The Pigeon (Columbia livia) is also known as the Rock Pigeon or sometimes the Coral Pigeon. Most Coral Pigeons are found in big cities, usually pecking food scraps on sidewalks. The Coral Pigeon was originally found in Europe, North Africa and western Asia and brought to Indonesia by foreign traders. The Coral Pigeon has a fascinating history; domesticated more than 5,000 years ago, this bird is used to deliver messages from one place to another because this bird has an innate ability to find its way home. The Reef Pigeon was even used in World Wars I and II to send messages between members of the US Army. People still continue to train the Coral Pigeon to carry messages and race races.
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Method 1 of 3: Selecting and Caring for a Postal Pigeon (Coral)
Step 1. Decide how much money you are willing to spend
You have to buy a high quality bird, but it must be adjusted to your financial capabilities as well. It's a good idea to buy several pairs of birds that are better quality than buying a large number of birds, but of lower quality. You should buy pigeons in pairs, unless you are buying very specific pigeons of a particular breed.
- If you are buying a pigeon for a race, make a performance-based decision before considering anything else. This includes the performance of the particular pigeon you purchased, the performance of that bird's lineage, or even the performance of the breed.
- If you're buying a pigeon for an exhibition, or just want a really beautiful dove, you'll need to make a decision based on its appearance or shape before buying. In the exhibition, judges determine the winning pigeon based on a list of certain physical characteristics.
- The price of carrier pigeons can range from hundreds of thousands to millions of rupiah, depending on pedigree and race.
- Please keep in mind that in addition to spending money on pigeons, you will also have to pay for shipping. It is usually quite expensive to ship live animals, depending on where you buy them from.
Step 2. Build the pigeon house before the birds arrive
Pigeons will need shelter once the birds get to you. So, be prepared. Pigeon houses are called lofts and can come in a variety of sizes and shapes. You can build the cage yourself, hire a handyman to build it for you, or order a ready-made one. Each pair of pigeons takes up approximately 0.23-0.28 cubic meters of space in the cage. So, the space in the cage may determine the maximum number of pigeons you can have.
- Some of the most important things to remember about pigeon cages are that the cage should: protect the pigeons from predators (including the cats around you), have a protected indoor and outdoor space for the birds, have a good ventilation system, and have additional space for feeding areas. and equipment (you don't want to keep these things outside). If you want to breed pigeons, you will need to separate separate rooms for these birds and their chicks later.
- The aviary should be placed in an open area that is free of obstructions. Remember, pigeons will fly, so cables, trees, power lines, and so on can be a hindrance to pigeons when you try to train them.
- Racing pigeon cages should be designed so that birds do not spend most of their time perched on roofs. This means that the roof should be flat, if possible, or you can install bird spikes to help prevent pigeons from landing there.
Step 3. Find a pigeon breeder or seller and place an order
Pigeon breeders or sellers are scattered all over the world. If you're concerned about high shipping costs, find a local breeder or one as close to where you live as possible. If money is not an issue, you can choose a breeder based on the performance and pedigree of the pigeons.
- Most breeders give their pigeons a ring (band) when they are young so you don't have to do it again once the pigeons get to you.
- Ask your local pigeon club for recommendations if you are unsure of the breeder's reputation.
Step 4. Introduce the pigeon to its new home
If this is your first pigeon, you can get the pigeons straight into the cage without any problems. However, if these are additional pigeons to your collection, they should be kept in separate cages for several weeks.
Step 5. Take good care of the pigeons
Pigeons need clean water every day. Food should be finished within 15-20 minutes after you serve it. After 15-20 minutes, remove any uneaten remains. Pigeons also need to eat fine gravel which can help them get vitamins and minerals, and help the digestive process. You should feed the pigeons (using the 15-20 minute technique) twice a day.
- Remember to clean the cage regularly, especially the floor.
- Look for an online store that specializes in pigeon care items or supplies, such as pigeon.org. Take advantage of their level of experience if you're just getting started in the world of pigeons.
- Pigeons need more protein when breeding, but when racing pigeons will need more energy (fats and carbohydrates). The amount of protein in food should be listed on the packaging. In the breeding season you should feed a crude protein mixture of about 16-18%. In race or training season you should be feeding a crude protein mixture of around 14-15%. When the pigeons molt, at the end of the season, you can feed the pigeons another 16% crude protein mix.
- Although veterinarians learn to care for pigeons as part of their education, not all veterinarians are willing to treat pigeons on a regular basis. If you have a vet you can trust, and they feel confident they can handle your pigeon, that's great. If not, ask for a recommendation or referral to a veterinarian in your area who specializes in birds. You can also seek referrals from your local racing pigeon club, or pigeon rescue organization.
Method 2 of 3: Training a Post Pigeon (Coral)
Step 1. Begin the training program once the pigeons are 6 weeks old
At 6 weeks of age you can help the pigeons figure out the trapdoor in the cage. Trap doors are designed to allow pigeons into the cage at any time, but you can install trapdoors that only let pigeons out if you allow them. This trapdoor may be confusing to the pigeons at first, so you may have to help the birds get in and out first.
- It may be helpful to schedule your training so that there is something in particular to do each day. Training requires dedication on your part, so knowing what to prepare each day will help the training program run consistently. The training schedule should allow for training at least once a day, and the method or distance being trained should be changed once a week. For example: every day during week 1 train the pigeons to enter and exit the trapdoor; daily for week 2 train the pigeons to return to the cage from a distance of 1.6 km; etc.
- Read pigeon club blogs, especially blogs written by clubs in the same geographic area as you. Local blogs will provide advice on things related to the specific geography and climate of your area.
Step 2. Make sure the pigeons are incentivized after returning to the coop
Delicious food, a comfortable living space and being treated like a king will make the pigeons want to go home. Provide food and shelter of the highest quality within your means.
Step 3. Begin training the pigeons to return home after being released
This part of the training can be started when the pigeons are between 6 and 8 weeks old. Start by bringing the pigeons 1.6 km from home and releasing them. Do this exercise several times a week.
Use a cage or basket to carry the pigeons to the release location
Step 4. Extend the training distance by 8 km per week
Each week increase the distance from the house to the pigeon release location, and each time releasing the pigeons do it from a different direction.
- Don't add distance too far and too fast. If the pigeon has trouble, don't add distance just yet and continue training the pigeon from the last distance it managed.
- Some of the furthest pigeon races require the pigeons to fly several hundred kilometers in a single flight. This is the maximum distance from home that you should train your pigeons with, but don't try this distance until the pigeons are able to come home from closer distances, from either direction, on a consistent basis.
Step 5. Be aware of possible bird loss
Losing birds is unfortunate, but common. If you lose a bird, temporarily reduce the distance and frequency of exercise. For example, if you train your pigeons at a distance of 16 km, reduce it to another 8 km for a few weeks.
- In some countries, pigeon clubs usually have a process for reporting missing birds and you can take advantage of that if it happens to you. People who find missing birds can report the birds (using a toe ring) on the website they manage. That way, you can contact the person who found it and arrange the repatriation of your bird.
- Some pigeons just get tired on the way home and need some time to rest. While the bird is usually able to return to the cage within a day, it may take a few days for the pigeon to return to the cage if he stops to rest.
Step 6. Make a second "home" for the pigeons
In addition to training your pigeons to return to the cage, you can train your pigeons to fly between two cage locations (perhaps between your home and your rest house, or your house and a friend's house, and so on). Feed the pigeons at both cage locations periodically, to incentivize the pigeons to return to each cage. If in one cage and hungry, the pigeon will fly to the other cage to find food.
Method 3 of 3: Contest for Pigeons (Coral)
Step 1. Find a local pigeon racing club and join it
In the United States pigeon competitions are often held and the American Racing Pigeon Union (ARPU) is the national organization for pigeon competitions. They have hundreds of affiliate clubs all over America. Most carrier pigeons purchased from breeders in America are equipped with ARPU rings. The Indonesian Postal Pigeon Sports Association (POMSI) is a non-profit organization that facilitates the gathering of carrier pigeon clubs in Indonesia. POMSI has a shared cage facility called the National Cage for the carrier pigeon competition. Lang-lang Buana, which is one of the oldest pigeon communities in Indonesia, also regularly holds competitions.
ARPU provides a variety of membership options, including junior membership (for children under 18 years), family membership, and membership for people who are interested in the pigeon race, but cannot participate. You must be an active ARPU member before you can join a local club
Step 2. Come to the race event and observe
Using a local website, Facebook page or newsletter, you can find out when the club will have competitions throughout the year. Races are usually divided into “young birds” and “old birds”.
You may also want to consider attending a race such as the Kandang Nusantara One Loft Race or the Kandang Nasional One Loft Race, if you have the time and funds. Competitions are held in various locations every year. Look for the latest information on the internet
Step 3. Ask for advice from people who have participated in competitions
Join a pigeon community like Lang-lang Buana or the Kolongan Merpati Community. They usually hold regular meetings. You can seek as much information as possible from fellow pigeon fans.
Step 4. Include your pigeons in the race event
Once you become a member of a local club, you can enter your pigeons in competitions. Ask your club for information to decide the best race for beginners. Races for beginners are usually shorter. Try entering several different pigeons in different competitions to see how the birds perform.
The National Cage (Kanas) managed by POMSI can help you ahead of the competition. You don't have to keep your own pigeons at home and while in Kanas the pigeons will also be tested in a number of ways, such as flight speed and ability to return to the cage. In addition, the pigeons will receive flight training from officers
Step 5. Beat your pigeons in the race
Pigeons race from a certain location (as determined by the race organizer) to their home, namely the cage in your house. The host organization will determine the distance between the release point and the cage in your home, and that distance, plus the time it takes for the pigeons to travel, will be used to calculate speed. The fastest dove will be the winner!
Tips
- The carrier pigeon should not be confused with the extinct Passenger Pigeon. The Passenger Pigeon became extinct in 1914 after decades of mass killings by humans. Passenger Pigeons fly in large groups when migrating and nesting and these conditions make them easy to hunt. Passenger pigeon extinction in the modern world compared to the potential extinction of Atlantic cod from fishing.
- If you are really interested, read the literature on science to find out how the carrier pigeon can do what it does. This knowledge is not only fun, it can also give you some ideas about different routines or exercise methods.
Warning
- If you're buying pigeon feed at a store that sells farm supplies, make sure you're buying wheat feed and not wheat germ. Wheat seeds are designed as plant seeds and contain chemicals that can harm birds. Grain feed, although more expensive, is specially designed for pet food.
- Before buying Merpati Pos (Karang) and building a cage in the backyard or on the roof of the house, pay attention to local regulations regarding restrictions on the types of pets that can be kept in the city area.
