Five star treatment for pampered super pigeons

In the racing pigeon world, a luxury loft in Dorset is proving to be something of a coup.



Here, some of the world's fastest feathered flyers are catered for in five star facilities in a purpose built u00a31million stud on the outskirts of the town of Weymouth.

The complex boasts a state of the art feeding, watering and computer controlled breeding environment, all geared to producing prime racing specimens. Catering to their customers, this area also boasts luxury showers and bathrooms so that cleansing before prayers can be carried out.

Many of these super-birds are then sold to rich Arabs in the Middle East who love the sport. As well as catering for the fast flyers the Ponderosa Stud looks after the 'High Flyers' who race them too.
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The Stud is home to an executive lounge and meeting room fitted out in an Arab style, where Middle Eastern clients can view their purchases in 'home comfort'.

Breeding birds can cost many thousands of pounds each and the Ponderosa Stud is a world hub for pigeon racers.

Enthusiasts from the North of England, London, Europe and from the Arab world flock to the breeding centre to get their hands on its top birds. The pursuit is also of great interest to Australians too.

"We moved into this facility recently; it is designed from the birds' prospective but we have ensured that our human clients get looked after too," comments co-owner Mary Bartlett.

"Clients coming to our new centre are blown away by the luxury and scale of the establishment. "This is not some little back garden loft; this is a state-of-the-art-five star pigeon hotel," says Bartlett.

"One client told us that this is the best such facility he has ever seen. That was fantastic to hear as we have put such a great deal of effort into getting everything right for the birds," adds Bartlett.

The centre caters for up to 2,000 birds at any one time, with numbers rising around the New Year when breeding takes place.

Batlett and fellow co-owner Tony Hayne, along with their other partners, have been breeding racing pigeons for over twenty years. They have representatives in Dubai and have recently sent over 100 birds to the Middle East.