who would donate me a pair of racing pigeons to breed?

[2000mustangmia]

I will like a good pair of racing pigeons to breed and start with good birds,I dont find any good racing pigeons here in Miami, I dont know any breeder here. I would love to get a good pair of breeders from someone. Thanks..If I have to pay something I will.

[Grim]

We used to have an active member in Miami.

[Reti]

Originally Posted by 2000mustangmia

I will like a good pair of racing pigeons to breed and start with good birds,I dont find any good racing pigeons here in Miami, I dont know any breeder here. I would love to get a good pair of breeders from someone. Thanks..If I have to pay something I will.

Let me put you in contact with the Center, if you like. They have beautiful pigeons, mostly lost racers and homers. They are looking for people to adopt them out. They have around 20-30, so you have what to choose from.

Reti

[2000mustangmia]

I would love to get some good breeders but I don't know anyone here in Miami that breeds racing pigeons,I know people that have pigeons but not racing.

[2000mustangmia]

Thanks Reti. My only concern is that I want to get good pairs of breeders to start and I don't know from where they came from. I want to get into this seriously not just as a hobby. Thanks..

[MaryOfExeter]

Have you considered shipping?
It's better to try and get birds from winners in your area's club, but a lot of times the good birds you want are far enough to ship. It's safer than it seems, but the cost is probably something you wouldn't want to deal with.
If you don't have any pigeons yet, I'd go ahead and check out the ones for adoption. You can tell which are the racers from the bands they might have [plus looks], and at least breeding from them will give you something to fly and get experience with while you try to find better birds. You never know, there might be champion blood waiting to get adopted

[Lovebirds]

Well, here's how this goes for the most part. If you want someone to donate or give you or sell to you cheap, a pair of pigeons, I expect you'll get what you pay for (or don't pay for) . If you want to get into "this" serious, then go on line and find you what appears to you to be a good source, spend the bucks and get some "good" pigeons.
Now, having said that, my best breeder cock is a "lost" racing pigeon that I know nothing about. I've had him since he got lost as a youngster in 2000 in Michigan. Just because a race bird gets lost doesn't mean it worthless and just because you "know" where the bird came from doesn't make it priceless. I also am breeding out of another "lost" bird that I picked up last year. I don't know much about it, but I do know that someone paid $100 just for the band that on it's leg so someone somewhere thought pretty highly of this bird. However, when the bird got "lost" they didn't want it anymore. Of course I hope I've found another "good" bird. Time will tell.
I'm certainly not telling you to fill your loft with lost birds. But, you ask for someone to donate you a pair, then someone offers you a possible source where you might find some decent, even maybe good birds and you turn them down.

[2000mustangmia]

Im sorry,I think you understood wrong.I never said I would not addopt birds,I only said I would like to get good breeders.im sorry if I said it wrong or something.its not the first time I have racing pigeons,since I was 7 years old I was into this.it runs in the family,my grandfather used to race pigeons and then my uncle.this was back in Cuba. I don't know much about racing pigeons here in usa.what would I look for in the bands if I go to addopt some pairs? Also if I woud buy good breeding pairs how much would they be?I don't wan the best,but something good.sorry one more time.

[Lovebirds]

You don't need to apologize.
As far as the bands, the racing pigeons here in the US have either IF band, AU bands or sometimes CU bands. There are also quite a few bands from Cuba on birds found down in Florida. I believe they take them out on a boat and release them and some of them wind up on the Florida coast. It may be worth your time to go check out the ones Reti told you about.
You know, last year my IF Champion bird flew from Alabama to Indiana.........she was SUPPOSED to be flying to Virginia. Even the good ones muck up once in a while and there's so many fanciers out there that won't give a "lost" bird the time of day.

AU stands for American Racing Pigeon Union
IF stands for International Federation of Homing Pigeon Fanciers
CU stands for Canadian Racing Pigeon Union

[LokotaLoft]

and just a quick note on lost birds..some lofts were founded on these so called lost birds .. I have heard so many storys of people finding birds and they turn out to be better then anything in their own loft or at least when mated to their birds they turn out racing champion offspring ... so you never know whats lurking behind those little lost faces behind bars ,just give them a chance you might be surprised

[2000mustangmia]

thanks to all of you.I will see what I do. If any of you want to donate me some birds they are more than welcome.thanks.

[parrisc]

go to http://www.pigeon.org/ and join the ARPU. If you are going to be serious racer you will be joing anyways. Ask them to send you the year book and in the back you will find "flyers" right there in Miami. Find one that wants to part with there old pairs. Before long you will have a loft full. Most will supply you with Young birds to fly this year. Good luck

[Grim]

I actually have a bird now that is from Miami. She was found here in central Florida. The owners name is Carlos. He did not want the bird back but there is a club near you and you should get in contact with them. I am sure they have birds for new members to help them out.

http://www.schepigeonclub.com/index.html

There ya go the bird I found came from that club. Call them up and see if they can help. Keep us updated on your progress.

[2000mustangmia]

thank you Grim. I just send them an email I hope I get an answer back ASAP. That will be great if they can help me. Thanks to all of you.

[2000mustangmia]

this was when I was 7 years old, in Cuba.