So I guess I have a pigeon now?

[cavemanrich]

Every birds is it's own unique individual.

Perhaps it is common knowledge on this channel, but young bird season (when the current season's birds are raced) is late summer and fall, in the northern hemisphere.

Dave was exactly as you said, a wayward racer in his first year, still learning the ropes.

It is an unfortunate side effect of pigeons reproducing fairly easily, and a racing homer's entire purpose being to *come home*, preferably as rapidly as possible.... that those birds which fail to do so are often not greatly valued by the owner.

When I raced, I always wanted my birds back. However it isn't uncommon for people to have absolutely no interest their birds as soon as they decide to wander off.

It might appear heartless, as Dave clearly has personality. But consider a barnyard cross chicken or goose, or a hybridized pheasant. Those aren't typically what a good breeder is looking for, and putting them into the freezer is considered just fine in most cases.

I'm sorry that you didn't get a response from the Scottish racing union. They probably did notify the owner. However eating pigeons in the US it's a pretty niche thing these days, often looked down upon. I assume it isn't terribly different where your are. And the owner apparently didn't feel it worth the time to call you and tell you he didn't want the bird back.

I'm not saying this is a great place to be. And I was always anxious to get mine back. They were more pets than performance animals. Which probably explains why I didn't win races. But the older fellow who is going to be culling under performers anyway, faced with possibly talking to an animal rights activist, yeah. I'm sorry you didn't get more of a response, but I'm not terribly surprised.

Pigeons are one of my favorite birds, and I'm thrilled that you got to spend some time with Dave.

*edits because I can't spell

What you say here is soo 100% true.
I only kept pigeons as pets, and did tosses. Loft flying them daily. I have been around pigeon racer peeps. They took their looser's to the Butcher shop.
There was sizeable ca$h involved within the clubs on races.

 

[ChikaInu]

Every birds is it's own unique individual.

Perhaps it is common knowledge on this channel, but young bird season (when the current season's birds are raced) is late summer and fall, in the northern hemisphere.

Dave was exactly as you said, a wayward racer in his first year, still learning the ropes.

It is an unfortunate side effect of pigeons reproducing fairly easily, and a racing homer's entire purpose being to *come home*, preferably as rapidly as possible.... that those birds which fail to do so are often not greatly valued by the owner.

When I raced, I always wanted my birds back. However it isn't uncommon for people to have absolutely no interest their birds as soon as they decide to wander off.

It might appear heartless, as Dave clearly has personality. But consider a barnyard cross chicken or goose, or a hybridized pheasant. Those aren't typically what a good breeder is looking for, and putting them into the freezer is considered just fine in most cases.

I'm sorry that you didn't get a response from the Scottish racing union. They probably did notify the owner. However eating pigeons in the US it's a pretty niche thing these days, often looked down upon. I assume it isn't terribly different where your are. And the owner apparently didn't feel it worth the time to call you and tell you he didn't want the bird back.

I'm not saying this is a great place to be. And I was always anxious to get mine back. They were more pets than performance animals. Which probably explains why I didn't win races. But the older fellow who is going to be culling under performers anyway, faced with possibly talking to an animal rights activist, yeah. I'm sorry you didn't get more of a response, but I'm not terribly surprised.

Pigeons are one of my favorite birds, and I'm thrilled that you got to spend some time with Dave.

*edits because I can't spell

Of course they are! <3

I wasn't aware of the seasons of racing but we used to get one or two staying over at the stable during summer - but that would only be a day or two. Sometimes we'd call the SSPCA to come pick them up as they weren't safe from the cats.

It's tricky. I know it can be a really cut throat sport and that's a shame in a way. I don't feel it's frowned upon to eat pigeon over here, but at the same time racing pigeons are so tiny compared to a hefty forest one that people normally shoot.


I do feel like Dave wasn't just a sporting pigeon, he must have been someones pet considering how very tame he was. I could call him, hold him, pick him upp, put him on other people for photos... a perfect star really! I can only hope he got himself home. <3

 

[Zenmonkey]

I wasn't aware of the seasons of racing but we used to get one or two staying over at the stable during summer - but that would only be a day or two.

As far as I know, the UK keeps roughly the same racing schedule as the US. The behavior you describe, staying a day or two then moving on, is very common for a bird that's temporarily lost its bearings or maybe was raced in sub optimal condition. They rest a day or two, build some strength, reorient, then fly home.

I don't feel it's frowned upon to eat pigeon over here, but at the same time racing pigeons are so tiny compared to a hefty forest one that people normally shoot.

I've been tempted to try them from time to time. I know some communities still favor them, but I don't know anyone personally whose eaten one.

I'm a touch confused though. The barn pigeons I've rescued are smaller and softer feathered than any racer I've seen. This hefty forest bird, it is also a domestic / feral pigeon?

I do feel like Dave wasn't just a sporting pigeon, he must have been someones pet considering how very tame he was. I could call him, hold him, pick him upp, put him on other people for photos... a perfect star really! I can only hope he got himself home. <3

This seems logical to me as well. There's a wide range of behavior in racing pigeons, some of which is bred for, but a lot of it is how the owner handled them. Dave definitely sounds as though he was accustomed to being treated like a pet.

 

[ChikaInu]

As far as I know, the UK keeps roughly the same racing schedule as the US. The behavior you describe, staying a day or two then moving on, is very common for a bird that's temporarily lost its bearings or maybe was raced in sub optimal condition. They rest a day or two, build some strength, reorient, then fly home.


I've been tempted to try them from time to time. I know some communities still favor them, but I don't know anyone personally whose eaten one.

I'm a touch confused though. The barn pigeons I've rescued are smaller and softer feathered than any racer I've seen. This hefty forest bird, it is also a domestic / feral pigeon?


This seems logical to me as well. There's a wide range of behavior in racing pigeons, some of which is bred for, but a lot of it is how the owner handled them. Dave definitely sounds as though he was accustomed to being treated like a pet.

Yes, that's what I've always seen in the past. On one or two occasions they have been attacked by a buzzard or other bird of prey and might be relucant to take off as well.

Oh wow, here it is a delicacy, though not common in every mans household so to speak... but again when bying pigeon from the butchers or from a stall it is not racing pigeons. If people eat racers at all I imagine the owners put them in their own freezers.
The forest pigeon (the proper English name is "wood pigeon", I had to google!) is a feral pigeon, though it is everywhere in peoples gardens both here in the UK and in my native Sweden. They are lovely, round birds and quite a bit heavier than the domesticated kind so it makes more sense to hunt them for meat.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_wood_pigeon

Yeah, he really was a delight! If I lived a bit more rural I would absolutely consider a couple of pet pigeons.