UkPigeonRacing

Hello everyone thank you for accepting my request to join, I've had quick look around the site and thought it very helpful, so i felt comfortable posting this.

I'm a complete novice in the sense of pigeons but i used to be a Gamekeeper on the Grouse and on the rearing field and i am currently a Livestock Farmer. So i would like to this i have the animal husbandry side of things or at least some know how etc.

i would really like to get in to racing, from what i have read (and i might be wrong) I think sprints would suit me with my current life style etc.
I have the space for a 10ftx8ftx7ft loft south east facing and out the prevailing wind. I'm good with DIY so i wil build this my self through the summer and winter months with the idea of getting some young stock in 2027 for the Young bird races in July.

Now when i say i am a novice i mean i am a complete novice and i am going to fire some questions out that might sound utter stupid but i just don't know and i am curious. first of all there is a man at the bottom of my road that i think races pigeons or at least he has 3 lofts that i haven't gone to see as i am hoping you lot will help me first before approach him.

Whats the best set up to be having? what is a cock and hen loft?
How many birds is a good idea in my set up?
what are all these fancy bloodlines about? do i need them?
Can i race out a small loft like that for sprints?
Do i need to train them every day? i work a lot. how ever i do have 3 young boys that are keen once i show them the ropes.
Where is the best place to source some stock?


I am sure more will pop up and i am grateful for any advice given. I am based just outside Holmfirth Huddersfield

Thank you

Welcome to the forum, just ask away any questions I'm sure the sprint guy's on the forum will help you & make your life in racing pigeons a lot easier. You just need to take onboard what they will tell you as this will probably move you forward quicker & not make I hope to many mistakes.

Hi and welcome to the site, I will let others with a lot more knowledge than me give you advice, as you have seen some of the posts already you will see folks are only to happy to help where they can, only advice I will give is no there is no such thing as a ''stupid question'' others will say the same, we all have to start somewhere so feel free and ask away

Hello and welcome mate. Like several others on this site I dont have the experience to offer any advice but all I can say is don't waste your time on any "public sites"
We are fortunate on this site to have some of the best fanciers in the country who are willing to give their advice freely in order to help ppl like you and me. You will progress to the podium very quickly if you heed their advice.

NeilA wrote: Mon May 11, 2026 5:06 am I think it you could build a loft with 3 compartments it would be a better as you can split your cocks ,hens and ybs
Most people race there pairs parted to make things easier particularly on sprint racing

I wouldn’t consider stock just ybs to race from 3 different fanciers racing a smaller team like you will be from distances you want to race
I would try to buy a good few from each maybe 10 off each
train them well and give them 3 or 4 races in the first yb season
You can then breed your yb team off these and go back to the fancier who’s birds performed best and add a few more for the next yb team if you require more

Thank you for that response.

Do you think I can make 3 compartments with a 10ft long shed will they be comfortable? How many could I keep in that? From what I've read it's saying around 30 so 15 pair.

Also slatted or clean for or shavings and lime?

Well done Neil great info for someone just starting.

Thank you for the replies. Sorry on my late response it's been a hectic week or so.
I have had a measure up and i can fit a 12ft loft by 7, it will be tight but the front will have loads of room for them to fly back to.

Going down to the local club this Friday so should pick up some good expertise there and hopefully someone can rear some birds for me next year.