Dilemma with a bird!

TheBigCheese

TheBigCheese

TheBigCheese

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Joined
6 Sep 2005
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Not that sort ;)

We've found a racing pigeon this morning, it was in the garden, didn't fly away when the dogs investigated it (just sniffing) and is perfectly happy to be picked up.

We put it in a cage and gave it some bird food which it absolutely stuffed down...I think it must have been let out for a race and it's just knackered.

It is ringed and numbered.

We've taken it to the vet who has checked it over and said it is fine, just tired and to look after it for the weekend and contact the racing pigeon association on Monday...which was fine until I started poking about the net and reading on Yahoo Answers most people on there think that if a pigeon comes home late it's killed as it's not a winner. :eek::eek::eek:

Is this true? Does anyone know anything about racing pigeons and what happens to them?


Cheers

P.S. I know I know, it's identified and I should (and will) contact the owners...but it's a fantastic bird, I don't want to let it go just so it's potentially going to be knocked off when it gets there. :(
 
I don't see why they would kill it, this bird may have used to have been a winner and when it gets home will be used for breeding. Birds can go through loads in a race and this might be normal.

I don't think you would want to be a pigeon owner if you didn't love birds and animals.
 
First of all, you want to capture a few more or adjust the following accordingly:

4 wood pigeons
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Olive oil, for cooking
150g pancetta
150g button onions, peeled
150g button mushrooms
1 small kohlrabi, peeled and cut into bite-sized chunks
2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced into
bite-sized chunks
300ml red wine
300ml brown chicken stock
150g fresh (or frozen) peas
1 spring green, trimmed and finely shredded
Small handful of flat-leaf parsley, chopped

1 Carve out the breasts from the pigeons, season, cover with clingfilm and allow to chill while you cook the casserole. Reserve the carcass for stock, if you like.
2 Heat a little oil in a heavy-based pan and add the pancetta, onions and mushrooms. Cook over a high heat, stirring occasionally, until lightly brown. Add the kohlrabi and carrots and cook over a high heat for a few more minutes. Deglaze with the wine and boil for a few minutes to cook off the alcohol. Add the stock and braise for 20-25 minutes until the vegetables are tender. At the last moment, add the peas for 2 minutes to warm through.
3 When ready to serve, pan-fry the pigeon breasts, skin-side down first, for 3 minutes on each side, until brown and slightly springy when pressed. Transfer to a warm plate to rest for a few minutes.
4 Cook the spring greens in a wide pan with a little olive oil and some seasoning. Add a splash of water and allow to steam for 2 minutes until wilted. Pile on to four warm plates, then spoon the casserole around the plates. Top each plate with 2 pigeon breasts and garnish with a sprinkling of chopped parsley to serve.
 
It's funny you should say that about being killed, I was speaking to someone offshore a couple of weeks ago about how often we find racing pigeons sitting on platforms and he said that when he found one he phoned a vet back on the beach and he said the same thing about them being killed.
 
-westy- said:
Not your call I'm afraid, just let it go :)
Click to expand...

I know, I know....


Curiousalien said:
I don't see why they would kill it, this bird may have used to have been a winner and when it gets home will be used for breeding. Birds can go through loads in a race and this might be normal.

I don't think you would want to be a pigeon owner if you didn't love birds and animals.
Click to expand...

That's what I thought, so I was a bit shocked with what I read online.



Jokester said:
It's funny you should say that about being killed, I was speaking to someone offshore a couple of weeks ago about how often we find racing pigeons sitting on platforms and he said that when he found one he phoned a vet back on the beach and he said the same thing about them being killed.
Click to expand...

Damn, so much for not believing what you read on t'interweb...



The rest of you I'm ignoring :p
 
To be honest if they're likely to be returned and killed just leave it. If you're worried about it being unable to fend for itself in the wild then I suggest the recipe above. It's been well taken care of, should taste nice.
 
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