Code of Practice
Scope
The following is a code of practice for the keeping and racing of pigeons, initiated by the Queensland Racing Pigeon Federation Incorporated, for the guidance of its members and as a basis to help the community and governments, at all levels better understand the needs of those who participate in the sport.
Introduction
We live in a time of increasing government regulation, forced upon us by a basic intolerance of neighbours to accept each other’s differences. Almost anything these days can be considered to be a nuisance, kids, pets, swimming pools, trees, washing the car, mowing the lawn, and noise in its many forms can cause conflict between neighbours. Government bodies are often called in to settle these differences by regulating various activities. It is hoped the following will offer guidance to those who race pigeons, and provide a basis to help Government bodies introduce rules that are fair to all parties, and in particular not to discriminate against those who keep Racing Pigeons.
Pigeon keeping
The principals of this code are to ensure the welfare of the racing pigeon is the prime consideration in all activities associated with the sport.
OBLIGATIONS FOR THE KEEPING OF RACING PIGEONS
Members of the Federation (Queensland Racing Pigeon Federation) are responsible for the well-being and care of their pigeons. It is their fundamental duty to take all reasonable steps to ensure the welfare of pigeons under their care.
It is an offence under this code for members to ill-treat Racing Pigeons which are under their care.
Ill-treatment is defined as deliberate wounding, mutilating, physical abuse of any kind, withholding feed or water which causes emaciation or dehydration, and any action which causes unnecessary pain or suffering to the pigeons under their care.
Members not abiding by this code may be required to show cause under the guides of the Federation’s Constitution as to why their membership should not be cancelled
PIGEON HUSBANDRY
General
Racing Pigeons need to be housed, fed, exercised and trained correctly in order to reach peak fitness and maintain good health. It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure the well-being of pigeons under their control.
Lofts
Racing Pigeons are housed in lofts, the construction plans for racing pigeon lofts are to take into account local council by-laws regarding building and health regulations. Whilst it is not necessary to house Racing Pigeons in palatial buildings, lofts should be constructed to good building practices, painted and maintained so as to enhance the image of the sport and not become an eye-sore to the general community.
Lofts are to be well ventilated and kept clean and free from vermin and unwanted odour.
Loft design can be varied to suit the individual fancier’s taste and ideas but must conform to certain size limitations and specifications as follows:
Flooring:
Flooring can be either concrete or timber. A separate steel mesh floor with a concrete sub-floor below is permissible. Bare earth floors are not permitted.
Ventilation:
Ventilation is to be provided to maintain adequate flow of fresh air inside the lofts. Draughts are to be avoided.
Insulation:
Insulation is recommended particularly below the roof to prevent condensation and to maintain an even temperature
Loft Cleaning:
Lofts, including floors are to be cleaned at least once per week. So called deep litter on loft floors is permitted provided it is dry, a maximum of 50mm in depth and raked over once per week. Wet droppings are to be removed.
Loft Sizes
Racing Loft
It needs to be taken into consideration birds housed in a race loft will gain their freedom on a regular basis to exercise, therefore a race loft can be smaller than a stock loft. Stock birds are generally kept as prisoners due to their increased value and the consequences of losing the bird or it suffering an injury through liberation is too great. The minimum height for a race loft is to be 165cm from floor to ceiling. The minimum space per pigeon is 116,000 cubic centimetres. Example: A race loft 180cm x 180cm x 180cm equals 5,832,000 cubic centimetres; divide this by 116,000 cubic centimetres per bird equals 50. Therefore 50 race pigeons could be kept in a loft this size.
Perches:
Perches can be of various styles to suit the fancier but there must be at least 10% more perches than the number of birds housed in the loft. Example: 180cm x 180cm x 180cm loft, housing 50 pigeons would need a minimum of 55 perches.
Stock Loft:
Size and Capacity:
Stock birds or
breeding birds (confined at all times) require more room in their loft than do
race birds.
Minimum height of the stock loft is to be 165cm from floor to ceiling.
Minimum space required per bird is to be twice that required for the race loft
i.e. 116,000cm x 2 per bird. Example: A stock loft 180cm x 180cm x 180cm
equals 5,832,000 cubic centimetres; divide this by 16,000cm x 2 per bird
equals 25. Therefore 25 stock pigeons could be kept in a loft this size.
Perches
Perches can be various styles to suit the fancier but there must be 10% more perches than pigeons. Breeding boxes or nest boxes must be of sufficient size to accommodate a breeding pair. Minimum size is 450 x 450 x 300mm
Feeding
Grains (maize, wheat, peas, etc) form the basis of the pigeon’s diet. Feed type and feeding methods may be varied to suit the individual fancier’s needs, but must be of adequate quality and quantity to ensure the continued health and condition of the birds. Starvation diets in any form are an offence against this code. Feed must be clean and not contaminated, it needs to be stored in clean, dry, and vermin proof containers.
Water
Clean, cool water is to be provided to the pigeons at all times. Water must be changed at least once per day and be provided in clean vessels. Stainless steel or glass drinking vessels are recommended.
Exercise and Training
Racing Pigeons need to be exercised and trained prior to competition. The birds need to be exercised (released from the loft) at least once per day and a maximum of twice per day. Other than these designated exercise periods the birds are to be confined to their home loft. Exercise periods are permissible from dawn until 9am and from 3pm until dark. It is an offence to have unsupervised pigeons out during the day, and for pigeons to sit on house roofs etc.
Inspection of pigeons for competition
All pigeons entered in competitions are to be inspected by the handlers prior to being placed in racing crates. Pigeons are only to be accepted for competition on the grounds they are of sound health and physically fit to complete the journey set for the event. A pigeon will be refused entry in a race, if in the opinion of the committee, it is suffering from neglect, lack of training, sickness or physical injury, including damaged feathers, which may impair or limit its ability to return to its home loft.
The carriage and conveyance of pigeons
The carriage of Racing Pigeons for both racing and training is to be within a recognised crate or pannier, allowing adequate ventilation and sufficient room for the comfort of the pigeons.
The minium internal height of transport crates is to be 21 centimetres and is exclusive of wire or false flooring. The space allowance for each pigeon in a transport crate will depend on the time the pigeon is expected to be contained in that crate. Overnight confinement for liberation the following morning an allowance of 270 square centimetres per bird is required. Example: Race crate 900mm x 900mm = 8100mm divided by 270 = 30 pigeons maximum Confinement for longer periods, which require the birds to be fed and watered in the crates, an allowance of 320 square centimetres is to be made. Example: Race crate 900mm x 900mm = 25 pigeons maximum