How do you train homing pigeons?

Question

and how can u tell one from a boy from a girl?

Answer 1

First - I suggest you go to the American Racing Pigeon Union site at: http://www.pigeon.org and ask them to send you a beginner's booklet that will explain a bit of what you're asking about. You can also check out

Second - you might like to check out this http://www.angelfire.com/ga3/pigeongenet...

and

http://www.angelfire.com/ga3/pigeongenet...

Question: How do I tell males from females? Answer: It's a harder question than you know. Trouble is, it's fairly easy to spot s*x differences in homer or roller type birds and a lot harder in some of the fancy show breeds - Basic differences are size; c***s are usually a bit larger and more robust; hens a bit finer, especially in the head. Best differences are behavioral or, occasionally, color, e.g., an ash-red (brick red) bird with any black flecking in the ashy color of the wings or tail is invariably a male. Birds without such black flecking may be either, but about 70% will be female just because of the breeding practices of most guys. Behavioral differences are easy to note once you've gotten to know your birds. c***s strut, coo and spread their tail into a full half moon shape and often turn a full circle when they do; females will swell their crops with some air but usually stand at a more upright angle (45 degrees or so) when they do it, as opposed to the **** who almost bows to the floor. In a mated pair, c***s sit on the nest from about 10 am to 5 pm; hens the rest of the time. c***s drink by sticking their beak in the water almost up to their eyes and gulping; hens - except when desperately thirsty ususally tend to drink by sticking on the first half of their beak in the water and almost sip it, as opposed to the ****'s gulp. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

You don't need to train homing pigeons, they will return to their loft after a fly. If you purchase an adult then you should not release it for around six weeks, if you let them out too early they will fly back to the place of purchase (if they have lived at the place of purchase long enough). Young that are born in the loft will return. They are very difficult to s*x, maybe someone else can answer that one! You can send a freshly plucked feather to a lab (ask your vet which one) and they will be able to tell you what s*x it is from the blood in the feather shaft.