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Re: Do you have a golden rule
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2026 9:33 am
by Devo1956
My Golden rule was to understand the sport you was entering, not like a game of football. Were you finish the game and go home or to the pub, then meet up through the week for training for the next game.
The racing pigeon sport is more demanding, i woukd say you are entering a 365-day sport. If you dont have the time to care for your racing pigeons. Well this sport is not for you, and that is being honest. So My
Golden rule, The sport is a 365 day sport, the health and the welfare is Paramount of the racing pigeons.
Re: Do you have a golden rule
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2026 10:25 am
by Tony-P-
Really good way of putting it Devo
Re: Do you have a golden rule
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2026 11:18 am
by Buster121
Devo1956 wrote: Thu Jul 16, 2026 9:33 am
My Golden rule was to understand the sport you was entering, not like a game of football. Were you finish the game and go home or to the pub, then meet up through the week for training for the next game.
The racing pigeon sport is more demanding, i woukd say you are entering a 365-day sport. If you dont have the time to care for your racing pigeons. Well this sport is not for you, and that is being honest. So My
Golden rule, The sport is a 365 day sport, the health and the welfare is Paramount of the racing pigeons.
So true mate
Re: Do you have a golden rule
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2026 9:35 am
by Murray
Devo1956 wrote: Thu Jul 16, 2026 9:33 am
My Golden rule was to understand the sport you was entering, not like a game of football. Were you finish the game and go home or to the pub, then meet up through the week for training for the next game.
The racing pigeon sport is more demanding, i woukd say you are entering a 365-day sport. If you dont have the time to care for your racing pigeons. Well this sport is not for you, and that is being honest. So My
Golden rule, The sport is a 365 day sport, the health and the welfare is Paramount of the racing pigeons.
I have to totally agree with you, Devo.
I'm programmed, ingrained, with getting up early to train horses. So I still wake up, get up and go and do the pigeons. I last stayed in bed when I got sick from the Covid vaccine, and that's years ago now.
I will give you that the pigeons go just as well if they don't get cared for until later. So long as they always get cared for later.
If you look in the lofts of top flyers, the birds look great and the management is spot on every month of the year.
Re: Do you have a golden rule
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2026 1:29 pm
by Tony-P-
Management is every thing as you know Murray, the birds can't feed themselves mate
But the many years you have been in the sport I bet you have it down to a fine Art
Re: Do you have a golden rule
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2026 10:57 pm
by Murray
You would be surprised, Tony, how little of an art my feeding is.
I feed a mixture that I make myself, it's nothing fancy, and every bird eats it's fill twice a day then the feed is taken away. If they are racing I might add few little 'extras', but I suspect it's probably just making me feel better as a rule.
This only my opinion but I think the feeding aspect is down the list.
I think first you need a good loft. Not a pigeon palace but an environment where pigeons can gain and maintain health and condition without needing to take recourse to the Medicine cupboard all the time.
Second you need good pigeons. Seems obvious but after many years of helping to hamper pigeons at clubs, I've found a lot of blokes simply do not know what a good pigeon looks or feels like. They spend huge amounts of money breeding, raising training and entering pigeons that are simply no good.
Third you need a system that works. It doesn't need to be someone else's system, just a system that works for you. If you are a heavier feeder and a harder trainer, that can work, if you are a lighter trainer and a lighter feeder, that can work too. What you are feeding is always less important than how you are feeding and what you are feeding it to.
Re: Do you have a golden rule
Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2026 8:10 am
by Andy
Murray wrote: Fri Jul 17, 2026 10:57 pm
You would be surprised, Tony, how little of an art my feeding is.
I feed a mixture that I make myself, it's nothing fancy, and every bird eats it's fill twice a day then the feed is taken away. If they are racing I might add few little 'extras', but I suspect it's probably just making me feel better as a rule.
This only my opinion but I think the feeding aspect is down the list.
I think first you need a good loft. Not a pigeon palace but an environment where pigeons can gain and maintain health and condition without needing to take recourse to the Medicine cupboard all the time.
Second you need good pigeons. Seems obvious but after many years of helping to hamper pigeons at clubs, I've found a lot of blokes simply do not know what a good pigeon looks or feels like. They spend huge amounts of money breeding, raising training and entering pigeons that are simply no good.
Third you need a system that works. It doesn't need to be someone else's system, just a system that works for you. If you are a heavier feeder and a harder trainer, that can work, if you are a lighter trainer and a lighter feeder, that can work too. What you are feeding is always less important than how you are feeding and what you are feeding it to.
All good points Murray. Too many fanciers think that feeding is essential. They will only take from the food, nutrients wise, what they need at the time. Too many go for medication thinking that this will give them the edge. Too many change things regularly trying to gain something. Keep things simple. Good sound corn, fresh water, a decent loft environment and good pigeons and a routine that works for you and your birds. You don’t need anything else. Don’t worry if you’re not top of the sheet. Many things determine the winner every week and most of that is down to the weather and loft location for the conditions on any given race. Just because you might be a bit off the pace one week doesn’t mean you need to change anything. Just enjoy your pigeons and you will get rewarded.
Re: Do you have a golden rule
Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2026 9:05 am
by Murray
You summed it up, Andy.
Although some people will tell you that pigeon racing needs to be complex and difficult, it really isn't. They are born with a mysterious little magnetic compass or something in their heads. All we have to do is keep them fit, healthy and happy, they will do the rest.
As I see it, there are two reasons why people will tell you that pigeon racing is hard.
1/ They are trying to prove that they are some sort of expert. My response to that is, if have to prove you are an expert, you aren't an expert.
2/ Profit. There are companies, both reputable and snake oil salesmen, who will suggest that you can buy success if you purchase and use their products. The established companies market quality products while some others are possibly a bit dodgy.
The premise is the same. You can buy success in a bottle. Or packet. You can't, but obviously enough people are convinced that you can that the businesses thrive.
Re: Do you have a golden rule
Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2026 9:52 am
by Tony-P-
Great feedback from both of you Murray and Andy on the birds and the management of them some good tips there fellas.