The Importance of the Intestinal Lining

[king]

What are members thoughts

A free roaming pigeon, has the freedom to choose the best environment in which to live. It can move from one place to another until it finds the proper shelter, with the correct amount of ventilation, dryness, and light. These birds are not forced to eat in the same area as where they live. If a particular perch does not suit them, they have the option of finding more suitable housing.
None of these options are available to housed racing pigeons, the fancier makes all these decisions for better or for worse, and we should not call the environments we create for our birds as natural. Therefore, the birds are not building natural immunity. At best, our birds are housed in an artificial environment and their immune systems must try to adapt to the results of this imposed environment.
Now, I am not saying that our race birds are less healthy than wild type pigeons, but I am saying that the methods many fanciers use to maintain health can end up damaging the racing ability of their birds without the fancier even being aware of that damage.
If pathogens like coccidiosis and e coli are allowed to colonize your bird's digestive tract, you might succeed in “weeding out” those birds which are unable to overcome this challenge, but at the same time, you allow damage to the intestinal villi which will be irreversible. It is true, that a fancier may end up with birds better able to survive the challenges of this artificial environmental test, but the birds may also be diminished in their capacity to race at their full potential.

On the other extreme, you have fanciers that allow outbreaks of pathogens to run unfettered through their YB sections, thinking that the birds must build natural immunity to these pathogens. Unfortunately, there is little that is natural about keeping racing pigeons.

A racing pigeon IS FREE TO ROAM. It can live wherever IT chooses. MANY THOUSANDS EVERY YEAR do make that choice.

[king]

Yes true King, but is it because it was not healthy enough when sent to a race or training. I know you can loose youngsters from your home.

Whilst health may play a part in some, good pigeons go missing also. And a fancier has to be a little naive thinking that good birds that fail to return are all dead.
Health plays a major part in winning races, but not in homing ability. Street birds fly many miles and they will have health issues. Strays can be taken many miles yet return often in very good time despite not being 100% fit.

[king]

Whilst health may play a part in some, good pigeons go missing also. And a fancier has to be a little naive thinking that good birds that fail to return are all dead.
Health plays a major part in winning races, but not in homing ability. Street birds fly many miles and they will have health issues. Strays can be taken many miles yet return often in very good time despite not being 100% fit.

I'm a bit confused by this statement Dave.

So, lets say someone has a "good pigeon" and it goes missing. You're suggesting that not all those that are missing are dead.

Are you suggesting then that one day the pigeon just thinks "Ah sod it. I'm not going home I'm going to Bristol City Centre to live on scraps of chips instead"

I'm more inclined to think that good birds that don't return home are indeed the victim of "something" that has stopped them returning - whether it be BoP, wires, shooting etc..

Hi Mike I'm not talking about a champion going missing, as you are right it probably will have met with something that has prevented it returning. But the countless pigeons many fanciers believe are good pigeons. I've met many fanciers that believe all their birds are good. I've visited many places over the years and seen rung birds living quite happy where they were. I recall a member on chat believing his lost YBs must be in others lofts as he was not getting any reported.

[Buster121]

As I said above, I am certain some of them have one too many races and give up.
When I was a jockey, especially many years ago when you were allowed to really hammer them, I rode some young horses in punishing finishes on heavy ground, and they would never try again.
Youngsters that have had a lot of training tosses and sent to the races every week, then had a bad fright with hawk or something, I believe they can just reach the point where they go, "Sod this".

Agree fully

[king]

I can accept that there are "racers" living in various Town Centres. Like you I've seen them knocking about on my travels throughout the UK (including York 2 weekends ago )

Question is why do they end up there?

Pigeons have an inbuilt homing instinct, so they know where home is

I'm sure pigeons have the ability to 'switch off' & 'switch on'. How many fanciers have had strays return to them when they have released them many miles away? Pigeons picked up in gardens often return to the same garden if taken away from that location. I've had strays return when liberated at a race point very close to where they are from only for them to return to me. It's like the bird 'fixes' a new location in its head, and only then resets to it's original home location when it's fit enough to make that journey to its home loft.
Maybe those birds living wild just fix a new location and don't or can't switch back?
I once bought in 6 YBS that were much too old. As I was putting them in the loft one bird flew out over my head, and away. The bird had been in the loft for just a few seconds. 2 years later the bird returned sporting a rubber!
Whilst fanciers have always lost birds, I believe the homing ability in our birds isn't as strong as it used to be. Many like to blame modern technology for the increased losses, but can't explain why only some birds are effected? Hawks are a huge problem, but the birds that are just scattered and not injured should still return as the birds that are often attacked and have injuries often get home.