rollerman132
77 posts
Mar 01, 2007
10:33 AM
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Pensom had stated in his book that this was inexpensive hobby, as I look around at all the things I have built over the years and the birds I have bought, I’m beginning to wonder. Do you think its a inexpensive hobby for the beginner or are we running neck and neck with the racer guys now?
Last Edited by on Mar 01, 2007 10:36 AM
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W@yne
283 posts
Mar 01, 2007
10:49 AM
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Loads more expensive these days. In Pensom days they would build lofts from old timber reclaimed from old building sites. These days lofts that are being built are built better and materials cost more timber for example and suppliers making ready made lofts hence higher costs. Also feed would of been got from an old local farmyard for pittance, These days feed comes in ready mixed bags. The cost It all depends on what you want in your backyard a nice looking loft or just a basic shelter for your birds. Also medications in Pensom days was in very basic form today they is hundreds of tonics , treatments, worming solutions, vitamins, etc etc. Are we catching the racer guys yep i think so but still a way to go.
just my opinion
W@yne uk
Last Edited by on Mar 01, 2007 11:02 AM
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
1230 posts
Mar 01, 2007
10:56 AM
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You'll never run neck and neck with the racer guys. Their expenses are just way, way out there because of all the training, meds, futurities, and the simple fact that a racer eats three times as much as a roller..lol.
The hobby as a whole can be very inexpensive as long as you keep your numbers down. I don't consider my bird hobby inexpensive anymore as I cough up $2400 plus for feed alone a year. If I only had a half dozen pair and two kits, it would be really, really inexpensive.
Now if you are talking cost of birds, well I've seen these dudes come from the city with a wad of cash and buy certain Reed or Higgin birds for 500-1,000-1,500 each like it was nothing. Drop two grand on a kit. I saw a dude hand over five grand for a winning kit. That isn't being inexpensive, but if some dude with fat sacks knocks on the door and wants to throw Benjamins at you for pigeons, hard to turn away.
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Frankie
123 posts
Mar 01, 2007
11:37 AM
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It sure is not a poor mans hobby especially if you are wanting to compete with all the expenses and traveling and every thing that goes along with it.Good rollers are certainly not cheap either only way a poor man can get good rollers is a fellow rollerman is willing to help out and give him a few I am just glad that there is people in the roller hobby like that. Frankie
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maxspin
72 posts
Mar 01, 2007
11:38 AM
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I was talking to one of the race guys last time I was at the feed store. They now have to pay a $350.00 deposit at the beginning of the just the old bird races. Shipping costs are outrageous. We are still much less expensive.
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bman
241 posts
Mar 01, 2007
12:16 PM
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Although the cost is up alond with everything else you can still enjoy the hobby at level that is within your comfort zone.
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Ron
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trevsta65
72 posts
Mar 01, 2007
3:15 PM
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hey there men due to the drought our grain prices have increased several times of late. i am currently paying around the $20.00 au. for 25kg bag of pigeon mix which is no big deal to me as i dont have that many breeders so i only have to buy a bag every coulpe of months. do you think that is expensive. what are you guys there paying at the momentfor a 25kg bag its a far cry from when i was a boy we used to have hutmills in our suburb every one seemed to have birds back then all we had to do was go down to the train line and steal a bagfull or two of wheat from the wheat carriges im mean borrow. was very inexpensive back then. cheers trev
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Velo99
956 posts
Mar 01, 2007
4:01 PM
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When I started in construction 25 years ago studs were 65 cents a piece. Now they are at least 2 bucks.Sheet goods were 7-8 bux for 1/2 inch thickness. Wire was cheap too. I think my brother and I spent 50 bucks on our first 6x12x8 loft.
I live in an agricultural area and go to the co-op for seed. I bought a bag each of wheat and milo a few weeks ago,bill was 11 bux with tax.
I spend less than 200 bux a year average.
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V99
Good spinners don`t always
make good breeders.
http://www.bluedotloft.50megs.com
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MILO
221 posts
Mar 01, 2007
5:11 PM
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Extremely expensive on this end. I spend a lot of money on the wife so she will leave me alone in the yard. LOL
C
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Santandercol
815 posts
Mar 02, 2007
7:23 AM
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Good one Milo!You have the right idea.
Hey Trev,
The prices you're paying are not outrageous.I pay 11 bucks for 70 lbs of wheat,$28 for milo,$28 for peas,$38 for safflower to give you some idea.Racer mix is $20-$25.
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Kelly
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rollerpigeon1963
148 posts
Mar 02, 2007
9:11 AM
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Hey Guys,
All of you have mentioned the cost of items from the old days and today. Back then what was the hourly pay? I remember back in the late 70' and very eary 80's I didn't earn that much money. It wasn't until the middle 80's I started making a good living. I looked up the pay scale for a police officer in the trade for 4 years in 1969. In the Houston area earned $725.00 a month. And if they just worked 40 hours they would be paided $3.75 an hour before taxes.
My own opinion is that it is a very easy and inexpensive hobby to be involved in. You can find some good birds for a very good price and sometimes even for free. You don't need the 1000.00 dollar birds just some hard work and a little time you can be just as successful.
thanks Brian Middaugh
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Missouri-Flyer
304 posts
Mar 02, 2007
10:00 AM
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Hi Brian,
It appears that the pay scale of a law enforcement officer hasn't changed much, as I am living proof to it.LOL..Jerry
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Home of "Whispering Wings Loft"
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Santandercol
818 posts
Mar 02, 2007
10:55 AM
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Man,
Jerry,you should see what P.O.s are paid in third world countries.Try living on $60 a week and you'll realize why they are so corrupt.
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Kelly
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Missouri-Flyer
307 posts
Mar 02, 2007
12:51 PM
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that may explain why so many over there honeymoon on the side..(sell confiscated surplus)..Jerry
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Home of "Whispering Wings Loft"
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CooCoo
56 posts
Mar 02, 2007
1:06 PM
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I pay 12 bucks a 100 pounds for hard red wheat.......Dave
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sundance
65 posts
Mar 03, 2007
5:53 PM
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I just went to the feed store today.
50 lb. bag of pigeon breeder with popcorn--9.80 x 5 bags
50 lb. wheat-------------------------------6.00 x 1 bag
50 lb. red milo----------------------------7.00 x 1 bag
50 lb. whole corn--------------------------5.30 x 1 bag
tax 4.04
total 71.34
although this is not cheap, it will last me a couple months. longer if I was not breeding right now, but I keep plenty of feed when they start raising young. the young birds will stay on the mix for the first couple months till they are fully feathered and flying and kitting well. Then I`ll slowly switch them to the wheat and milo till winter comes again for those that make it that far.
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rollerman132
81 posts
Mar 03, 2007
7:51 PM
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those are prety good prices sundance, I pay 12 bucks for mix,13 for wheat,20 for peas and 12 for milo,all 50 lb bags.
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Bluesman
Pigeon Fancier
1038 posts
Mar 04, 2007
4:16 AM
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Yes Sundance those are excellent prices.I am paying at least 4.00 per 50 bag more than you do on what you have listed.My pigeon mix is just 12% no corn.
I buy 1/2 ton at a time.
So many folks are burning corn in their stoves now.They say its cheaper than other fuels.Which of course drives the price of corn up here in Winter.I don't feed much corn to my rollers but do feed several ton a year to wildlife.Supply and Demand.LOL. David
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Santandercol
829 posts
Mar 04, 2007
6:03 AM
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Sounds like I'm paying big time for transportation to the Rock.----------
Kelly
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sundance
66 posts
Mar 04, 2007
6:57 AM
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I do feel lucky to have found this feed mill. They mix their own feed so it doesnt have a big name on the bag to pay for. And the corn wasnt for the rollers. I feed it to the chickens and goats from time to time. When the weather breaks I`ll buy a breeder mix without popcorn.I know its cheaper but I cant remember how much.
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Flyin Hawaiian
72 posts
Mar 04, 2007
8:37 AM
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Hey Guys,
This hobby is only as expensive as to what you take from it. Hobby's no matter what they maybe can be expensive but the pleasure and therapy you get from it money can't by (mental health). So just how do you measure such a gift??Purchasing the best you can afford in feed and getting it from the same source is the highest objective in keeping you birds in perfect harmony with health and strength. One thing to consider is the source in which you purchase your feed from should be asked if the lot of feed that your feeding is harvested from the same source consistantly. Properties of grains can be differrent from one grain location to the next. Having a good source that is consistant will help in keeping the birds nutritional values at check. Personally I feed the very best #1 hard red wheat that is human consumption value. Its protien level is at 13%. My opinion is that all feeds should be built around a good solid hard red wheat. This is your foundation to build around. Reason is the properties of protien vs fats. Fats stored is unwanted caloric energy and the key to getting your flying birds in shape is to keep them desiring but not frantic. I think I'm drifting into a whole nother subject so I'll leave it at the aforementioned. Nutrional values and properties is a whole nother topic. Woops I almost gave out the web address to where I buy my grains (sorry Tony) I caught myself. One more note is tricale is a very balanced grain and the properties are high in protien and fiber content is good because its a hybrid of hard red wheat and rye and the birds love it.
Later Ivan
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Velo99
965 posts
Mar 05, 2007
2:13 PM
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Ivan,
I mix my seed by the 12 oz feed can. I keep all of my seed in airtight containers. The main one, I keep it full of either wheat or milo and store big coffee cans of the other seeds in the same container. I have two measuring cups. 1/2 and 1/3 of a cup.
Depending on how much feed the breeders left,I adjust the amount of what I feed. I feed them twice a day. Usually about 1-1/2 c twice a day depending on squeaks.
Flyers get 1 3/4 to 2 cups of feed. Depending on fly time,trap time and performance I can tweak their feed on a daily basis. I cant get peas here so I use pellets instead. I also use milo and sometimes wild bird seed in addition to wheat. Wheat and milo are locally grown.Pellets are Purina 18 percent. Wild bird seed has vites,grit,and iodine. I usually add this during the moult. Makes em nice and shiny.
yits and thanks
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V99
Flippin`The Bird!
http://www.bluedotloft.50megs.com
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motherlodelofts
1507 posts
Mar 05, 2007
3:27 PM
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I think that it is an extreamly cheap hobby , I just can't see where it would be considered expensive.
Scott
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Missouri-Flyer
323 posts
Mar 05, 2007
3:43 PM
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Scott,
That depends on the individual, and their pocketbook. Some have no problem going out and paying cash for a new Corvette, while others buy used vehicles.
Some use building material that they have laying around to build whatever, while others build extravagant lofts with ceiling fans, automatic waterers/feeders,beautiful decking around with a pond in the middle to enjoy, while others just have the basics....That goes for the birds themselves,feed,meds,bands,etc....just my thoughts..Jerry
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Home of "Whispering Wings Loft"
Last Edited by on Mar 05, 2007 3:44 PM
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