Racing pigeon in my kitchen
Discussion
Sat in the middle of the floor, lucky the dog didn't get it.
Phoned the owner via the ring, had escaped from his loft in Canterbury the day before, I am In Bristol.
He is sending a courier to collect on Wednesday.
Pigeon currently residing in my garden shed and crapping all over the lawnmower.
Anyone else had racing pigeons drop in?
Phoned the owner via the ring, had escaped from his loft in Canterbury the day before, I am In Bristol.
He is sending a courier to collect on Wednesday.
Pigeon currently residing in my garden shed and crapping all over the lawnmower.
Anyone else had racing pigeons drop in?
Yes, we had one about seven years ago. Fed it, managed to catch it eventually, and popped it in a large dog transit cage. Phoned the Royal Pigeon Racing Association with the ring number to ask advice, and gave my contact details so that the owner could contact me.
The owner eventually called. It turned out he lived about sixty miles away from me, and the pigeon had been released somewhere in Europe, and had failed to make it home. He couldn't get to me for three or four days, so he asked me to look after it. I made sure it was well fed on suitable food, and had access to water, and cleaned the cage regularly.
When the owner turned up, and I handed it over, I didn't get so much as a thank you. All he said was that it looked a bit thin (I think it had flown around 200 miles), turned on his heel, and left.
The owner eventually called. It turned out he lived about sixty miles away from me, and the pigeon had been released somewhere in Europe, and had failed to make it home. He couldn't get to me for three or four days, so he asked me to look after it. I made sure it was well fed on suitable food, and had access to water, and cleaned the cage regularly.
When the owner turned up, and I handed it over, I didn't get so much as a thank you. All he said was that it looked a bit thin (I think it had flown around 200 miles), turned on his heel, and left.
I found a 6 year old racing pigeon who had been shot in the wing by a kid with a catapult. This is what she looked like when we found her.
And this is what she looks like now.
Never traced the owner - whilst some want them back, many either don't care or will cull them, as a racing pigeon with a poor sense of direction isn't much use to them. Perry, as we now call her, lives in a cage in our back garden and flies perfectly fine despite her previous injury. We got her a mate called Percy - despite the size difference they get along very well.
And this is what she looks like now.
Never traced the owner - whilst some want them back, many either don't care or will cull them, as a racing pigeon with a poor sense of direction isn't much use to them. Perry, as we now call her, lives in a cage in our back garden and flies perfectly fine despite her previous injury. We got her a mate called Percy - despite the size difference they get along very well.
Roofless Toothless said:
If the thing can't find it's way home better than that, I'm surprised the owner wants it back.
It's fascinating. Owner just said 'Oh, that's where he went then. I'll send a courier'. Apparently he'll do 600 miles in a race.Funnily enough they release pigeons regularly on a common near our house. I asked the chap where they were going. 'Portsmouth'.
'How long will that take?'
'About an hour, depending on the wind'.
Geekman said:
I found a 6 year old racing pigeon who had been shot in the wing by a kid with a catapult. This is what she looked like when we found her.
And this is what she looks like now.
Never traced the owner - whilst some want them back, many either don't care or will cull them, as a racing pigeon with a poor sense of direction isn't much use to them. Perry, as we now call her, lives in a cage in our back garden and flies perfectly fine despite her previous injury. We got her a mate called Percy - despite the size difference they get along very well.
Looks like she had something tangled around her foot too?And this is what she looks like now.
Never traced the owner - whilst some want them back, many either don't care or will cull them, as a racing pigeon with a poor sense of direction isn't much use to them. Perry, as we now call her, lives in a cage in our back garden and flies perfectly fine despite her previous injury. We got her a mate called Percy - despite the size difference they get along very well.
Fair play to you for getting her well and giving her a home and mate. Nice story
moorx said:
Looks like she had something tangled around her foot too?
Fair play to you for getting her well and giving her a home and mate. Nice story
Thanks! Yes, she had string tangled around her foot and it was all swollen. She lost one toe and the other is a bit bent, but she walks and perches fine. I reckon she had been lost for quite a while before we found her. She was a bit nervous at first but is very friendly now, particularly if you approach with a handful of peanuts. Fair play to you for getting her well and giving her a home and mate. Nice story
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