Children today would rather go to the internet and tend to their online farms instead. Or maybe the thought of taking care of pigeons is not their idea of being "cool". Here's what I think. If we want to spark interest about pigeon racing as a hobby and a sport, an effort has to be made in regards to reaching out to kids. Strict Diet Racing pigeons adhere to a strict diet, which comprises mostly of grains, grits and water. Wild pigeons eat breadcrumbs and food scraps, but they are a no-no to racing pigeons. If you want to raise quality racing pigeons, then you have to provide them with food that are fresh, clean and of the highest quality. A regular breathing habit is essential for the pigeon's longevity in the sky when racing. Anything that the pigeon breathes in is reactive to his performance, therefore you should avoid dust and other unnecessary particles from entering the loft that could make the pigeon breathe heavily. Also, for the loft to be properly ventilated, avoid overcrowding among the pigeons. To help you in the assessment, let's have a breakdown of these three key features: The Physical (gait, feather, wing) The physiology (fitness parameters). Psychology (attitude and competitiveness). The best fanciers also realize that the race basket is the best determinant of a pigeon's racing qualities. For every screams of joys, there is also that group of fanciers who silently applaud and hope that they can bring the fastest pigeons the next time around. Are you one of them? If you are then remember that success in this form of racing is simple and easy; it's about teaching those winged creatures in the art of navigation and endurance. This breeding method is more expensive than line-breeding because of the generation gap (the bigger the generation gap, the more expensive) but relatively more effective than in-breeding. Line-breeding allows the mating of pigeons with smaller generation gaps (ex. grandchild to grandparents or cousin to cousin) than those for cross breeding.