Are the cost affecting the sport?

[Murray]

My wife and I own our own home and are on the aged pension. It's not a lot, but we live comfortably because we don't go out much, don't eat takeaways etc.
Three cats to feed and a small team of pigeons eat up a lot of our spare income. Pardon the pun. Even so, can afford to race a few birds, it's my only real expense, I don't play golf, go to the sports club, anything like that. I think it comes down to what your priorities are.
The cost of feed has risen quite sharply here, like everywhere. So one has to be honest about how much you can afford and not keep more pigeons than that. Anyway, I'd rather have 20 quality pigeons than 100 run of the mill ones.
Having formed a partnership with Devo to enter pigeons in OLRs and breeders races etc, gives me the ability to concentrate on breeding for those races, I am fortunate.
The club I belong to has actually grown over the past couple of years. I've heard for the last 25 years that the sport is on it's last legs, but it isn't. Yes it's getting expensive. Tell me what isn't. People will, must, have some form of interest and pigeon racing ticks a lot pf boxes.

[Andy]

I have just had a young lad contact me who wants to start up.
Nice lad, not even finished his exams at school yet, can't drive but he wants to start up for all the right reasons.
I think the parents are split up. His mum brought him over to see me and to have a chat. One of her question
was how much does it cost?
I made an on the spot estimate to keep and race about 20 pigeons for a year on a shoestring budget would be around £800. I didnt think that would be far off - what do you all think......?
He was still keen but mum wasnt quite but I tried to explain that is still quite cheap for a hobby. It probably cost about 30 quid for a days fishing nowadays.

I think you’re a great ambassador for the sport Dave. You are right pigeon racing is still relatively cheap compared to a lot. The boys mother wants to be asked, what would she rather her son would be doing. The whole concept of keeping and looking after livestock along with the pleasure of seeing them return from training or racing. Being part of a club with the competitive side. Or doing things not so sociably acceptable. There are a lot of things that would cost an awful lot more. Supporting a football club, playing golf with the costs of equipment and green fees. Just going out drinking could easily cost £800 a year nowadays.

[Devo1956]

It is great to hear of a young lad wanting to get involved in the sport, even better when they fully understand. That it is a 365 day sport, and the birds are going to depend on him keeping them in good health.
I hope this young lad does get the chance to join the sport, and he can get into a club with members to help him along the way. It is really kind of Dave to spend time with the young lad and his mother, explaining about the sport. I would say more time needed for the young lad to see what it is all about, meet other local flyers by a trip to the club house. Having a chat with others may give him a better understanding about the sport.
Yes he will need a budget to start in the sport, but by just a trip to the club house and chatting to other members. That budget may be reduced by gifts from the club members. My advice for the young lad is, prepare well and take on board what is required from yourself. To become a keeper of livestock. their health is paramount 365 days a year.
Well done Dave.

[Devo1956]

I would like to run this by other members, when a young person wants to get involved in the sport. Do you think the club he would like to join, they work with him and involve other members. To train the young person up to the standards required on keeping racing pigeons. He or she could help around other members lofts. Getting the basic knowledge of loft tasks, and what is required to become a keeper of racing pigeons. This could be followed up by the sec of the club, sitting down with the young person. And getting feedback of what they would like to do next, Just a thought for the future of racing pigeons.

[Diamond Dave]

It is great to hear of a young lad wanting to get involved in the sport, even better when they fully understand. That it is a 365 day sport, and the birds are going to depend on him keeping them in good health.
I hope this young lad does get the chance to join the sport, and he can get into a club with members to help him along the way. It is really kind of Dave to spend time with the young lad and his mother, explaining about the sport. I would say more time needed for the young lad to see what it is all about, meet other local flyers by a trip to the club house. Having a chat with others may give him a better understanding about the sport.
Yes he will need a budget to start in the sport, but by just a trip to the club house and chatting to other members. That budget may be reduced by gifts from the club members. My advice for the young lad is, prepare well and take on board what is required from yourself. To become a keeper of livestock. their health is paramount 365 days a year.
Well done Dave.

He has bought 4 birds from someone, 2 of which are fantails and the other 2 are unrung. His mum has let him have a small shed and he has made a wire aviery for them.
He lives about half an hour away from me but and is not in our club rad. but he would get in one of the clubs in our fed. I spoke to the sec and he would welcome his application.
I am breeding him a round of birds but they obviously wont make racing this year so I asked at the club if anyone has ybs in the nest now that he might have a chance of getting into the last couple of races this year and I have obtained 5 birds from 3 different ppl.
He is very intent on racing and is a lovely lad but doesnt know anything, not even the colours of the birds.
Ive helped him set up his shed but his mum wants him to get his exams done now before getting too involved in memberships and things.
I will introduce him to this site in due course when he has finished his exams.

[Devo1956]

It is great to hear of a young lad wanting to get involved in the sport, even better when they fully understand. That it is a 365 day sport, and the birds are going to depend on him keeping them in good health.
I hope this young lad does get the chance to join the sport, and he can get into a club with members to help him along the way. It is really kind of Dave to spend time with the young lad and his mother, explaining about the sport. I would say more time needed for the young lad to see what it is all about, meet other local flyers by a trip to the club house. Having a chat with others may give him a better understanding about the sport.
Yes he will need a budget to start in the sport, but by just a trip to the club house and chatting to other members. That budget may be reduced by gifts from the club members. My advice for the young lad is, prepare well and take on board what is required from yourself. To become a keeper of livestock. their health is paramount 365 days a year.
Well done Dave.

He has bought 4 birds from someone, 2 of which are fantails and the other 2 are unrung. His mum has let him have a small shed and he has made a wire aviery for them.
He lives about half an hour away from me but and is not in our club rad. but he would get in one of the clubs in our fed. I spoke to the sec and he would welcome his application.
I am breeding him a round of birds but they obviously wont make racing this year so I asked at the club if anyone has ybs in the nest now that he might have a chance of getting into the last couple of races this year and I have obtained 5 birds from 3 different ppl.
He is very intent on racing and is a lovely lad but doesnt know anything, not even the colours of the birds.
Ive helped him set up his shed but his mum wants him to get his exams done now before getting too involved in memberships and things.
I will introduce him to this site in due course when he has finished his exams.

Thanks for sharing Dave, I hope he gets the chance to join the site. I am sure he will be made welcome, there is enough going on and he could ask any questions on the sport. Well done Dave.

[Andy]

It is great to hear of a young lad wanting to get involved in the sport, even better when they fully understand. That it is a 365 day sport, and the birds are going to depend on him keeping them in good health.
I hope this young lad does get the chance to join the sport, and he can get into a club with members to help him along the way. It is really kind of Dave to spend time with the young lad and his mother, explaining about the sport. I would say more time needed for the young lad to see what it is all about, meet other local flyers by a trip to the club house. Having a chat with others may give him a better understanding about the sport.
Yes he will need a budget to start in the sport, but by just a trip to the club house and chatting to other members. That budget may be reduced by gifts from the club members. My advice for the young lad is, prepare well and take on board what is required from yourself. To become a keeper of livestock. their health is paramount 365 days a year.
Well done Dave.

He has bought 4 birds from someone, 2 of which are fantails and the other 2 are unrung. His mum has let him have a small shed and he has made a wire aviery for them.
He lives about half an hour away from me but and is not in our club rad. but he would get in one of the clubs in our fed. I spoke to the sec and he would welcome his application.
I am breeding him a round of birds but they obviously wont make racing this year so I asked at the club if anyone has ybs in the nest now that he might have a chance of getting into the last couple of races this year and I have obtained 5 birds from 3 different ppl.
He is very intent on racing and is a lovely lad but doesnt know anything, not even the colours of the birds.
Ive helped him set up his shed but his mum wants him to get his exams done now before getting too involved in memberships and things.
I will introduce him to this site in due course when he has finished his exams.

Well done Dave. Great to see a young fancier being encouraged and helped out in this sport.
It would be lovely to see him coming on the site when he feels the time is right. At least the 2 fantails and the 2 unrung birds will give him a bit of experience in keeping pigeons. Just remember that he will have downs as well as ups.
Our youngest member in the club is now 18. He joined I think 3 or 4 years ago. His uncle is a top fancier in our club. He was gifted birds from club members and the club purchased an ETS system for him.

[Diamond Dave]

Dont want to detract from the thread and I estimated that my basic costs were about £800. That would be general running costs without taking fuel into account for going to the club etc.
- just wondering what others might be, especially for those that dont race.......

[Devo1956]

Before i had to pack in the sport, I would base my cost on £50 per week on my breeding lofts, that was for my breeders and youngsters bred. That was with no racing at my lofts, just breeding.
That did not include sending to OLR, that was at different costs.

[Andy]

Your estimate at £800 Dave is only just £2.19/day, or £15.34/week. I would think mine if including club membership, racing fees, food, rings, ETS rings, etc for my loft of 40 old birds, including stock birds, plus 25/30 youngsters would be around £25/week allowing for 22 weeks of racing. So probably around £1300/yr. Again not allowing for fuel. Still think it’s a reasonable price to pay for what we get out of it and still cheaper than a lot of other things.