How do I find this racing homers old home??

[pigeon_16]

I have this racing homer, my friend caught him for me at her grandmothers barn. She thought he was just another wild pigeon, but he had a leg band, so we knew he was someones. I have had him for about 1/2 a year now, and he has setteled in, found not one, not two, but 3 mates (and they all 4 sleep in one nestbox?!) and has been happy making little ones, he has a 6 day old one right now. So I have his band number, how do I find out who he belinged to? Is there a way to do that just by the band? I do not want to give him up, but I would like to know where he came from and some more information about him!
Thanks!


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.::€MÅNDY€::.

[TAWhatley]

You can go to http://www.pigeon.org and then click on the Bandlist Info link on the left. Read the first section for general information on the different band designations. If you have an AU band you can then check the lists at this site or use the contact information for the other major pigeon organizations to try to find the origin of your bird.

Terry Whatley

[raynjudy]

Start here: http://www.pigeon.org/. Click on "AU Bandlist Info". Then read, "Reading The Bands", to learn their system. Next, scan "AU Band Listings", to locate your HIGHLY alpha-male!

Good Luck!

PIGEONS FOREVER!!!

--Ray

[girligirl]

What is the band number? I can look it up in the AU directory.
Meg

[pigeon_16]

Ok, thank you everyone! I found his old owner, but his e-mail is not valid, it no longer exsists. So he has an address and a phone number, he is in gresham oregon, its about oh an hour from where I live, probley more. so I will keep you updated. At the moment i am in NO STATE to give this bird up, he is my favorite bird! but would it be wrong to keep him, if the guy wants him back? Thanks!

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.::€MÅNDY€::.

[raynjudy]

Mandy writes, in part, "but would it be wrong to keep him, if the guy wants him back? Thanks!"

This is a tough call. The sad fact is, some--some not all--racers systematically cull/kill a "failed" racer.

A friend of mine uses guile. She will ask if the previous owner would like to pay vet bills and boarding, in exchange for the pigeon. At any rate, she feels them out...

It is way cool, what you did, taking this little one in!

What a joy to share a planet with you!

Check your e-mail...

PIGEONS FOREVER!!!

--Ray

[joann woodring]

Cool! If a life isn't worth money ....

[pigeon_16]

well, ok I am going to call the guy, mabey I can buy some more birds from him, they seem like great birds. Do they kill unsucsessful racers? He comes from Gresham Oregon, I caught him in Lebanon Oregon. Quite a ways away. I caught him in a barn he was just chilling with all the ferrals, so anyway, I am still debating... but his baby is doing great.. I hope it will look like him!

[WhiteWingsCa]

Originally posted by pigeon_16:
..... Do they kill unsucsessful racers?

Unfortunately, yes, some racing lofts kill (cull) any "unsuccessful" racers .... and any that return after the day of the race.

But I would like to point out....not ALL racing lofts do this. Case in point....our loft. We have numerous birds who have never done well in a race. Or returned days/weeks/months later. They are still here...still fed, housed, loved. We simply don't allow them to raise babies of their own...they "foster" babies from other birds for us.

That was a good idea that someone mentioned....ask him if he's willing to pay the vet/boarding bills....if he really wants the bird for breeding, he will (I would). If he just intends to kill it, he'll tell you to keep it. Personally, I would like to be notified if someone found one of our birds...and then, if it was one we didn't want for breeding, and the person wanted it, we would at least know the bird had a good home somewhere. We're missing one of our good birds right now....she escaped from a loft she'd been "lent" to for fostering....I can only hope that someone kind like you has taken her in, and she's warm and fed and happy.