The Role of Basket Training Sure enough, the birds will be flying around their loft. The next step is to basket train them. That means, taking them out of the loft and then releasing them to fly just outside the loft. Be sure to start it off in groups. Release them all at the same time. The younger ones often get scared at first and panic when they are no longer in one group. 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. But the best thing about this activity is that these pigeons get the exercise that they need and they become more accustomed with their lofts. It is about which you think is more comfortable for your pigeons and easiest for you to maintain. It will highly depend on your budget and the number of lofts you prefer to have. The most important thing is of course, it is clean and dry and is safeguarded against the possible predators. The water, food, and grit. The fascinating aspects of the sport are numerous to say the least, and the bond that man can create with the bird is a treasure that everybody needs to experience at some point in their lives. However, I've noticed recently that the sport is steadily declining in popularity. Sure, we still see a plethora of websites about pigeon racing on the internet. Surprisingly, the fathers also produce crop milk for their young ones. Both parents take care of the nourishment of their young ones. 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. The final decision is arrived at by comparing each bird's speed. The one with the fastest rate wins. Usually, the distance racing pigeons have to cover runs anywhere from 100 km to 1000 km. Although the rules of the race seems straightforward the bird that finishes the race first typically wins these are actually more complicated.