This edition of Pigeon Ponderings is brought to you by the Arizona Pigeon Club in cooperation with Gary Miller. Gary has been raising, racing & showing pigeons for many years. He's always ready to help others in the fancy / sport and his advice is sought and appreciated by many. Gary is currently the Show Secretary for the Arizona Pigeon Club. We want to express our appreciation to Gary for his contribution to our web pages.

Are Pigeons Right For You? Before getting any pigeons, carefully consider the following things: Why do you want to raise pigeons? Is it for your enjoyment or are there other reasons that have aroused your interest? Are the other members of your family agreeable to your plans? Are you able to afford the expense? (It's not only the pigeons themselves that can be costly; consider also the cost of building a loft, the feed, and the occasional visit to the veterinarian.) Do you want to keep and breed pigeons for exhibition and competition? Are you knowledgeable enough to enter such competitions? Can you handle the disappointment of failing to win a prize? Do you want to concentrate on a certain breed, or would you prefer to have a variety of breeds? Do you have room to keep pigeons (spacious loft, large garden)? If you want to keep free-flying pigeons, will your neighbors accept seeing your birds flying around possibly landing on their roofs? Damage caused by your pigeons may not be confined to your own property but may also affect your neighbors. And remember that no one will be pleased to find droppings on their patios! (It might be wise to share your plans with your neighbors and discuss possible drawbacks----as well as possible enjoyment. It is better to have cooperation in the beginning than to have problems later.) Last, but not least, do you have the time each day to care for your birds? When you return home from work or school, you will have to feed and water your birds and clean the loft. Can you still do this after the first enthusiasm has passed? Have you thought about how you can arrange care for your birds while you're away or on vacation? Never lightly take up a hobby such as pigeon raising. Think carefully about all aspects of the commitment and discuss them with every member of your family. Taking care of an animal is a full time job, not to be taken lightly.

Send your comments about this article or other pigeon related subjects to: Gary Miller.

Pigeon Ponderings Past Issues: External Parasites - Layne Gardner.