This ability of the pigeon to return to its nesting places despite great distances is what is taken advantage of by the pigeon racing enthusiasts. Training a Young Bird The basic training of a youngster must be done by the handler himself. It is about familiarizing the bird with its handler. Later on, as the handler executes the commands, the bird learns to obey. Racing pigeons are still being raced, and batches and batches of these birds are still seen circling the skylines. The days of pigeon racing they say is not over, even though some reminisce about the old days where racing these birds are very popular. In fact in some suburbs, you can still notice some fanciers that raise these birds and they maintain lofts on their rooftops. In fact, they were used as mail carriers as far back as 5000 years ago. In the early 1800's, a sport has been developed using these magnificent creatures as racing animals. The pigeon's disposition to fly home even after long flights has made the sport a favorite hobby among pigeon lovers. Pigeon racing competitions abound all over the world, with most of them involving big money. A Quick Look at Pigeon Racing In this sport race, there is a single starting gate where the birds bred specifically for this are to start off. However, there are about a thousand finish lines. Simply put, the competing birds are then taken out of their lofts. The point is they must race home. The travel rate and the distance are put on record and the fastest to be able to race home is declared as the winner. If you own and race pigeons, you must be aware that pigeons should not only appear good on the outside. They must feel healthy on the inside as well. It is a common fact on pigeons that they are good in hiding their true conditions. It is very hard to distinguish healthy pigeons from the sickly ones just by merely looking at them. Whichever is goal, you must remember that you can always enter your pigeons into a race provided that you know of the basics to ensure that their health is in its best shape to enable them to train and compete eventually. So, what you must ensure are to clean the loft, make sure there is no damp area which can become the breeding place of fungus and bacteria, give your pigeons fresh water and clean food at all times, and check with a vet to keep them healthy and strong.