Tony Chavarria
Site Publisher
1189 posts
Feb 26, 2007
8:55 AM
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I was just speaking with one of my clients who gave me permission to share this story about how he grew up in a very rough area of Los Angeles. He shared with me how raising pigeons and being involved with them kept him from getting into really bad trouble in his youth. He credits his interest in them to ultimately finding a wife, helping her get through college to earn her nursing degree and how now he will start college at the age of 30.
I was just thinking, how many here have had pigeons affect their lives for the better? Kept you out of trouble, gave you something constructive to do with your time and help focus your youthful energy?
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FLY ON! Tony Chavarria
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
1218 posts
Feb 26, 2007
10:22 AM
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I spend over $2,400 a year in feed alone, I'm still trying to find the positive in that..lol
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splitter
10 posts
Feb 26, 2007
2:59 PM
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Brian, positive is you are know all the way up to michigan with rollers and w.e.tumblers. How do you feel now!!
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bman
237 posts
Feb 26, 2007
3:02 PM
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I need a translator fo that one.LOL
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Ron
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
1223 posts
Feb 26, 2007
3:11 PM
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Splitter, I feel light about 2,400 bucks...lol. That's how I feel.
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Velo99
946 posts
Feb 26, 2007
3:38 PM
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Til I got into rollers I didn`t do too much other than be the lawn guy. Working in the yard was my release.
Now I have made a lot of friends and can always engage on a lively debate on the forum. I have been to the first two pigeon shows I have attended in over twenty years. Its an excuse to call up a friend and see how he`s doing. Seems to be another chapter in my life that will not be complete til my time on this earth is over.
I love you guys,even Cliff.
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V99
Good spinners don`t always
make good breeders.
http://www.bluedotloft.50megs.com
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Ballrollers
681 posts
Feb 26, 2007
5:27 PM
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Heheheheh...the feelin's mutual, Kenny. Don't worry, I'm keeping my eye on you, buddy!
YITS,
Cliff
PS. Yard therapy use to be my thing, too....
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sac_spinners
63 posts
Feb 26, 2007
5:53 PM
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Having rollers and breeding them has kept me out of alot of trouble i mean tons, just makes me have time for nothing exept my family, im very happy to have them around, its something that i will always have and its a great sport that i really enjoy doing has sure did change my life around
Spin to win
Chor
Last Edited by on Feb 26, 2007 7:16 PM
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Frankie
114 posts
Feb 26, 2007
6:46 PM
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I've always had some kind of bird in my life since I was ten. I started out with some banty chickens, moved on to other birds like chickens, geese, ducks, pigeons, and others. I got my first pair of rollers when I was 15, paid $10 for them. A red hen and a red badge cock. Hen never done to many flips, but man that cock could spin. I had him trained, when he would get way up in the air and start circling around I'd clap my hands and it was just like you'd shot him, he would fold up and start rolling. I only had him about 6 months before a hawk got him. There's know telling how many hours I spent watching that bird and the other mix breed pigeons flying around. To me there was nothing funner then being out there with the birds watching them fly. Now that I'm 40 I've still had birds and pigeons my whole life but I want to see if I can get that feeling back, so I'm trying to get back into the rollers. Can't wait to get some in the air. Frankie
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luis
198 posts
Feb 26, 2007
7:19 PM
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I have had pigeons most of my life also with a break here and there for 1 reason or another.They have taught me dicipline,compassion for the animals that we share the planet with and they have certainly been a great therapy in times of stress.The latter being the one thing i appreciate most from this hobby.Met great friends and have enjoyed the competition aspect of the hobby.I have also had some difficulties do to the excessive amount of time i sometimes dedicate to my birds,but overall they have enriched my life for the better and i don't think i could ever be without them.When i don't have pigeons i feel incomplete.Pretty funny eh!My wife certainly thinks so!!
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knaylor
456 posts
Feb 26, 2007
7:21 PM
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For me when I was younger they helped keep me out of trouble. Now they have brought me to become lifelong friends with some great people!! Kevin
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lil_jess
15 posts
Feb 26, 2007
7:38 PM
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having roller pigeon around help me staying away from being a alcoholic and blazing that cigaretts. Hhahaha LOL!!!
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Heyyou
96 posts
Feb 26, 2007
9:01 PM
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As a young boy my parents were divorced and I became the stepchild of a very abusive ugly stepmother. I thought all was well since I had nothing to compare to and believed all kids were treated that way. My salvation other than a sympathetic good dog was my pigeon loft which I built from salvaged scrap lumber from around my neighborhood. I was also equally lucky to live right across the road from Bruce Cooper and I believe he knew the situation I was living in. He was kind enough to give me a few pair of birds with some stern words for how to care for and raise them. I didn't know what I had until years later and am still beholdin to him to this day. The retreat to the loft while my dog waited outside was a piece of heaven in the hell of everyday life. Birds are a wonderful chance for any youngster to learn some very valuable lessons that stay with you. Every youth today needs the responsibility of knowing that these live critters depend on and only live because of them. Pass on this chance to some young person that only needs a little encouragement and a chance to bloom when shown a little kindness. Bill White
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luis
201 posts
Feb 26, 2007
9:15 PM
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That's it Paul,the double edged sword!Although when it gets down to the nitty-gritty she rather have me looking at the birds than at other things!
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smokey
127 posts
Feb 27, 2007
6:41 AM
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my son and i dont live very far from oneanother but we never seemed to get togeather much. i got back into pigeons and they brought back my son and 3 granchildren life is good.smokey
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Ballrollers
682 posts
Feb 27, 2007
8:12 AM
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Great story, Paul, about your life and the role that pigeons have played in your healing. I can understand, now, why you are a grateful and appreciative individual. Thanks for sharing it.
YITS,
Cliff
Last Edited by on Feb 27, 2007 8:15 AM
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3757
112 posts
Feb 27, 2007
9:22 AM
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Bill - Bruce is a wonderful man and he has a great insight for certain situations as yours during your youth. I have known him since I was eleven and he always had time for me in his busy schedule. He has always been generous and his advice is priceless. Last year he sent me a round of youngsters to add to my family that I have from him of which I am proud of. You are very fortunate.
Last Edited by on Feb 23, 2008 5:36 AM
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T-town-rollers
34 posts
Feb 27, 2007
2:50 PM
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Pigeons have been a part of my life for 50 yrs. So I wouldn't know how to act without them !!! I have tryed raiseing about every breed.. But always return to rollers the first birds I ever owned. I can remember an old man who sold Fire Ball Rollers .. Thats where I got my start. he sold them for $1.00 each or 6 birds for $ 5.00.. And in the fiftys even a dollar was hard to come by.. Let alone 5 dollars.. And besides since I have gone to rollers in the past 10 yrs. I stopped drinking and chaseing.. And ya know that really pleases my wife.. lol . She says I can spend money on my birds that I use to spend partying !! Sometimes it ain't as much fun !!
Lee
T-town rollers
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ArlenS
30 posts
Feb 27, 2007
4:19 PM
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Tony,
It depends who you ask in my household (she just doesn't get it).
1) Have you had pigeons affect your life for the better? Yes!
2) Kept you out of trouble? Except with my wife!
3) Gave you something constructive to do with your time? Yes, except not according to my wife.
4) Helped focus your youthful energy? Yes, but she'd rather it was focused anywhere else.
But fortunately our kids love them.
Last Edited by on Feb 27, 2007 4:21 PM
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Velo99
952 posts
Feb 27, 2007
4:36 PM
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My wife is the self appionted "Pigeon Nurse". At least she takes an interest.
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V99
Good spinners don`t always
make good breeders.
http://www.bluedotloft.50megs.com
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Flyin Hawaiian
53 posts
Feb 27, 2007
6:07 PM
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Tony,
BIrds of all types were a fascination to me. I remember always watching for feral birds and following them to where they would take thier nesting material to thier nesting site. My favorite at that time living in southern california was the humming birds. My nana had a large walnut tree out in the back yard and thier were loads of humming bird nest on the branches. My introduction to a domesticated pigeon was a family friend and he had racers. I was totally mesmerized by the sound they made and the glistening sheen purple and green around thier necks as the sunlight hit them. At that moment I was hooked and that was about 1958.
Today in the hear and now there;s nothing like the cooing of the birds in the back yard after a days work and the cascading of the water from the koi pond just a few short steps away. The concept of knowing that this is a warm blooded animal that can be released and will return is a feeling of being needed which means alot in and of itself. The most significant part of the enjoyment of this hobby and what it means to me is the people I have met from all walks of life that I would not have had I not had these aerial acrobats. We may not necessarily see eye to eye on everything about them but the motivation and love for the same is what motivates me to keep them. Just want to say thanks to all of you here on this forum and especially Tony for giving of himself and this format to share with one another.
Mahalo Ivan
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flips
12 posts
Feb 27, 2007
6:09 PM
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been around pigeons all 35 yrs of my life. nothing but positive. started with fantails modenas homers now pouters and rollers.have my 4 and 6 yr old sons involved also help feed and water learning how and when to band also they love rotten eggs. they throw them on the pavement and get a kick watching them splatter.watching my birds is a great getaway for me. love sharing them with others amazeing how many people think they are just pests they dont realize the enjoyment that they can bring to a person. ihope my kids stay with the pigeons and share them with their friends and children.
Last Edited by on Feb 27, 2007 6:14 PM
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sundance
61 posts
Feb 27, 2007
6:31 PM
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I also had pigeons as a kid. fantails ,nuns, tumblers, rollers and even commies. if it was a pigeon someone in the neighborhood had them and we all bought ,sold or traded them. good times... Growing up in the early seventies and my family moving away presented me with a lot of ill influence in my teen years, and well, I wasnt really bad, but i did have a lot of fun, which I`m sure will require a great deal of explaining to Saint peter some day. After a failed marriage and a lot of mindless partying at 35 years old I was just bored with it all. I gave up all the partying and running around and settled down with a loft full of pigeons of various types again.
Only this time I stumbled on a couple decent rollers and got hooked. Now I still have a couple other breeds that I keep for fun but the rollers are my birds of choice. My better half now of 5 years thinks they are great and she supports my hobby and even helps with them when needed. She says she is happy to know Im in the loft and not at the bar chasing other women and she always knows where to find me.
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