Meet Les Green. Head of the most potent pigeon racing team in the UK - known in pigeon racing circles as 'The Mafia'. A sharp-tongued, quick-witted ex-gang member from Salford who now devotes his life to breeding and racing pigeons that are as swift and consistent as the expletives that fly from his own foul mouth. The RPRA (Royal Pigeon Racing Association) - an organization filled with ex brigadiers - sees Les and his lads as a bunch of Northern upstarts out to make trouble. Given the chance, and if they weren't so damn good, the RPRA would ban them from competing. This conflict forms the backdrop as we follow Les from his legendary coop in North Manchester to the National Pigeon Racing convention in Blackpool; on to the $250,000 Las Vegas classic; and finally to take part in the ultimate pigeon race - the $1 million bonanza in Sun City, South Africa. A Very British Coop is the story of Les and his team trying to defy the odds and drag pigeon racing into the 21st century, meanwhile pursuing the ultimate feathered flying prize. It is also the first insight into a global pursuit which blurs hobby and sport, sees pigeons flown first-class round the world before changing hands for over $100,000, and where grown men will stop at nothing to see their bird flying into sight first.

The pigeon is the quintessential city bird. Domesticated thousands of years ago as a messenger and a source of food, its presence on our sidewalks is so common that people consider the bird a nuisance—if they notice it at all. Yet pigeons are also kept for pleasure, sport, and profit by people all over the world, from the “pigeon wars” waged by breeding enthusiasts in the skies over Brooklyn to the Million Dollar Pigeon Race held every year in South Africa. Drawing on more than three years of fieldwork across three continents, Colin Jerolmack traces our complex and often contradictory relationship with these versatile animals in public spaces such as Venice’s Piazza San Marco and London’s Trafalgar Square and in working-class and immigrant communities of pigeon breeders in New York and Berlin. By exploring what he calls “the social experience of animals,” Jerolmack shows how our interactions with pigeons offer surprising insights into city life, community, culture, and politics. Theoretically understated and accessible to interested readers of all stripes, The Global Pigeon is one of the best and most original ethnographies to be published in decades.

This authoritative book is aimed particularly at those who participate in racing pigeons at distances of over five hundred miles but will be of value to all pigeon fanciers. John Clements succeeds in making the reader view the humble pigeon in a different light and ensures that he, or she, gains a deeper appreciation of the enormous joy and satisfaction that can be gained from long-distance pigeon racing.Contains detailed accounts of interviews with the owners of nine top British and Continental lofts involved in long-distance pigeon racing. The interviews cover a wide range of important issues including the acquisition of stock, the treatment of young birds and yearlings, feed, health and immunity. Other subjects covered include loft management, cleaning, construction and ventilation, the pairing and exercising of the birds, the systems used (widowhood, on the nest, or both) race preparation and many other subjects. Well illustrated with over 170 colour photographs, pedigree charts and postcards. This easily accessible, informative and analytical book is essential reading for pigeon fanciers everywhere.The objective of the book is to make the reader look at the humble pigeon in a different light and gain satisfaction from the joy of long-distance racing. Provides fascinating accounts of interviews with the owners of nine successful lofts.John Clements is a dedicated commentator on long-distance pigeon racing; an enthusiastic supporter of international racing and has a regular weekly column in British Homing World.

"Pigeons and man enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship dating back to Ancient Egypt and beyond. The birds have served their human keepers as messengers, companions, and extraordinary athletes. They have delivered messages that turned the tide of financial affairs and diverted the course of war. Some birds have even been decorated for their battlefield heroism. Pigeon racing calls upon the birds' remarkable homing abilities, speed, and endurance. These impressive abilities are refined through selective breeding and progressive training programs that become a consuming pastime for pigeon 'fanciers.' Pigeon Racing offers a broad-based introduction to pigeon husbandry, health, breeding, and competition for the novice enthusiast ... The text includes information on loft design and outfitting, common health problems, and basic training. It explores race formats and administration and explains the intricacies of timing. The extensive glossary serves as an introduction to the pigeon-racing vernacular. Racing pigeons are not the feral birds you see perched on power lines and rooftops. They are marathon fliers, relying on their innate sense of direction and heart to achieve remarkable results."--Publisher's description.

A fictional account of what happens when the world's most valuable bird, a champion Belgian racing pigeon, escapes and becomes the pet of a group of inner-city children. They have no idea of the bird's value but raise babies from the bird that win a major race, against long odds. An educational and heartwarming story of how the pigeon sport, and pedigreed homing pigeons, functions. Based on the international awarding-winning filmmaker, and author's, more than 50 years of experience in the pigeon hobby.

First i would like to congratulate you in taking this beautiful sport and welcome you in the world of pigeon racing. Some people say that once you are in you will never want to get out of it and i totally agree with this statement.Pigeon racing is a sport spread world wide and has absolutely no age limit .Young or old men or women they`ve all been conquered for life by this majestic one of kind creatures we call racing pigeons. Their intelligence and capabilities to return home from short or extreme long distances made them favourite animals for millions of people around the globe. Kings and queens, wealthy or hard working men along the history enjoyed their presence and called them friends, companions and heroes. The beauty of this sport is that everything can be learned about it ,we do not have to be born with a phenomenal talent to achieve the highest performances .This unique sport will bring in the life of any fancier the thrill and pleasure he has never experienced before - the joy of winning a race. The many aspects of this sport will offer unique and beautiful experiences to the new fancier and also the chance to make friends all over the world ,which is by far the most important one.After more then 30 years on this beautiful sport, there is one very important thing that i have learned "It is important to win the first place, but more important is with how many people do you enjoy it ,as he, who won the first place and has no friends around him, will be just a lonely winner".Dacian BusecanI can only hope that this advice will always guide you in your racing pigeons career and i welcome you in the beautiful world of pigeon racers.From this 136 pages (black&white )interior book you will learn about;IntroductionThe loftThe floorHeated FlooringThe WallsThe Compartments Inside the LoftThe Nest BoxesThe Nest BowlsThe RoofThe AviaryPigeons EntryDiseases and TreatmentsOrnithosisTrichomoniasisParamixovirus (PMV)New Castle DiseaseCoccidiosisSalmonellosisAdeno-Coli ( Young Birds Sickness)E-coliHexamitiasisMycoplasmosisCoryzaWormsExternal ParasitesSmall PoxBird Description FeedingFeedersAutomatic FeedingDrinkersBreeding TrainingYoung Birds TrainingOld Birds TrainingTraining During the Racing SeasonRacing SystemsThe Darkness SystemThe widowhood SystemThe Natural SystemThe Jealousy SystemThe Celibacy SystemThe Racing SeasonOld Birds RacingYoung Birds Racing MoultingAcquiring PigeonsRacing Pigeons Associations around the globeMore from the author