greylag Posted July 4, 2023 Report Share Posted July 4, 2023 I have recently returned from a holiday in west Wales and while there several racing pigeons were seen wandering ,obviously lost. On further investigation it was discovered that these birds were from a race from France to Ireland. With the current conserve about avian flue I was wondering if these races are frequent and to what degree they are monitored by DEFRA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted July 4, 2023 Report Share Posted July 4, 2023 ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve1066 Posted July 4, 2023 Report Share Posted July 4, 2023 Do you know the difference between a wood pigeon and a racing pigeon? You have to give the racer a lot more lead. 🤪 only joking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted July 4, 2023 Report Share Posted July 4, 2023 1 hour ago, steve1066 said: Do you know the difference between a wood pigeon and a racing pigeon? You have to give the racer a lot more lead. 🤪 only joking. i mistakenly shot a racing pigeon that was mixed up with a couple of woodies..........when i picked it up it was then i realised what it was ...it have a telephone number printed on the underside of the wing....which i phoned....the bloke answered and i apologised as to what i had done........the bloke was very frendly and thanked me very nicely for taking the trouble...i was on the phone for about 20 mins chatting away he explained the bird had been missing for 3 days and was 150 miles off coarse...and i did him a favour ....as he would delete that line from his loft.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted July 4, 2023 Report Share Posted July 4, 2023 1 hour ago, steve1066 said: Do you know the difference between a wood pigeon and a racing pigeon? You have to give the racer a lot more lead. 🤪 only joking. 😀 The few I’ve shot have often been mixing with ferals. 2 hours ago, greylag said: I have recently returned from a holiday in west Wales and while there several racing pigeons were seen wandering ,obviously lost. On further investigation it was discovered that these birds were from a race from France to Ireland. With the current conserve about avian flue I was wondering if these races are frequent and to what degree they are monitored by DEFRA. Perhaps they’re frightened to return with the riots an’ all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted July 4, 2023 Report Share Posted July 4, 2023 1 hour ago, steve1066 said: Do you know the difference between a wood pigeon and a racing pigeon? You have to give the racer a lot more lead. 🤪 only joking. I think he might be coming from the angle of comparing the release of game birds and DEFRA's latest wheeze about SA's and pigeons being set free to race. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30-6 Posted July 4, 2023 Report Share Posted July 4, 2023 I have found 2 racers dead , first one was hit by a car, second hawk attack. Both had rings. When it came up in conversation with a pigeon racer they to said any bird late coming home would be no good to them and got rid of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultrastu Posted July 4, 2023 Report Share Posted July 4, 2023 A homing pigeon that doesn't go home is just called a pigeon . And is of no use to the owner . My farmer friend asked me to shoot his birds that didnt come back into the loft but preferred to nest away in his barns . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gas seal Posted July 4, 2023 Report Share Posted July 4, 2023 Hi Graylag defra will have legislation regarding racing pigeons and having pigeons and other birds together.l know that they were allowed to fly for a short time each day. I see what you mean about releasing pigeons and game birds. I kept racing pigeons in the early 60s and sometimes lots of pigeons got lost in bad weather some valuable birds lost. We had two in the loft that wouldn’t leave and my friend reported them a man collected them and gave us five pounds. We were told to give lost pigeons food water and rest and release them away from the loft. This is why some pigeons arrive days after they were released. Some big prize money in pigeon racing. Any pigeons with metal rings are someone’s property. It’s even on BASC website. Hi dichman it may have been a different story if it was Armando the Belgian racing pigeon you shot . The owner wouldn’t be happy. l wish I had birds like that when I kept them. My friend from Southern Ireland would go to auctions for pigeons. Some of them cost a lot of money. I wonder how many feral pigeons in town have blue blood and were worth a fortune at one time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greylag Posted July 5, 2023 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2023 Thankyou for answering Gas seal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gas seal Posted July 5, 2023 Report Share Posted July 5, 2023 Hi Graylag I just noticed I wrote that we got a five pounds reward for the pigeons, it was five Bob a half crown each. There must be a lot of lost racing pigeons out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Down South Posted July 5, 2023 Report Share Posted July 5, 2023 If the race was from France to Ireland why would DEFRA be involved? Racing pigeons can get blown off course if the weather conditions are unfavourable. It’s illegal to shoot them so be careful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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