Waikato pigeon fancier Ray Hooker’s interest in his grandmother’s and father’s pigeons, budgies, canaries and cockatiels ended up with him being given the responsibility for them at 11 years old.

“My parents bought a farm and they had no time so I took over. We had homing pigeons that were raised for eating, but I didn’t want to eat them anymore,” says Ray.

He sold a pair to a pet shop in Hamilton in order to buy food for the others and start his “business”.

“They arrived back home a few days later, so I sold them again. They came home three times and each time I resold them to the pet shop. The fourth time they didn’t come back so the last purchaser obviously knew about homing pigeons!”

Roller pigeons are bred in all sorts of colours. Photo: Catherine Fry

A homing pigeon will always return to the place it is born if set free. During wartime, they carried important messages back to their country, even winning medals for their services.

Ray bred Flying Tumbler pigeons to sell and attended his first show at age 20.

“They flip over backwards when flying and are quite amazing to watch.”

Fifty-one years later he still breeds pigeons, but has been concentrating on Rollers and Jacobins for the last 19 years, showing them all over the country.

An almond Roller showing its beautifully coloured feathers. Photo: Catherine Fry

“Rollers are like the Tumblers except they perform multiple rolls while flying.”

The Jacobin pigeon has a distinctive three-part, monk-like cowl around its head. This fancy pigeon breed is the result of generations of breeding in India.

“Thirty years ago you could import stock to add variety to the gene base until concerns over bird diseases entering the country ended that process. There are a few Jacobin breeders in New Zealand, and we try to outcross, but without new genetics, the breed will become extinct here.

“A vermin- and predator-proof loft, hygiene and cleanliness, regular worming and lice treatments plus good food are important if you want healthy birds.”

Breeding is very selective, with colours and traits in mind. Ray keeps to a July to January breeding season so all his birds aren’t moulting during the show season.

Red splash Jacobin pigeons with their distinctive feathered hood. Photo: Catherine Fry

He has enjoyed many years of awards at the New Zealand Poultry and Pigeon shows and one of his Jacobins was named Best Pigeon of the Show at the 2024 National Poultry and Pigeon Show.

Ray is ring secretary and a life member of the Waikato Poultry and Pigeon Club.

Ray and Mary Hooker with one of their chickens. Photo: Catherine Fry