Pigeon fancier forced to quit after discovering feather allergy

A man who has been racing pigeons for decades has been forced to give up his hobby after discovering he is allergic to feathers.

Jason Dempsey, from Maryport, Cumbria, has acquired around 120 birds since developing an interest in the sport when he was just eight years old.

He spent years building his team, getting up at 4am every day to train the birds, and recently won the Derwent Valley Federation and West Cumbria Amalgamation competition.

However, the 50-year-old is now highly allergic to the birds’ feathers, meaning he must give up the sport and sell the pigeons.

Speaking to BBC Radio Cumbria, he said: “Once the birds start disappearing, it’s going to be hard, I’m not going to lie.

“It was quite pleasing, this being the last year I’m racing the pigeons.”

He added: “It just gives you that butterflies in your stomach feeling when you see your bird folding its wings back and you know it’s yours and it’s coming to your loft.”

Mr Dempsey has had asthma since he was 18 and had struggled with chest infections in recent years.

He said he thought it was related to the respiratory disease, but further tests showed he was suffering from a condition known as bird fancier’s lung.

The condition is caused by particles from birds’ feathers or droppings and can lead to lung scarring if left untreated.

It is among the most common forms of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, an allergic lung disease caused by inhaling environmental allergens, such as mould, bacteria, fungi, or animal proteins.

Mr Dempsey explained that his health was a priority and said his wife was looking forward to having the weekends back.

He is set to sell the pigeons to others in the pigeon racing community, and added: “Fingers crossed they’ll go to a good home.”

It is believed there are approximately 60,000 pigeon enthusiasts in the UK, with about 42,000 of them actively racing pigeons.

Racing pigeons can reach average speeds of 50mph. However, with a tailwind, this can increase to 70-80mph. Speeds of over 100mph have been recorded by top racers.

The Royal family have actively taken part in the sport since Belgium’s King Leopold II gave Queen Victoria racing pigeons in 1886.

But King Charles did not take on the royal patronages for the Royal Pigeon Racing Association, the sport’s governing body in the UK, and the country’s premier club, the National Flying Club, from the late Queen.

King Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth II, grandfather George VI, great-grandfather George V, and great-great-grandfather Edward VII have all taken part in the sport.

[Source: Daily Telegraph]