she is on the Bletchley Park roll of Honour. All secret squirrel stuff and a great place to visit for anyone interested in WWII and / or computers. Info here https://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/ Somehow (because they should never have been talking about it) he got involved with Bletchley Park and his (extremely dangerous?) "job" during the war was to keep pigeons for the RAF who put them in to bombers for them to fly home with a report note from the survivors if the plane crashed and for the secret services who sent pigeons on missions with agents. Some info here (lots of others available) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Pigeon-Service-Operation-Resistance-ebook/dp/B073Z43H1R/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527702529&sr=8-1&keywords=pigeons+at+war Quote Between 1941 and 1944, sixteen thousand plucky homing pigeons were dropped in an arc from Bordeaux to Copenhagen as part of 'Columba' – a secret British operation to bring back intelligence from those living under Nazi occupation. The messages flooded back written on tiny pieces of rice paper tucked into canisters and tied to the legs of the birds. Authentic voices from rural France, the Netherlands and Belgium – they were sometimes comic, often tragic and occasionally invaluable with details of German troop movements and fortifications, new Nazi weapons, radar system or the deployment of the feared V-1 and V-2 rockets that terrorised London. Unquote Dad would take the notes received back and give them to some appointed person(s) to pass on. The not so interesting bit (and my admission to being involved in a scam)..... I was born in the 1950's and Dad still kept pigeons and I had my own pigeons in the loft that were the older / not-so-good flyers that my dad used to let me call my own. My admission.....(although I can't believe this was solely my idea) was that I used to take an occasional pigeon to Junior school (aged about 6) and my first "business enterprise" was, at sensible times apart, to sell my pigeon to one of the other lads (for 6d) to take home as a pet for it to be their homing pigeon. Without fail, my pigeon was at home when I got back from school, after the new owner had tested it's homing skills at it's supposedly new house. Shameful I suppose (but I feel better now it's out). If there's anyone on here who was caught in my scam, then let me know and I'll repay you your sixpence. Edited May 30, 2018 by Eyefor Linky no worky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted May 30, 2018 Report Share Posted May 30, 2018 7 minutes ago, Eyefor said: I don't know if I should admit this on an open forum but the truth had to come out.... My father kept racing pigeons. The potentially interesting bit... He lived in Bletchley - and he met my mother there (originally from Scotland) after she had been called up to work in Bletchley Park with Alan Turing ("a pain in the ****"") on Enigma and (now long passed on) she is on the Bletchley Park roll of Honour. All secret squirrel stuff and a great place to visit for anyone interested in WWII and / or computers. Info here https://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/ Somehow (because they should never have been talking about it) he got involved with Bletchley Park and his (extremely dangerous?) "job" during the war was to keep pigeons for the RAF who put them in to bombers for them to fly home with a report note from the survivors if the plane crashed and for the secret services who sent pigeons on missions with agents. Some info here (lots of others available) www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Pigeon-Service-Operation-Resistance-ebook/dp/B073Z43H1R/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527702529&sr=8-1&keywords=pigeons+at+war Quote Between 1941 and 1944, sixteen thousand plucky homing pigeons were dropped in an arc from Bordeaux to Copenhagen as part of 'Columba' – a secret British operation to bring back intelligence from those living under Nazi occupation. The messages flooded back written on tiny pieces of rice paper tucked into canisters and tied to the legs of the birds. Authentic voices from rural France, the Netherlands and Belgium – they were sometimes comic, often tragic and occasionally invaluable with details of German troop movements and fortifications, new Nazi weapons, radar system or the deployment of the feared V-1 and V-2 rockets that terrorised London. Unquote Dad would take the notes received back and give them to some appointed person(s) to pass on. The not so interesting bit (and my admission to being involved in a scam)..... I was born in the 1950's and Dad still kept pigeons and I had my own pigeons in the loft that were the not-so-good flyers that my dad used to let me call my own. My admission.....(although I can't believe this was solely my idea) was that I used to take an occasional pigeon to Junior school (aged about 6) and my first "business enterprise" was, at sensible times apart, to sell my pigeon to one of the other lads (for 6d) to take home as a pet for it to be their homing pigeon. Without fail, my pigeon was at home when I got back from school, after the new owner had tested it's homing skills at it's supposedly new house. Shameful I suppose (but I feel better now it's out). If there's anyone on here who was caught in my scam, then let me know and I'll repay you your sixpence. ??????? You beat my great uncle, he used to sell glass bottles to pubs, then jump over the back wall and get them back, only to go on and sell them to every pub around. He also used to go apple picking, and sell them to people 20p each, or 4 for £1 ... he said no one ever cottoned onto that one ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted May 30, 2018 Report Share Posted May 30, 2018 18 minutes ago, Lloyd90 said: He also used to go apple picking, and sell them to people 20p each, or 4 for £1 ... he said no one ever cottoned onto that one ? Reminded me of when i used to work at Baxters Butchers, we used to have small pork pies at 49p each I sold 2 to a women for £1. She thought she had a bargain. ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted May 30, 2018 Report Share Posted May 30, 2018 1 hour ago, Eyefor said: Between 1941 and 1944, sixteen thousand plucky homing pigeons were dropped in an arc from Bordeaux to Copenhagen as part of 'Columba' seems made up with todays instant pictures msgs and satellites, certainly were different times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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