Never ever confuse the bird by making command variations or interchanging them. With regards to the schedule, the racing pigeons become fully aware of what to expect from you at different times of the day. They will know when they will fly, when they will be fed, when the loft will be cleaned, when the water will be changed, and so on. 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. Once you have these ingredients, then it's a lot easier shaping future champion birds. Here are some other factors in order to come up with champs in your loft. What is basically great about futurity racing is that anybody who has hoped to join such event can enter his pigeons. Even when the birds don't have much training, it is still alright. The loft handlers and managers are experienced in handling different birds and they really do a great job with it. What more is that they are also paid only a fraction when the pigeon is able to qualify. The moment these birds start to gain confidence, these birds will fly for hours before returning to their lofts. Now remember that this is the perfect time for training the birds. They are best trained and guided if the birds have been ranged or routed for at least two (2) weeks. The maximum time that the birds will be out is for 2 hours, and this is a great sight as you watch batches of pigeons pass you by. Food for pigeons need to be clean, fresh, and of high quality. Grains and grit are their primary foods but these will not boost their performance enough to win a race. Minerals and vitamins must be included in their diet which can be mixed with the water or with the food in the form of oil. It is highly important that the food should have low moisture content or else it will be susceptible to becoming a breeding ground for fungi, bacteria, and eventually become toxic for the bird. That is why; learning the basics of racing pigeons' nutrition is practical and significant at the same time. Come to think of it. Birds are able to live long when they receive the proper nutrition they deserve. There are birds that feed on seeds while others feed on food. However, there are those that feed on a combination of seeds and food.