Training Racing Pigeons

David K. Macklin has been breeding pigeons since his teenage days. In his hometown in Virginia, he has about 60 pigeons in his loft, all performers. Some of his pigeons he has given away to friends and people who want to get started with this hobby.

Although he grows personally attached to his birds, Mr Macklin knows he cannot keep too many birds in his loft and overcrowd them. He doesn’t believe in keeping the pigeons locked up for he believes they are meant to fly and perform.

When he was younger, Mr Macklin had to give up this hobby after being posted overseas while serving in the military.  He dreamt of the day he would return.  He knew he could never give up his pigeons, and each day he was away, he made plans of going into this hobby full time.

When he did return, he poured all his energy into resuming his love for pigeon breeding.  His home could accommodate a pigeon coop big enough to house around 70-80 pigeons.  He has made some improvements to his loft over the years, putting into practice improved methods on pigeon care he has picked up with experience.

In all of the fifteen years he has been breeding and racing pigeons, Mr Macklin has done extensive research into pigeon care and training.  In the beginning, he happily provided tips on pigeon breeding to starting pigeon fanciers.  As a lot of people were asking him for advice, he thought of creating this website to provide more people with basic information on breeding racing pigeons.

Mr Macklin started pigeon breeding as a hobby and over the years, this hobby has turned into his passion.  He meticulously records where he gets his baby pigeons, what their characteristics and genes are, their patterns and colors. This way, he has an accurate data of their pedigree to be used for producing the next generation.

Never happier than when he is flying his pigeons, Mr Macklin has acquired various breeds including Turkish Tumblers and Iranian / Indian High Flyers, Birmingham Rollers, English Trumpeters and  Ring neck Doves.   He keeps a photo album as well as an electronic data base with pictures of all his birds, just like they were his children.

His website www.trainingracingpigeons.net gives practical tips to those who are new to pigeon breeding and need advice on topics such as pigeon care, pigeon feeds, tips when building a pigeon coop and many more.  It even gives tips on how to earn money from this hobby!

Now retired, Mr Macklin spends all his days caring for his pigeons, putting as much love into them as family.  He has been greatly rewarded for he has in his loft many prize winning birds and champion breeders.

Most of the tips found in his website are from practical experience and would save many new pigeon fanciers a lot of time and money.

Mr Macklin has never regretted all the time and energy he has put into pigeon breeding and training racing pigeons.  He claims that the joy he gets from watching them fly, each with their own characteristic style, feels him with great pride and excitement.

All his birds have names he personally gave to them. His favourite, Joe Five Feet, is an Iranian High Flyer and called such because he pulls himself 5 feet up just before he tumbles.

Mr Macklin enjoys trading stories about his prize birds with fellow breeders and anyone else with an ear for pigeons.