They have taken particular interest to these birds and have realized that they can make a hobby out of it. In fact, some people or organizations treat the sport as a profitable business. Yes, it is very profitable because it aims to gather fliers from all over the world to compete for a much coveted prize in this competition. A Beginner's Guide To Racing Pigeons Pigeon racing has been around as far back 220 A.D. and since then, the bond between man and these avian racers have gone stronger. The Basics A racing pigeon is a pigeon that is specially bred for speed and performance. It is usually competed in a sport called pigeon racing. This way, you can easily control and maintain each one of them, depending on their needs. 3. Buy pigeons from a friend or a reputable source It is always easier to trust someone whom you already know. If you have a friend who's also a racing pigeon fancier, then that's good for you. He can walk you through the ropes of finding and buying pigeons of the highest quality, but are not that expensive. Remember that there is an ocean of difference between a pigeon racer and the keeper. The keeper simply raises these birds. The racer is the one that breeds, trains and cares for these birds. You will need dedication because it takes many years to properly understand the needs and wants of these birds. It's also very important that the pigeons be fed at home in order for them to get attached to their loft. Doing this can increase the motivation of your pigeons to fly home as quickly as possible and as a result improve your chances of winning the competitions. 3. Set up a training loft and always keep it open during training sessions. Because of their intelligence and swiftness, racing pigeons were regarded as prized possessions during the ancient times. Just imagine empires having only horses and caravans as their message-carrying tools. It would take weeks before messages can be exchanged from one area to another. Animals that travel by land are also more prone to danger, especially during warfare.