Welcome to the fascinating world of pigeon racing
The Advertiser met up with avid pigeon racer Hannes Grove of the Boksburg Combined Racing Pigeon Club who was all too happy to educate our readers on the sport.
Among other topics related to the sport, Grove explained why pigeon racing is fun, the basics to being a successful racer and the passion shared among pigeon owners.
What is pigeon racing all about?
You normally have two lofts at home for your pigeons – a breeding loft and a racing loft. The racing loft is where you keep the pigeons you use to race. After the breeding process, we wean the newly-born pigeons at about 30 days and when they’re about 100 days old, we ‘toss’ them to get them accustomed to their surroundings. Just like humans, pigeons also have fitness levels. We train them and tossing them (into the air) is part of the training.
Any interesting fact about racing pigeons?
Pigeons don’t like flying in the dark and as singles. They always fly in a kit, which is the collective noun for a group of pigeons.
Take us through the pigeon racing season
Breeding normally takes place between October and January. We usually start training for the season in April. The season starts in the first week of June and runs until September. So it’s an all-year thing, really.
How do you know when a pigeon is fit enough for a race?
That’s a good question! If you toss it in the air and it just flies around its surroundings, then it’s not ready to race, but when you toss it and it flies away and disappears for a minimum of 30 minutes and returns, then it’s ready to race. A lot of detail goes into it – you have to check their feathers, you have to check their weight – if your pigeons are too fat, you won’t win. Then you get the extreme guys who would check their pigeons’ legs, feet, etc.
How do you know when a pigeon’s health is good?
Some of the signs of a healthy pigeon include shiny feathers, sparkling eyes (not watery) and a white nose.
What are the race distances?
The first race distance is normally 250km. Races can be as long as 870km.
You mentioned that pigeons don’t like flying in the dark, so how do they cope over very long distances?
They find a place to rest during the night and start off again in the early hours of the morning.
How do the pigeons know where to go?
Another good question. It’s yet to be known. That’s why it’s important to teach them their surroundings. Some say they use the sun, which makes sense because they can’t fly in the dark.
What do you need to be successful in the sport?
Good pigeons.
If you’re interested in joining the sport, where do you start?
You can visit auction sites, which are really helpful if you want to find places to buy pigeons. Each club is affiliated to a union. Our club is affiliated to the Gauteng Pigeon Union.
What do you feed your pigeons?
Normally maize, sunflower peas and a bit of wheat. Some pigeon owners import foods.
Where does the sport originate?
There’s no clear answer but Belgium is widely known as the founding country of the sport. China is currently enjoying big growth.
How many pigeons do you currently have?
80 racing birds and 20 stock birds.
How did you get into the sport?
My dad flew pigeons since I was small. It’s a very enjoyable sport. The loft calms you; it just has this calming effect. And, unlike most sports, you don’t go to the bar afterwards and get into trouble. You just have to wait for your pigeons to return home and that’s the most exciting part, actually seeing them come back home.
How is a winner determined?
All the birds are taken to the specific race point where they’re liberated and have to fly back to their respective lofts. They have electronic rings which are permanently attached to their legs.
The ring is in sync with the owner’s clock. So when the bird/s finally arrives at your loft, the owner would then take the time to his club where velocity is calculated. Whoever finishes with the highest velocity wins the race. – @SabeloBoksburg* The Boksburg Combined Pigeon Club meetings:
- During racing season, members meet on Thursdays and Saturdays from 6pm. On Thursdays they meet for basketing (allocating the birds for a race) and on Saturdays they meet to collect race results. Anyone interested in joining the club can contact Boksburg Combined Racing Pigeon Club chairman Billy Kitchenbrand on 082 804 9968. The club is situated on the corner of Du Plessis and Kruger streets, Boksburg East.
DID YOU KNOW?
* Pigeons are the oldest domesticated bird.
* They can fly up to a speed of 120 km/h.
* The average life expectancy of a pigeon is 15 years.
