Dove Welfare
Our birds are bred and raised in managed lofts, where they live and train with racing pigeons. The loft managers are qualified racing pigeon members and they belong to the Royal Pigeon Racing Association (RPRA).
This means that all pigeon and dove welfare is monitored and governed by strict rules imposed by the RPRA, to which the late Queen Elizabeth II was a patron.
All livestock is registered with the RPRA and they produce a unique leg ring that is individually numbered, and applied to the baby pigeon’s leg no later than 7 days old. After the bird is 7 days old, the ring cannot be removed.
The loft managers work tirelessly to keep their lofts clean, cleaning them up to three times a day. They are fed the finest food available and they live freely, taking to the skies above their lofts as they happily flock together and explore their area.
This is how they learn of all the visible rooftops, trees and other landmarks that help them recognise and navigate themselves back to their homes.
They are regularly taken for training sessions to further enhance their navigation knowledge.
The loft managers take the doves in baskets to locations where they release them nearby their home, taking them further away each time.
This allows them to orientate themselves with the sun, which will allow them to determine the direction that they need to fly to find their home.
All birds receive the necessary vaccinations, keeping them free from sickness and this is paramount, as any infection could rapidly decline a population of birds quickly.
The vaccinations are carried out to RPRA exacting standards, as racing pigeons are often carried to European destinations in large carriers on racing days.
