The Doves are a unique breed

Our pure white homing doves are the only breed of their kind in the world today. We believe that we are the only company in the UK to provide ‘doves’ for release and not a substitute white racing pigeon.

The White Dove Company were the first full time business to offer homing doves for release on a professional basis, keeping around 100 working birds and 30 breeding birds.

Its original breeding programme involved crossing the common farm dove which is petite in size but can only find its way home from 8-10 miles, with the larger white racing pigeon, which can home from distances of 700 miles.

Year on year, hybrid birds were paired with farm doves, the breeding process took over a five-year period until virtually all of the white racing pigeon blood was bred out to leave the unique doves that are released today.

The White Dove Company’s colonies of birds are as petite and elegant as the farm dove, yet can home from distances of 100 miles and at speeds of 35-75mph. The doves are trained in all weathers and so have the capability and strength to co-ordinate most conditions on their release. Their welfare is paramount so in adverse weather conditions it may not possible to release them as they may not be able to home within a day or two.

All the doves undergo months of training to ensure they can navigate their way home after a release. While the birds require sufficient time to return home before dusk, the timing of the release is otherwise very flexible.

The birds are housed in modern lofts divided into sections for nursery birds, yearlings, two year olds and over. They are used to living inside with all the home comforts, and after exercise or any release it is very rare for them not to return home. They work until they are seven or eight years old, then they are retired into a breeding program. Most doves live until they are around 12 years old.

A white dove is believed to be a symbolic peace maker and a religious sign. They are an emblem of harmony, happiness and almost certainly inner peace.

Location & Flight Times

The radius for the birds is 60 miles from Loughton (as the crow flies). However This is extended during the summer months.

The last release time for the birds is 45 minutes before Sunset.

The table below shows approximate times of sunrise and sunset:

Doves can be released any other time earlier during day light.

Sunrise and Sunset times can be found at www.timeanddate.com