Douglas Wilson

Founder and editor

Douglas grew up around pigeon racing in a Dumfriesshire mining village, where his dad and his friends kept and raced birds. He started HomingPigeons.com to put everything about the sport in one place.

Guides by Douglas

  • Young Bird Racing Pigeon Road Training Schedule

    Transitioning young homing pigeons from loft flying to successful road releases is one of the most critical stages in pigeon racing. Rushing this process leads to heavy losses,…

  • Racing Pigeons: Prices, Historical Records, and Regional Averages

    Pigeon racing has evolved from a humble traditional hobby into an international multi-million-dollar sport. While a beginner can start with a modest budget, elite bloodlines now…

  • Famous Racing Pigeon Bloodlines

    In the pigeon sport, genetics are the foundation of success. While pristine loft hygiene, rigorous training schedules, and cutting-edge nutrition determine whether a bird can…

  • How to Adjust Your Feed Mix as the Race Distance Increases

    If you want to have success with racing pigeons, you have to look at your birds as elite endurance athletes. Just like marathon runners change what they eat before a big race, you…

  • The Incredible Story of Homing Pigeons in War

    In the age of satellites and digital signals, it is easy to forget that some of the most important messages in history were carried on the wings of a bird. Homing pigeons have…

  • The Widowhood System Explained

    The Widowhood system is not about changing the bird; it is about changing the bird's reason for coming home.

  • What To Do If You Find a Lost Pigeon

    Finding a pigeon on the ground or in your garden can be a worrying thing, especially if the bird seems tired or confused. In many cases, the pigeon you have found is not wild at all, but a racing or domesticated pigeon that has become lost on its way home.

  • Tech and Equipment

    This guide explains the essential pigeon racing equipment, from traditional timing clocks to modern electronic systems, and how each fits into the daily life of a racing loft.

  • How Homing Pigeons Work

    The science behind the incredible navigation skills of homing pigeons. How do they find their way?

  • Pigeons: An Overview

    Overview of racing pigeons: how do they actually do it, and why are the top specimens worth millions?

  • Breeding

    Pigeon breeding is one of the most rewarding aspects of keeping homing pigeons—whether you’re aiming to improve racing performance, preserve bloodlines, or simply raise healthy…

  • How To Keep Your Loft Damp-Free

    A damp loft is a breeding ground for Coccidiosis, respiratory infections, and the dreaded "one-eye cold."

  • How Big Should a Pigeon Loft Be?

    One of the most common mistakes for new fanciers is building a loft that is either too small for the birds to thrive or too large to manage effectively. In the world of racing and…

  • One Loft Racing

    If you love the idea of pigeon racing but don't have the space for a loft—or the time to train birds every day—then One Loft Racing (OLR) is exactly what you’ve been looking for.…

  • What Do Pigeons Eat?

    Whether you have just found a stray bird in the garden or you are setting up your very first loft, knowing what to put in the feeder is the first step to becoming a successful…

  • Common Diseases

    Keeping a loft of healthy pigeons is the goal of every fancier, whether you are just starting out with a few homing pigeons or managing an elite racing team. Especially in the…

  • Supplements Explained

    These days, the difference between a bird that "makes the clock" and one that wins the race often comes down to fine margins. While a high-quality grain mix provides the essential…

  • The Natural Loft System

    The natural loft system is a traditional, low-intervention approach to keeping and breeding pigeons. Instead of tightly controlling breeding, feeding, and training, this method…

  • What To Feed a Lost Pigeon

    If you’ve found a lost pigeon, the two most important things you can provide are water and food. Most lost birds are dehydrated, hungry, and exhausted, even if they don’t show it immediately.

  • How to Identify a Racing Pigeon Ring

    In this guide, you’ll learn how to read a pigeon ring, what the numbers mean, and how to trace the owner.