How To Spot the Right Racing Pigeon A lot of fanciers make the mistake of focusing solely on the physical attributes of a racing pigeon when it comes to choosing which one to enlist in the actual competitions. While it cannot be denied that physical features such as gait and wing muscle strength play a big factor in becoming a winner, attention should also be placed on the mental ability of a pigeon as early as an age of 3 months. Have Proper Ventilation Keeping the loft well ventilated greatly improves the health of the pigeons. 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. The Role of Basket Training Sure enough, the birds will be flying around their loft. The next step is to basket train them. That means, taking them out of the loft and then releasing them to fly just outside the loft. Be sure to start it off in groups. Release them all at the same time. The younger ones often get scared at first and panic when they are no longer in one group. Not all of the vitamins, minerals and trace elements are present in grains; therefore, these should be given to the pigeons in some other form. Some pigeon owners give spinach and shell grits, but these are still not enough to meet the nutritional requirements of a racing pigeon. They now add vitamins to water once or twice a week for added energy. The skeletal system then depends on its full development from the Vitamin D that the body receives. Sterility is then prevented by Vitamin E. Other Essential Foods for the Racing Pigeon Seeds are very important for the birds. There is a different kind of seed that racing pigeons may prefer to eat. That is why, it matters that you consult a vet. Participants should provide proper labeling of their timers. Participants are required to use properly working timers. The timers should have clear time stamps and should be easy to read. Timers used in the race should print the time the birds return to their lofts. Dead Time For extremely long races, a dead time may be called for.