The cot pigeon sport is primarily found in The Hague and surrounding area. Cot pigeon players are meant to seize each other’s pigeons. The pigeons are kept in special cages, or cots, on balconies, roofs or in gardens. A few times a day a pigeon is released to lure the dove of another cot pigeon lover and thus catch it. The excitement of the luring is the core attraction of this sport, it is the sometimes called ‘air work’. The battle goes between the so-called cot steadiness and the mating drive of the pigeons. When a pigeon has been caught, it is subsequently sold in special pigeon shops or given to acquaintances. Sometimes they are used for breeding. The pigeon is not returned to the former owner. There are light cages with bars in the cot, where the female pigeons are. There are also dark cages, for the males, or cocks. Through an ingenious system with a thread and a piece of lead the sliders of the cots can be opened and shut. Cot pigeons are generally crossbreds of various types of fancy pigeons with a typical large crop.
