It is better to have a pair of excellent pigeons than to own a group that doesn t perform well. Don t overwork your pigeons, especially the youngsters. Allow them to mature first. Don t overcrowd your pigeons. Most diseases start and worsen that way. Always go for the intelligent ones. These have no trouble finding their lofts. It's also important to keep in mind that a pigeon being a champion doesn't mean that it's a good breeder. There's a probability that a slightly inferior sibling can produce better offspring. Rules are not set in stone so it's important for a fancier to administer more than one test pairing. It's all a matter of achieving the perfect or near-perfect combination of genes. It is not the distance that is measured but the rate on how fast it flies in yards per minute. That then is the basis for determining the winner. Other important things to note of include the following: Feeding the Pigeons Pigeon racing becomes more of an interesting subject to tackle basically because there are different beliefs that come along in terms of feeding the bird. The Pigeons' Diet The principal diet constituents of pigeons include the seeds and fruits. Actually, the family is divided into the granivourous species or those that are known as the seed-eating members, and the frugivorous species or those that feed on fruits. But of course, the pet pigeons can be introduced to a much well-rounded nutrition that is composed of pork or beef fat, fruits, seeds, meal worms, and egg shells. These progenies are able to benefit from the genes of their parents whose long flights have helped them develop their intelligence as long distance flyers. The ability to stay in flight for long hours has provided them opportunities in developing their decision-making skills in times of fatigue. These birds also have extensive experience in dealing with any type of weather, which should be beneficial given the fact that the weather can be unpredictable at times. Be careful with the use of cages manufactured from foreign countries as they tend to have high lead content. Don't place the cage or loft in a damp area. Parasites and fungus are likely to thrive the habitat given this environmental setup. Ensure that you clean and dry the floor and feeding area. You can use a cat litter to disinfect and take away the dampness in the area.