Pigeon Lofts - any words of warning? Thank you

When I was a child there were several back garden lofts, each with 50 plus birds. They are kept for racing so they will regularly be let out to exercise. I don’t recall any complaints.

My dad and his pals were all pigeon fanciers and I spent hours of my childhood in the lofts, helping my dad to log them all in when they returned from a race. I don't recall any smells, noise or vermin and my dad certainly wouldn't have exposed me to such if there was a danger.

A month ago a neighbour told me he had seen rats at the back of my garden shed. I paid the council £125 to get rid of them and the "rat catcher" told me the whole of our (privately-owned estate of abt 700 houses was rife with rats, especially round the streets with a stream running underneath the roads and he reckoned that most of them had had a rat infestation at some point or another in his forty years of experience.

I've never seen one (and don't want to) but left alone a few rats can produce thousands of offspring in a year.

So a few homing pigeons can't be as bad as that.

Sorry no knowledge of this but would be wary of living nearby.

I suppose that as they aren't wild pests they are trained to return to the loft so won't roost elsewhere. The only person I knew who kept pigeons let their birds out twice a day for exercise.
Maybe you could visit to look at their flight path?
Are you thinking of moving near a loft?

I suppose it depends how dedicated they owner is whether there would be rodents, or much smell - I expect it would be hard to keep it away entirely in the heat

The loft is near a house I've an interest in, l was very surprised to see it as the area is more renowned for shooting birds than racing them. From a distance their loft appeared very clean and there was a spirited terrier dashing around which made me think he could be the master rat catcher. My own terrier was going nuts after a scent and that usually indicates rodents (or her arch enemy The Great Dane). I'm well used to, but not keen on, rats. We've escaped the heat here, one day it got to 28° (with a sea breeze easily bearable). I feel for you all suffering it, caught the beginnings in May in France, was a welcome relief to come home. Thank you for the responses.

Thank you for responding.

Is there another neighbour you could pop in on to "chat about the area" (generally) and casually introduce it if they are talkative?

I have always said "hello" to neighbours prior to a move.

Obviously they may be good friends with the loft person - so don't lead with conversation about the pigeons!

l was very surprised to see it as the area is more renowned for shooting birds than racing them.
is quite a "chatty sort of line"

I hope you get some answers.

There's a lot of information on Google regarding rat infestation of pigeon lofts. Rats are attracted by spilled pigeon feed or inadequately stored bulk pigeon feed.
Pigeon lofts can also give off a strong ammonia like smell.
I suppose these things depend on the owner of the pigeons and the level of care/hygiene.

Where I grew up lot of people had pigeon lofts . They kept them spotless to keep their birds healthy . Racing pigeons cost a lot of money and they breed them . Have been in a pigeon loft of a boy I knew his grandfather gave it him when a teenager. Pigeon fancies took pride in their birds. Cleaned everyday and spent hours looking after them . No one had problems with rats or diseases.

Racing pigeon are still very expensive especially if they race long distance .

Just watch out for your washing if the birds are flying but that can be said of any birds.

Recently walking to the bus stop had bird poo on my hair 😠 😡 . Didn't notice until I touch my hair and felt a dry patch . Good job I carry anti bac. wipes.

Normal garden bird feeders attract rats, a pigeon loft has been built for a hobby and the ones I saw were spotless, cleaner than some kitchens