Young Bird Hoppers

Hoppers are for pigs and maybe chickens, but not for pigeons. It's all right to feed your youngsters in hoppers to keep the grain off the floor and then remove the hopper as soon as they are fed, but to keep food in a hopper in front of them at all times is ridiculous. Racing pigeons must be conditioned (mentally and physically) for the races and kept under control.

Taken from Widowhood Flying

by Mark Gordon

Cold Rain

You do more harm than good by exercising your birds in a cold rain.

Taken from Widowhood Flying

by Mark Gordon

Twenty words or less TCC Loft Series

High Humidity

Humidity greater than 65% during the evening rest period is a major cause of stress. Essentially, the loft must provide a dry atmosphere without being dusty, while at the same time provide sufficient ventilation without exposing the birds to extremes of temperature and humidity. High humidity, apart from being stressful in itself, means that the droppings do not dry out overnight and, unless strict hygiene is applied, this provides an ideal environment for problems such as E. Coli and Coccidia.

Taken from the Flying Vet's Pigeon Health & Management

by Dr Colin Walker

Change in Weather

A sudden change in weather will throw birds off form quicker than anything, ensure corrections are made in the loft.

Taken from Widowhood Flying

by Mark Gordon

Twenty words or less TCC Loft series

Heat & Sun

Heat and sun are great helps for bringing on form. Give them all the sun they can get. I have never seen a pigeon move out of the sun into a shady spot.

Taken from Widowhood Flying

by Mark Gordon

Pedigree Conscious

We, in the English speaking world, are too pedigree conscious. We are too inclined to pay more attention to the pedigree than to the pigeon.

Taken from Widowhood Flying

by Mark Gordon

Twenty words or less TCC Loft series (the extra words are worth reading again)

When to Feed Protein

Now, what are proteins? What are carbohydrates? To be brief and simple, and not too technical, proteins build, carbohydrates provide energy. Applied to pigeons therefore, when they moult, when they grow (youngsters) or when they feed growing youngsters, they must have protein. But when they work they must have energy and therefore require carbohydrates.

Taken from Widowhood Flying

by Mark Gordon

Change their Matings

If you have tried four to five youngsters from a pair and they have shown little, change their matings.

Taken from Widowhood Flying

by Mark Gordon

Twenty words or less TCC Loft series

A Good & Complete Moult

Pigeons having a good and complete moult keep their good health in general and come into form in an easier way. They glide through the air with a  minimum of resistance and do not bother about rain, fog, or unfavourable atmospheric conditions.

Taken from The Practical Side of Pigeon Racing

by Leon Petit

May 1952

Complete Rest

During the moulting period it is important that the birds should have a complete rest, which does not mean that they should be deprived of their liberty.

Taken from The Practical Side of Pigeon Racing

by Leon Petit

May 1952