2011 - Volume #35, Issue #5, Page #09
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Pigeon Passion Pays Off With White "Dove" Enterprise
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“I do releases within 150 miles of the pigeon’s loft or home,” says Kuhn. “Most of my releases are within 60 miles. The birds fly about 40 mph. It takes them about 3 1/2 hours to fly 120 miles, depending on the weather.”
Kuhn uses the same birds for release as he does for his racing. Racing distances can be as much as 600 miles from home. He says it takes the same instinct and athletic abilities.
At 18 days a young pigeon can eat and drink on its own. By 4 months it can fly around its loft. Keeping young birds locked up in a loft for several weeks before releasing them imprints the loft as home.
Kuhn turns his birds out for an hour to an hour and a half in the morning and again in the evening to build up wing strength. In a few months he can start their training by taking them away from home and releasing them.
“You want to slowly build up their strength like a marathoner does,” he says. “Start out at real short distances of 1 to 5 miles and build up to 25 to 30 miles. Then you bump up to 100 to 150 miles. They have the natural ability, but you have to nurture it.”
A competitive racer with white pigeons, it was easy for Kuhn to make the switch to white dove releases. He says the demand has grown in recent years.
“More churches have gotten away from rice throwing and balloon releases due to environmental concerns,” he says. “White dove releases really stand out in people’s minds and don’t hurt the environment.”
Kuhn brings birds to the site, usually two for a wedding and one or more for a funeral. He has a small chapel-shaped container that can be used to release the birds or he can hand the birds to the bride and groom.
“I did funerals where each of 5 children released a bird,” says Kuhn. “Every release is different and can be customized as you wish.”
Rates are $125 for a single bird and $150 for 2 birds. A 3 or 4-bird release is $175. There is a surcharge for any release more than 60 miles from home to cover added gas and time.
At all releases the pigeons come first. Kuhn won’t release at night, indoors or in bad weather. He also won’t ship birds for self-release or beyond a range that allows the bird to make it home the day of the release.
Kuhn says it’s a good business and one he has helped others get established. He advises starting with 3 breeding pairs and raising birds to use for release.
“You should have at least 20 trained to fly at least 20 miles before starting to advertise,” he says. “Then start with releasing 1 to 3 at a time. If there is a problem, you won’t put your business in jeopardy.”
Kuhn says setting up a loft with birds, feed, training crates and such, including watering and feeding stations, can be done for less than $1,500. The loft can be as simple as a repurposed garden shed. Pigeons require no heat, even in subzero weather. Breeding pigeons start at around $25 each, with racing pigeons ranging up to $200 each.
“If you buy an older breeding pair, don’t let them out unless you can afford to lose them,” he says. “I’ve had birds come back 7 years after they had been donated to another racing club for a fundraiser.”
Kuhn keeps several distinct families of colored pigeons in addition to his white racers.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, White Dove Connection , 25740 Hickory Blvd., Belle Plaine, Minn. 56011 (ph 952 873-5664; whiteracers@yahoo.com; www.whitedoveconnection.com).
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