How many years of experience do you guys have with bird raising?

We have well over 80+ years of bird raising and breeding experience combined.

 You guys must love being able to play with all those birds you own.

While we love what we do,we actually don't play with the birds we own! We simply help others create successful businesses with the birds they buy from us. Excellent quality stock birds are never cheap! Take it from our experience, as with any business venture, you get what you pay for.

Please understand that what we have invested in our birds is worth literally tens of thosands of dollars more than what most people would ever be willing to pay to have such great birds imported from overseas. We sell our offspring at an extremely reasonable, fair, honest, affordable price. You may find cheaper, but they are more than likely not better for the price we offer..... perhaps this may also be one of the biggest reasons that many end up coming to us after having already wasted several hundreds of dollars elsewhere, only to find out they had junk birds from different sources that were not credible?

 I just received a call from an online directory listing company that claims they can get me lots of business. Should I pay this solicitor that promises to get my website to the top of the search engines by making me pay $400+ to have a banner created? I would highly advise against this! There are too many scams out there nowdays where SEO companies are promising the world to independent dove companies, and in the end they show no results other than take your hard earned money! We know this because we lost a lot of money a few years back from this very exact scenario.  They may say they care and are great at giving a good sales pitch, but the truth of the matter is they do not!! They only want your hard earned money, that's it! They will say anything to get it as well..

It's very unfortunate that most of these "SEO" companies we have come across that are out there soliciting to dove companies via wherever in cyber world, are just in it for the "QUICK" money, they don't care about helping your business grow and we have the evidence to prove it.  They also don't know how this industry operates, and they especially don't have a clue as to what is invested in our industry. If you're going to have a company that helps connect potential clients to dove companies, make sure you go with one that works, promotes,  as well as operates in this industry! Don't leave this to third parties, ALWAYS STICK WITH THE REPUTABLE SOURCES AND PERSONAL REFERRALS. Remember, nobody knows our industry and needs better than those of us who work and operate in it!!

We get numerous solicitations all the time from organizations that are simply trying to sell us on getting listed in their directory ,these include wedding directories, funeral directories, etc.  When these same unethical companies get too many bad complaints from consumers, they simply change the name of their business, and operate under another con name. When we ask them how much they know about our business and industry, they don't have much to say.  Truthfully and unfortunately this shows they are just in the advertising to make quick money so they can run, and they RUN!

Avoid any and all cold call companies(Solicitations), or inquiries online you may receive like the plague! Take your business to only those who know this industry, and know how to market it correctly online. We invite you to Join our White Dove Release Network, it's affordable and serves a great purpose of connecting customers with direct dove companies in their area. We can build this industry better as a whole, and eliminate the noise that's out there from these "Self Proclaimed" SEO experts who more often than not, dont even know how to code data correctly to get results.

 Is it true that you guys had a dove release company in Canada that copied your literature directly from your website without your permission, posted it on their existing website, and then tried to use it to their advantage by also attempting to sell dove release franchises?

Yes it is! While we had all the substantial evidence to support that they were in violation of this under international copyright laws, we decided NOT to sue them. Could we have sued them and won, yes, was our attorney ready to sue them, yes, are we in the business to sue others, no!  We are in the business to get people started in this industry, not shut people down through lawsuits because of their unethical behavior. We did approach this individual directly about the situation, and he admitted that he in fact did steal our written material, but it was only after he realized he was all caught up in lies. We will not advertise who this individual was, or say the dove companies name, but we will mention this because we know we have a great franchise system in place, and anytime people see something good, they will often times try and duplicate, as well as copy it.

 Do you guys have a catalog you can send in the mail?

Due to the nature and cost of printing literature, we currently do not have a catalog we can ship.  Everything you need to find on our website is transparent with the prices. In the near future we may look further into having a catalog published, but for the time being, what we have available for sale on our website is the same content that you would see on a hard copy.

Should I pay someone to teach me about the White Dove Release Business?

While some would tell you to not pay for this information, let's discuss this openly since we are more concerned about helping you along the way, versus just trying to sell you birds and never hearing from you again as unfortunately many out there on the internet have been doing. We take a different approach because we believe in adding the human element by HELPING our customers out, this creates VALUE and TRUST. We understand that 80% of our repeat sales comes from 20% of our loyal customers for a reason.

In response to this question we have been asked, here is our answer...

Absolutely, and here's the reasons why.  This type of industry is no different than any other type of industry in the sense that "Useful and Valuable" information almost always has a monitary value associated with it, otherwise it would be of little to no value.(It should be no surprise that there are Multi-Million Dollar Companies out there that sell information, that's because they have the vital information available to help you out, they are a business!!).  There's all kinds of information you can find on the internet, the question one should ask is "How much of that FREE stuff floating out there is actually going to guide you in the right direction"?  There are vital few 20%, but trivial many 80%! This is all part of Pareto's Principle which can relate to just about any kind of business rule out there.

We unfortunately have seen it happen all too often, earnest people trying to go into this type of industry having no knowledge base of how this is done.  We're here to help you, and we know how it's done.  A perfect example of what we are referring too, and why it's important to consider paying for expertise is explained below...

One of Warren Buffets secrets to his huge success of building wealth is the fact that he NEVER, I repeat NEVER invests in companies/Industries that he doesn't understand, WHY? The answer is simple, he understands and knows that great things of value are always worth learning about and understanding prior to investing money in them.  It's no different in this industry, you can get lots of FREE general information out there on the internet, but remember, it's free for a reason, and much of it is misleading if anything. It's not what you know that gets a person in trouble down the road, it's what you don't know that you don't know.....  This is why its important to understand that to obtain the correct information one needs to be successful in this business, one needs to be willing to pay for that expertise. This personal consultation time we offer for a small fee, is in of itself worthy of potentially helping you save thousands of unnecessary spent dollars.  TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT!!!! We'll even give you a discount on bird purchases down the road for taking us seriously on this offer, or apply this discount towards a franchise purchase.

Another important matter of business to discuss concerning the birds, and where one chooses to acquire them...  We know plenty of people out there selling birds for a few bucks a piece, but you get what you pay for (JUNK BIRDS).  See, great birds are never cheap, and to be completely honest with this situation, if one considers the prices we sell our birds for to be too expensive for their budget, you may seriously want to reconsider ever thinking about getting into this business at all. We don't want to discourage you from buying our birds in any way, just be aware that it gets much more expensive as you can see from taking our survey, what it will add up to in order to get you started where you will be operating as a legal business entity. YES, the IRS is watching because they know we pay our taxes, and they know we know many others we have got started in the business as well. We do sell our birds at a fair market price, and they could sell for much more, and people have been willing to pay us much more just to obtain them because they know how good the birds we sell are.

(Relevancy of Content on our website)

Google is very selective in how they decide to rank a business and website on their search engine.  There's a good chance that you happen to be one of the thousands of customers we have visiting our website on a monthly basis that found us online by searching under Google the term "White Pigeons". We believe in creating value for our customers, and how we do this is by providing useful information, as well as valuable birds for them to get started in the business correctly the first time. We want you to be successful, but we can't and won't force that on you.  Afterall, you will have to ultimately decide where to take your business, and who you decide to buy your birds from, as well as get expert advice.  We hope you would choose us "For All Your White Dove Release Needs".

If you are interested in getting started in this kind of industry, please understand that while on the surface it may seem like an inexpensive business to start(which to many is a small price), there are actually more costs involved in getting it fully operational and Profitable.

To give you a general idea of what we are referring too- It's not uncommon for us to spend upwards of $3,000-$4,000 per year just on advertising costs associated with reaching our target markets. A typical Bridal Show booth can cost anywhere from $400.00, and go up to as high as $1,200.00 per event. While these costs do add up fairly quickly, it's money that can be considered well spent to get returns back for the business.  Be prepared to allocate a decent portion of your funds for advertising and promoting if you plan to be successful in this industry.

Feel free to take the survey and see for yourself.... This survey which only costs $50.00 ($500.00 Value) will literally save you hundreds of dollars of unnecessary bird purchases. This is designed to give you a very realistic/accurate idea of whether you should consider spending another $500-$1,000 on bird purchases.

Let us help save you the time and money by helping you out the first time. Take the survey today and we will let you know exactly where you stand as far as consideration about entering this type of industry that is unfamiliar to many. 

Those who take the survey also will receive a 5% discount on bird purchases from us.  It's our way of showing you that we truly care and want you to succeed in this venture.  We also offer consultation services that are much more in depth about what is required to ultimately be successful and profitable in this industry.

The most affordable route would be to simply Franchise with us if you are completely new to this type of business and industry with no experience. Franchising can be much more economical because you are taught the methods and systems that work from the beginning, they are proven to work, and we currently use them in building and expanding our corporation. Everything we do is uniform in code, and consistent with our programs and procedures to operating as an L.L.C.

Do you have birds for sale?

YES.  Certain breeds we carry are ,however, limited in supply. These are mainly our fancy breeds which normally must be specially ordered with a required 50% deposit paid to reserve the next offspring.

 Is it true that birds need to be less than 3 weeks old if I plan on training them to my place? 

 No, this is not true, it is rather misleading information if anything. We have been getting asked this question by many new customers.  Apparently there is a lot of misleading information out there on the world wide web that people have posted that is "Theory" based, and that is all it is "Theory based" not factual . We recommend acquiring birds that are approximately 45-50 days old. The older the birds become, the more difficult it is to settle them in a new loft. Please note that this should only become a concern when the birds are older than 3 months. We have sold thousands of birds over the years, and our customers have had great success with the birds we send out which are the prime age of 45-50 days old(Still Squeakers). They have never had a problem with settling the birds to their new residence, so neither should you.

Never buy birds that are older than 4 months unless you plan on keeping them just as breeders.

We always make sure that the birds we send out are fully weaned and eating on their own. Attempting to send any birds out in the mail system younger than this age range increases the possibilities of dead birds on arrival. These birds need to be healthy enough, as well as strong enough, to be shipped to avoid jeopardizing the safety of the birds.

There are so many theories out there when it comes to training homers, but just remember, they are JUST THEORIES, and they have been proven wrong just about as many times as they have been proven right. When you buy birds from us, we will tell you how old the birds are so there are not any concerns about age.  If you buy our breeders, never let them out. If you buy our squeakers, you will be able to let them out of your new loft within 3 weeks after you receive them.

 Why is the Franchise information not available as a detailed listing anymore on the website?

To protect the nature of our business which we do for a living, we have deemed it necessary to only provide this information to those that are seriously interested in the business.  This basically means a person must qualify before we can send any of our literature out.  While there are several packets that were sent out to interested individuals in the past, they also must understand that the information we provided to them is considered "confidential", and under no circumstances are they allowed to share, make copies, or disseminate any of the literature we have provided to use it as a means to get "Free" information on what is needed, and how to start their own dove business under a different name using the material we have already provided them. We keep excellent records of all those packets that were sent out, and we can legally take action if people decide to take this dishonest route of trying to work around the system.  We want to help keep "Honest People Honest".

 We have generously provided more "Useful" information on this website regarding the dove business than the majority of other sites out there.  There is a ton of information out there on the world wide web, however, regarding the actual models of the business and operations procedures, training procedures, well this is highly guarded information.  

 The very few dove companies of the 1,800+ that are around the world and growing, who not to mention have also made a considerable profit in this industry, will not likely discuss this information with you.  This is even more common especially if you live near them, and there is a good reason for this as you can imagine.  We happen to be one of those few companies that actually have been successfull enough to do this for a living, and believe me, we had our share of the tough times just like any other business out there.  The good majority out there have not discovered how this is done, and as a result, they often times end up getting out of the business after just 1 year or so(Closing Shop/Folding). These are also some of the same people that will tell you this is not a business worth getting into.  They never figured this market out, but we have!! The wonderful news is we are growing as a name across the country, and you can be part of this movement by joining our franchise.

The information you see on this website is "Free" for your viewing pleasure, however, literature we send out in the mail does come with a price since we are going above and beyond what is normally offered to the public.  These packets are designed only for those interested in joining the franchise who will join when they are ready and able to do so. To avoid  people from taking advantage of our "inside" information, we no longer are allowed to send out our franchise packets until 40% of the franchise cost in paid up front. This helps keep "Honest People Honest".  We accept most major credit cards, personal checks, and also money orders.

We understand that in today's economy, it can be difficult for individuals to come up with the total upfront cost of the franchise. As a result, we are willing to work with those individuals as much as we can to help get you started. If the initial upfront payment of 40% of the franchise cost is paid, we can extend the 60% that will be due over a 24 month period.  Once we get you setup and have the birds trained out to 60 miles, this will be easier to pay off the remaining balance within the 2 years.  The way things are structured in our business model, you will more than likely be able to pay this off in 1 year with the dove releases you will have performed and booked for events. Please consider the fact that we cant "Make" you be successful if you're not willing to put forth the effort and follow our proven techniques that have made us ultra successful today.

 We will tell you that if you are open minded and teachable, along with willing to follow what really works through our system, you will do very well under our mentoring program.

 What type of Health Program do you follow to care for all your birds?

We will keep this simple under this section.  Our birds are very well take care of in their lofts. Our lofts have proper ventilation systems installed to allow maximum fresh air to enter, then exit the loft.  Our lofts are cleaned 3x per week, and this helps cut down on sickness of birds that many experience in other lofts due to lack of proper hygiene procedures. 

 We vaccinate all our breeders for the following things: PMV, Salmonella, and Pox.  We worm our birds on a quarterly basis, 4x per year.  We treat all our birds for Cocci and canker prior to letting them fly on our racing team.  The water given to the birds is changed on a daily basis, summertime, it is changed 2x per day. We provide all our birds with the highest quality grains, and constantly allow them to have grit and oyster shell in their diet. Garlic is also readily available to all our birds, this keeps the mosquito problem down around the loft.

 We treat all our birds with a preventative de-lice agent that keeps the lice off our birds.  In addition, all the birds nesting material we provide are first all treated with Permethrine, this prevents ticks, fleas, and all other unecessary bugs from getting into the nest with the breeders.  We provide all natural supplements to the birds and try and keep their environment as Anti- Biotic free as possible.  Birds are all given the opportunity to Bath in sea salts we use, and it keeps them clean and healthy.

We believe that keeping birds healthy by monitoring each and every one of them is a constant process.  We understand that when birds leave our lofts, they may not be treated with as much care as what we have invested in them. It is our desire that if you acquire birds from us, they are taken care of as we have done. We include care instructions as a means to help reduce the stress on the birds and the new environment they will be relocated to. Following these instructions, as well as commiting yourself to taking care of the birds on a daily basis will save you time and money in the long run.

 How do I get Liability Insurance for my Dove Business?

We are pleased that you ask us about this.  Many who are new to this industry and niche business do not realize the "liability" that is involved with releasing doves in the public (Yes there is high liability in this industry).  Anytime one releases doves at a wedding, or funeral, or special occasion for that matter, YOU RISK THE CHANCE OF A LAWSUIT IF THINGS GO WRONG!! I know this may sound strange, even foreign in words to some, however, it is true.  Since being in this business from 1989 to the present, we have had the opportunity of speaking with independent dove companies that have called us and had lawsuits brought against them because of accidents that happened at the wedding, soiled dresses damaged, emotional distress brought about due to dove handler negligence, etc.  (They didn't think about liability insurance until after the fact, learn from their mistakes)

Can you really afford to be in "Business" for yourself if you do not have your assets coverered?  If the answer is no, perhaps you seriously may want to consider getting liability insurance before you get into this business.  If you are in this business and don't have insurance, look into getting it soon.  The way trends are going, many organizations will not let you release doves at their venues unless you have proof of insurance.

Our agent we go through specializes in "niche" business insurance, and they are able to insure our business for $3,900.00 per year, that's just $325.00 per month if you want the breakdown(Based on 1 Million Dollars Coverage).  This may seem like a lot, but consider this, if you have something go wrong and you are not insured, is $3,900 really that much considering how much some wedding dresses nowadays cost that you could be required to pay out of your own pocket if something were to go wrong? It's a lot easier to get the insurance to minimize the risk of loss and be covered, rather than taking on the risk without it and gambling with liability.

If you are needing liability insurance, we can get you covered through our agent.  It can be rather difficult to find insurance companies out there that are willing to insure dove businesses. The brokerage we go through does not deal directly with the public.  We must go through our agent, who then deals with the company.

 As was mentioned earlier, many large high profile events are requiring now that dove businesses be insured, thats correct! They want dove businesses to carry at least 1 Million Dollars coverage, and they want proof of it.  This basically separates those that "Claim" to be a professional dove company(And there are many that fall into his category), versus one that is not. 

To cover your business liability and become part of a truly reputable "Professional Dove Business Industry" get insurance!!  feel free to Contact us, and we can get the paperwork started to get your business INSURED. 

 Why are you guys no longer carrying the Pigeon Vitality Product?

After thoroughly analyzing the distribution methods for this product, along with the cost we were having to sell it at just to come out ahead, we made the decision that from recommendations of numerous customers of ours, it was simply too expensive for their budget. Were these good products, yes, did we use them yes. Are we ready to launch our new product, absolutely!!

 We strive to offer the most affordable products to our prospective customers and for this reason we have sold out and requested to no longer be a distributor.  We have been working on a product over the years that has done miracles to keeping our birds healthy year after year. The great thing is we have been able to keep the cost down significantly, its  made right here in the USA so we dont have to pay import fees to have product shipped in from overseas. This is where any product that is imported makes it overall more expensive to the consumer.

 We are now selling it here at White Pigeon Sales, and it is extremely affordable for anyone who keeps pigeons. This product we have developed and decided to market and sell is used on all of our birds, it's called:

 RACING PIGEON ESSENTIALS. (Its 100% all natural, packed with numerous vitamines and 5 different kinds of organic acids that keep deadly pathnogenic viruses from develping in the birds digestive track. This product is used on the feed just 2 times a week, not in the water where the majority of disease and sickness starts, let alone get's wasted due to changing the water daily as any good loft practice should be followed). 

This product  will help keep your birds from getting sick, but also bring your birds in harmony with 100% organic nature. It's a lot cheaper to use this product as a preventative measure prior to them getting sick, rather than having to use all kinds of Carcinogenic Antibiotics that often times do more harm than overall good to your birds, plus requiring you to spend 3-4 times the amount of what our product costs. Many are aware that Antibiotics are extremely expensive, as well as deadly, if not used properly. Those lofts that use them regularly are asking for disaster down the road in their loft.

  We take a completely different approach and  believe in providing natural enzymes for our birds. If your birds don't like to fly, there's a very good chance they may be internally sick and not showing external symptoms.  If a bird isnt healthy to fly, and you try and take them on tosses, the likelihood of you getting that bird, or birds back is probably slim to none, they will fall prey to animals. If a bird is not healthy, they won't come home, its that simple!!

 Can you guarantee the sex of the bird?

 We will not guarantee the sex of the bird until the DNA test results are made on a particular bird, and this additional fee is billed to the customer. The majority of the top lofts in this country also will not guarantee their birds without this DNA test, why, because there is simply too much room for error without it.

We also cannot guarantee our Champion Pedigreed birds offspring will win you races, nor will the top breeding lofts do the same, why? Because when it comes to racing pigeons, you never know what loft will win all the time, if you did, you wouldnt be able to afford to buy birds from that loft because they would be worth so much they wouldnt sell them, no matter how much money you offered. But because this sport is so unpredictable, that's the fun of racing birds. 

 While there is some truth to the "Theory" that champion birds will breed champion birds at a better rate, that still isnt 100 percent accurate, reason being,  we have had champion birds pedigreed that were no better than non pedigreed birds, and they all flew. This sport has lots and lots of theories, but mind you, this is exactly that (Theories), not necessarily facts.

 We keep many of our pairs in individual breeding quarters so we can drastically reduce the risk of mistaking a cock for a hen or vise versa. The only way we can guarantee the sex of the birds we send out is by having an official Labratory DNA test performed.(These DNA tests do not lie, and they remove the possibility of human error).  These are not cheap, but if you are willing to pay the fee($35.00 per bird), we can  send the samples to our labratory partners we do business with . In return, they will send us a certificate verifying the birds gender, and this will be for you to keep.

 On occasion birds, (Particularly White  Racing Homers) can be very hard to tell the sex on, the characteristics may not always follow the same patterns as what we are used to seeing on colored birds, these include but are not limited to size of the bird, aggressiveness, the shape of the head, and many other characteristics we will not go into further details.  With this said, unless prior arrangements are made to have the DNA test done on the bird, there is still a 2 % margin of human error, and we all know on occasion humans make mistakes. 

 Our business policy in the past has always been the following: If we accidently send out a bird that is a cock( Although this rarely ever happens), and it should have been a hen, we will gladly replace the bird to correct the problem if you paid for the DNA test. Please Note: If it was a bird that you paid for to have exported out of the USA, the best we can do is ship a replacement bird  to the nearest port, then (you-the buyer) are required to get all the testing done to get it sent out at your expense, NOT OURS. Unless you paid prior to have the DNA test done that certifies that the bird is 100% sexed by a labratory, we are not responsible for domestic or export shipping fee's. There are absolutely no exceptions to this rule! We have had issues with this in the past from customers, and as a result, feel it  is necessary to post it right here on the website so you can see, rather than  us just keep it in our hard copy policy manual.

 We also do not refund, or allow birds to be returned to our facility once they are shipped out. All sales are final. To save us all time, if you would like a guaranteed sex of a particular bird, please make sure you pay the additional service fee at the time of checkout. It will take 1-2 weeks to get the results back from our Avian vet stating the guaranteed gender of the bird.

Do you ship birds Internationally? Yes, but there are many factors that determine whether you can import our birds to your country.  Before inquiring with us, please check your govt regulations to see if they allow it.  If they don't allow it, we cant do it!

 In the past we have been asked by customers to do some rather unethical things just to try and get birds to them.  We will not do this, neither will we jeopardize our Integrity just to sell you some birds even if you are trying to use money as a leverage, when it comes to laws, we will follow the laws and do not make any exceptions to this rule.

Due to the complexity of Federal laws that are enforced by government agencies and the costs associated with this, please check to see if importing birds from the USA is even possible in your country.  If after you obtain all the necessary info that is required for you to import to your country, and there are shipping lines that can service the route,  You will need to forward those requirements via email to us (In English). After we obtain this information from you, we will then be able to give you a general cost figure of how much you can expect on paying to obtain our breeding stock.

Can you tell me the best time to purchase birds?

Most certainly! Ideally the best time to purchase birds is right now(Jan-Apr). The reason I say this is that it will take a good 4-6 months from the time you acquire the birds till the time you will have them trained out to release them. If you are wanting to get started in the business and perform a few liberations for the 2009 year, now is the time to buy the birds while we have them available for shipment. Remember, the fall time there are more losses to birds due to hawks and migration patterns. Plan accordingly.. 

Are white dove releases slowing down since the country has been experiencing a recession?  

We have been getting asked this question so much that we would like to post this on our FAQ page. This is an excellent question, and I will tell you from first hand experience that as many would think they would be slowing down, its actually truthfully and honestly picking up even more(Its in Higher Demand now than it was just 3 years ago). The nature of this business deals with 2 markets that will never go away, the wedding sector, and the funeral sector.  We personally doubled our releases consecutively the last  4 years and this goes to show that even though people may be cutting back, they really want these services bad enough that they are willing to pay whatever it takes to have them. Many of the Funeral Directors just pay for the services through their corporate accounts, and don't charge their customers. I would like to also add that since companies are down sizing and people are loosing from their 401K's, many are needing to find other avenues to recoup their funds.  This is where home based businesses are growing at a phenominal rate. I cant think of a  better way that one could invest their money and have it work and yield a better return, than to start a business that requires much less startup capital than other businesses.  The best thing about this business is its run directly out of your own home, no building leases, electric bills, utility, etc. It's Small Businesses in America that DRIVE the economy, not Large Corporations as many would think. Please see the Small Business Administration website to learn about the facts of home based businesses. 

 How did you get into the dove release business? When did you start this service?

I've had birds most of my life, but not until I was 12 years old did these birds serve a higher calling for me. At this early age, I lost my grandfather, who was a big part of my life. He accomplished many great things, including graduating from Stanford University with a Doctorate in Mining and Engineering, graduating from the University of Utah with a J.D. in Law, and speaking 5 foreign languages fluently.

My grandfather always knew about the great passion and respect I had for these birds, and when my father told me of his passing, the inspiration of a "dove release" was a natural reaction. Back in 1989, the Internet wasn't around to promote new ideas and services, and I had never heard of anyone doing a dove release. I had a flock of white homers (rare in those days) that had not been let out of their new loft for about three months (my friend told me they would fly away if I didn't keep them in longer).

After attending my grandfather's funeral service, I felt compelled to dedicate these birds to my grandfather and liberate them, just as he was liberated from physical pain and mortality. I thought if these birds are meant to stay around and not fly away, then I would keep and care for them just as I had wanted to care for my grandfather. I liberated my whole flock the same day. All the beautiful white birds took off gracefully and flew for over 30 minutes. Then to my astonishment, after I blew the whistle to signal feeding time, and they all went right in the loft. I didn't lose a single bird! I believe God and my grandfather were looking down on me, assuring me that he was in safekeeping.

God spoke to me through my heart on this February day in 1989.  It was then that I realized I had a gift to share with people who normally would be looking sadly down at the ground when a loved one passed away. Instead, when people looked up towards the sky and watch the birds fly, they would see hope and peace. I continued to release doves at funerals. Word spread about my neat little niche business and it slowly became more popular. People began to pay me for my services, and I made money on the side at a very early age.

I share this story because I believe this service is a type of ministry. I never started this business to make money. Instead, I began this tradition because of the symbolism, hope, and beauty it brings. I found the meaning, and then the money came -- not the other way around.

 What is your background?

I have accomplished many great things in life at an early age, and for this I truly am grateful. I am an Eagle Scout and received this highest rank of scouting at the age of thirteen. I served a voluntary church mission for two years in the beautiful country of Portugal, becoming fluent in Portuguese. I caught my first pigeon by hand when I was just five years old, while visiting California; this is when I became fascinated with the birds.

I served six active (Honorable) years in the United States Air Force. During this time I earned three degrees, despite all the deployments to the Middle East after 9/11.

I hold an A.S. Degree in Management from Park University, an A.A.S. Degree in Aerospace Technology from the CCAF, and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management from Park University (Missouri). I am currently working on a M.B.A. with an emphasis on International Business and Entrepreneurship. I am a firm believer in education; it truly does open wonderful doors and opportunity, especially when combined with my experiences in the business world. Please visit the About Us and About Dan Hash pages for more information.

 Do you offer consulting services? May I fly out and see your operation?

Yes, we do! Yes you can! It's amazing when I look back at how much things have changed since 1989. The Internet has connected people throughout the globe. People from all over the country now fly to Little Rock, AR to see my operation. Though I cannot discuss the trade secrets that have made my business so successful over the years without requiring people to sign our NDA, I am willing to share the basics. (The NDA is necessary to keep honest people honest.)

I am now a consultant in this business and am paid for my time, just as an artist, photographer, attorney or other professional.  We are not able to give our operations procedures away for free, but we are willing to answer the general questions you may have about the business. If you are serious about getting into this business, we seriously recommend that you sign our NDA and come visit us!

Although we welcome you to visit our operation, we must ask that you pay a reasonable amount for our time. The cost is $250 per half day. To join us on a dove release assignment, please add $100.00. If you join our United Doves Franchise, we will waive these fees, but you still will be asked to sign our NDA. This protects our job, but more importantly, it "Keeps Honest People Honest"!

We need at least 2 months prior notice due to our busy schedule and frequent trips out of the country on consultations.

 Do you have pedigrees on your birds? If so, how good are they?

Well, I must say this racing sport does get very competitive because people want the best birds they can get their hands on. I do keep pedigrees on my birds. Several have champion bloodlines! Many are grandchildren of first-place middle-distance races. I also keep pedigreed birds directly imported from Belgium. These are from the 600-mile distance races. Please see our Breeders & Pedigrees page to view the record on our birds and some of the pedigrees that are certified correct.

 How much are your Pedigreed Birds for Racing?

We have all different prices, this is all based on the bloodlines of the parents we own and breed from. We have pedigreed birds that can sell for as little as $150.00 each, but can also sell for as high as $2,000+++.  We have birds available to fit anyones budget.

 What is the typical lifespan of the birds that you sell?

The typical lifespan of the birds is 12-15 years; however, they have been known to live as long as 25 years.

  Do you keep track of all the people who use your graphics to promote their own dove business?

Excellent question! Yes, every photo that we sell comes with a "rights to lease agreement"; the customer gets a copy and we keep the original. This protects our works and those of our photographer.

If our research team finds that a dove website is using our graphics without paying for them (basically, stealing them), site owners are notified that they are infringing on our copyright. We allow them to continue to use the photos only if they pay the royalties that are due. We then provide high-resolution images for use in promoting their business. If they do not pay for them, they must remove them immediately to avoid fines due to infringement of  works they are not authorized to use.

Be on the safe side by purchasing the photos you would like to use; it's much more affordable to be honest than to be dishonest and steal people's time and works, not to mention the steep fines involved. 

 Have you heard of people offering Black Dove Releases, as opposed to White Dove Releases?

Yes, I have heard of people who offered black dove releases to differentiate their services from other dove companies in the Los Angeles area. They found in the past that black doves were not in high demand because they were unfamiliar to the public, and because white doves symbolize peace, fidelity, and purity. The public will let you know what they want, and in most cases the White Doves are preferred due to familiarity.

 If you can utilize the White Doves you will be fine; remember, anything too obscure may be very hard to market. But you can decide for yourself. After all, it's your business, not anyone else's! You may want to consider dying your birds pink, blue, yellow, and purple for birthday parties. Some people have had success with this, no joke! (Please check with us about safe and humane dyes to use on your birds.)

 What is the typical "working life" (in years) of the birds that you sell?

The average working life is 8 years.

 Do you fly both male and female birds in your White Dove Release Business?

We fly both cocks and hens on our flying team.

 What is a "dropper?"

A dropper is a released pigeon that will fly straight to the loft's landing board. The dropper gets the racing pigeon's attention so that the racing bird will head to the landing board. White fantail pigeons often are used as droppers.

 How do you attach the pigeon whistles?

Pigeon whistles (flutes) are a very old tradition that originated in Beijing, China. The whistles are attached to the center tail feathers of the bird. We provide easy to follow instructions with every Beijing Pigeon whistle purchase. We recommend that you fly at least nine birds with the flutes to help deter and scare the hawks away from your birds.

 Where are you located?

We are located approximately 25 minutes outside of Little Rock, Arkansas, in the city of Cabot. We keep one of our White Dove Release flying teams here to serve the central part of the state. We are thankful that our City Ordinances Council has allowed us to keep our birds within city limits.

 Is the White Dove Release Business suitable for someone retired?

Most certainly! We have seen tremendous growth and interest in this age group. There is a world of opportunity for those who are retired and have time available to serve the public. (Many of our retired customers also had birds at an earlier age.)

 I was looking at the United Doves franchise; however, I can't decide whether I would like to buy one, or do this on my own.

I appreciate your interest and understand completely where you are coming from. If you don't have much knowledge about the birds, please start by learning as much as you can about them and please do not try this venture alone. 

We realize that to some, the thought of going into a franchise means they won't have any say in how to run the business.  Our franchise does have guidelines that are designed to ultimately make you successful, however, we are very easy going when it comes to being open to suggestions, new ideas, etc.  Since all the franchises are independently owned, there is a lot of leniency as far as what is allowed.  Our Franchises can DBA their business however they would like since this allows them to personalize the name, or they can simply use the United Doves of ... (location).

Due to the large email inquiries we receive, as well as the time that is demanded to return emails, we have found it necessary to distinguish those people who are just "Curious" about the business, versus those who are "Serious".  If you fall into the serious category, and meet the minimal financial qualifications, we would be more than happy to send you our contract franchise packet to prepare you into joining this venture .

So many aspects to running a dove release business are overlooked, including all the daily care and time required to train the birds properly. This is where experience in this field is necessary. The only way to get this experience is to learn from those who know how it is done. Simply stated, I wouldn't ask a new salesman to sell me a car that happens to be the worst on his lot, and neither should you. 

This service business must be approached with passion and professionalism. These are two of the many great attributes that successful people possess. In my experience, those who understand these attributes are the ones who make their business dream a reality.

I have spent countless hours talking with individuals about the birds and all aspects of the dove business, and there's much more to come as far as products and services are concerned. When I designed this website, my vision was to create a source of information and guidance that would be easily available to the public. People have told me often that our website -- more than others they have visited -- offers much more information and tools to point them in the right direction. Many have even told me this website has been an answer to their prayers!

We know the frustration of having to shop around until you feel like you've been going in circles with no direction or guidance. Our website provides the tools, information, and supplies you need to succeed in the White Dove Release Business, so you will have no need to look further.

Sign up for a new (free) account using the "Log in or Create Account" link at the very top of any page on this site. Then, take our survey to see whether you are ready to own a White Dove Release Business!

 After the temperatures get too high to ship, do you allow customers to visit your loft and pick up birds for purchase?

Absolutely! We have met so many wonderful people in this business. You are more than welcome to stop by our loft. Just make sure you call us in advance, as we are extremely busy running both United Doves and White Pigeon Sales.

 Do you band your birds?

We band all the birds we fly with (AU) sealed bands; however, most of our customers have asked us to just snap-band the birds. Please give us a call, and we will be more than happy to discuss banding methods.

 Do people really make money in the White Dove Release Business?

Yes, they do. We know many people who do this for a living and are enjoying the American Dream. As with any business venture in life, one must have the ambition and drive to put forth the effort to promote the business. Those who truly put forth the effort make these dreams a reality.

 How many Dove Releases can I expect to perform in a "good" year?

If you are serving an area with a large population base, expect to perform anywhere from 700-1,000 dove releases in a good year. Please trust me on this, however: you will need several years to create enough publicity to make these goals a reality.
Creating a market for this type of intangible product is not an easy task, and to think you can do it without sound advice and good marketing is to go in blind and just asking for failure. You may as well give away $10,000-$12,000 of your hard-earned dollars, because you will lose money if you don't know what you are doing in this type of industry.

Realistically speaking, you should allow at least 5 years to achieve a range of 300-400 dove releases per year, assuming you know exactly what you are doing, make few big mistakes, and know the right way to market your business to the public. Without experience and marketing know-how, some dove release companies enjoy more of the hobby aspect of the business, rather than the business aspect. There is nothing wrong with this as many get the birds for simple enjoyment, a way to relax, etc.(If you're serious, we can help you gain the know-how and experience you need to succeed in the White Dove Release Business.)

 What are the chances of being able to start a White Dove Release Business in an area that already has several dove release companies?

Those "first in" have a significant advantage over those just trying to copy the idea. I have seen people go into this business with the wrong intentions and fail miserably in their pursuit of making money, not to mention the bad reputation and unprofessional presentation it has brought to the White Dove Release Business.

You have to love what you do, and do it to the very best of your ability. I suggest that you approach this venture to make meaning, as well as to educate others about the amazing role doves have played in history. What one dove release company does reflects on all the others, especially in this niche market.

The first White Dove Release Business in an area usually establishes a network of contacts, which makes it more difficult for another to take over the existing business relationships with the funeral homes and wedding planners. I recommend you do the research in your area to see what opportunities are available for white wedding doves and doves for funeral services, and then determine how many of these businesses an area will support. Please keep what I am going to mention here in the back of your mind; THE WORLD IS FULL OF ABUNDANCE, THERE IS PLENTY TO GO AROUND AS LONG AS YOU KEEP A GOOD ATTITUDE ABOUT THE BUSINESS. LEARN TO APPRECIATE THE GREATNESS OF YOUR SERVICE AND YOU WILL DO JUST FINE. CUSTOMERS WILL BE ABLE TO READ YOU, AND THEY WILL KNOW YOUR MOTIVES. ITS NOT ABOUT YOU, IT'S ABOUT TAKING CARE OF THE CUSTOMER 100% AND MEETING THEIR NEEDS.

 Will you train the birds at our funeral home?

We would be more than happy to do this as long as you have the proper facilities to keep and care for the birds. Please call us and we can explain how the pricing works along with any other details you need to know. We will fly nationwide to get you started. We suggest you give us at least 3 months prior notice so we can plan our schedules accordingly.

 Is this a growing industry?

This is one of the best kept secrets out there! Many people want to find new ways to set their services apart. The funeral sector is going through a strong movement to personalize their services with church doves and memorial doves. Dove funeral releases set them apart from other traditional services.

This is happening in the wedding sector as well. Many brides want more non-traditional unique weddings to set themselves apart with white church doves and white wedding doves. Though White Dove Releases are becoming more popular around the world, many wedding planners still are not aware of these services. Our job is to inform others about these white wedding doves services.

 Does your company do more dove releases for weddings or for funerals?

We do more funerals; however, like any others, this business will go in cycles. We may do three funerals in a day, and not do any weddings in a week. At times, we have done two weddings in a day, and only one funeral in a week.

Demographics does play a role, however. We have seen areas of the country where a small dove company can do as many as three to four events in a week in a small town. This all comes down to the effort, as well as the need of the services in a given area.

 Where do the doves go after they are released?

They circle overhead to get their bearings, and then they head home to the loft where they were raised from birth. (This is referring to the birds we personally raise and train in our own release program). If you acquire our birds at the prime age of 45-50 days old, you will be able to train them to your residence with no problem. This is the age range we always send our squeekers out at. They are healthy and strong enough to handle the USPS system, yet still not old enough on the wing and imprint to be untrainable.

The Homing imprint becomes very strong once the birds reach the age of 14-16 weeks old. Some people out there will say that you should never purchase birds from anyone else because they will not be able to be trained, this is simply FALSE, and we have years of experience that  show how false it truly is. Thousands of our birds are sent all over the country and trained to their new residence. Our customers are very pleased with our product we send out to get them started in the business.

The Homing Instinct "Imprint" always becomes stronger in a bird as they become older. This is where one should use caution when purchasing birds from anyone that are older than the above age range mentioned. If you buy birds older than 14-16 weeks, you will be better off keeping them as prisoners or breeders, otherwise you may risk loosing the birds on the first free flight. Read about what happened to the individual who bought older birds, and thought they were smart enough to try and retrain birds that already had imprinted on a location for several years.

If you buy breeders from us you will NEVER be able to free fly them outside an enclosed loft due to the powerful instinct they have had bred in them. In the past, we had sold some breeders to an individual over 500 miles away.  They claim they kept the birds in 6 months and thought they would be able to retrain them,(We emphasized to them to never let them out), well they didn't stand a chance.  The birds bolted on their first opportunity, and they arrived back to our place in Cabot, AR. We called the individual we had sold the birds to, and to their amazement they made it back. We shipped the birds back to the individual, and made sure they were aware to keep them locked up for good. These birds are no joke, they are the real deal.

We know our birds are excellent birds with excellent homing ability, and this true story we mentioned proves it!!  If you buy our breeders, NEVER LET THEM OUT, THEY WILL ATTEMPT TO RETURN BACK TO WHERE THEY WERE RAISED BY THE IMPRINT THEY HAVE MADE ON OUR LOFT.
 

 How do the doves find their way back home?

The doves that are released are called Rock Doves, or Racing Homing Pigeons. They navigate their way home using magnetic fields. A great deal of scientific research has been done on this subject, and we now know that magnetite is found in the birds brains and their beaks. This magnetite helps them navigate home from many miles away.

 How long does it take for the doves to get home?

The doves travel between 45-50 miles per hour and usually fly non-stop until they reach their home.

 Will the doves make a mess?

If you are planning on doing a self release, they may!!The doves are never fed shortly before they are released; so they will be able to perform without soiling. They also fly with their feet tucked up underneath their body, which also prevents droppings.

 Can the doves be bought from a pet store and be released?

No, doves bought in pet stores do not have the homing ability; therefore, it would be inhumane to release these pet-store doves in the wild. They would quickly fall prey to other animals.

Please support your local dove business by arranging the birds through trained professionals who are members of the White Dove Release Network, and also active members of the American Racing Pigeon Union. The goal is to have people think and talk highly of the service, not make fun of it. Dove releases not performed by knowledgeable staff can bring undesired results. There is a right way and a wrong way to liberate doves.

 Can the doves be released indoors?

No, they are only trained to be released outdoors. However, they always make a beautiful display indoors.

 Can the doves be released at dark?

Normally the doves must be released by one hour prior to sunset to enable them to return home to their loft before dark, however,if prior arrangements are made, we can release the birds for plays at nightime safely. If you would like to see one of our recent Passion Play night releases, please visit our videos page. These night releases take lots of experience and training and only a few select birds have the ability to fly at nightime. We only use the birds we know have this special ability, and are trained to fly on the prompt.

 Would you be willing to send me some hard copy info of your works?

Our material is copyrighted, and we cannot distribute the hard copy of our "Techniques and Methods" handbook of how we manage our business. This information is available only through our Franchise Opportunity. We will gladly share this with those who join our team.

If you have general questions about the White Dove Release Business, we can discuss this with you. We appreciate your understanding why we must protect the intellectual property on which we have spent large sums of money and research.

 What is most important to know about the loft in order to raise these birds healthy?

I'm glad you asked! Some people who are completely new to bird raising often will lose a bird or two. In most cases, this could have been avoided had they put the food and water in front of the birds.

When the birds leave our loft, they are put into a completely new and unfamiliar environment. Since these birds are just weaned, some will still have a hard time eating and drinking when food and water are not easily within reach.

Squeakers usually do not die because they are sick (we thoroughly check each bird before shipping). Although the stress of shipping can cause losses, the most common reason for loss is that the birds do not get food and water where they can reach it. Birds that cannot adapt to their new environment and get the food and water they need will likely die. This is why food and water must always be in front of them and easily accessible at all times.

We now send out instructions with every bird purchase, this helps our customers  to have a clear idea of what birds need to help them recover from stress and adapt to their new environment.

 Do you sell the same birds to customers that you sell to your United Doves franchises?

No, we do not offer the same birds to the public as we offer to franchises. We currently have 4 different breeding stations and working on a fifth. The budget birds are $30 each (excluding shipping costs). Our franchises get the highest-quality birds that we own. These top-quality birds start $100 each and go up to as high as $2,000 each. Those who invest with us will see the benefits of having a $100 bird versus a $30 bird. Plenty of people around the world have offered to buy our higher priced birds. However, I will NOT sell our highest-quality birds to anyone who is not part of our franchise.  If you are considering joining our franchise and you want to start with the birds that are cream of the crop, what we can do is sell you our $100 dollar birds, then we would subtract this cost from the overall cost of the franchise. This gives everyone a fair, and equal opportunity to own our top birds that are in HIGH DEMAND FOR A REASON!!

 Is it true that you may be organizing a White Pigeon Loft Race for 2012?

Yes, it's true! Click here to learn more.

 How much will it cost to participate in this 2012 Loft Race?

My goal is to make this the most affordable of One Loft events. The cost will depend on how many participate. Ideally, we would involve approximately 500 birds. Click here to learn more.

 Additional questions? Please feel free to contact us. We will post on this page for others to view.

Kind regards,

Dan Hash