In the quaint town of Ellesmere, Shropshire, 21-year-old Sophie James has found an unusual and profitable side hustle: selling art created by her pet pigeons.. Inspired by a friend who made money from rat paintings, James decided to try the same with her flock of racing pigeons. She paints the feet of her birds—Blizzard, Brock, Pip, and Seagall—and lets them walk across mini canvases, creating abstract patterns.

From Hobby to Small Business

Starting in March 2025 on Vinted, James initially priced the pigeon paintings at £6 but quickly raised it to £8 each due to demand. Now she sells about five pieces per week and has earned approximately £1,200 in total. While some of the money goes into savings, most of it is reinvested into her pigeons, covering costs like food and race entry fees.

Training Young Artists

James, who grew up around racing pigeons, starts training the birds when they are very young, so they become accustomed to the process. Brock, for example, began his artistic career at just 20 days old. The painting sessions happen anywhere in her home where she can set up the materials. She selects a pigeon for the day, holds them gently, applies paint to their feet, and then places them on the canvas to walk around. She often rotates colors to keep the artworks varied.

Family, Friends, and Customers: All Fans of Pigeon Art

James' family and friends have been supportive and curious about the venture,often asking for updates. The response from buyers has been overwhelmingly positive . She receives messages from customers who love the paintings and order multiple pieces, sometimes as surprises for others. She posts the artworks on Vinted, and they typically sell within a day.. She spaces out her listings to maintain steady sales.

The Flock: A Mix of Breeds

The pigeons involved include four different breeds: grizzle, check pied, blue bar, and mealy. James plans to continue the side hustle indefinitely, curious to see how long the trend lasts and how it evolves. Overall, her innovative approach has turned a simple hobby into a small business, blending her love for animals with creativity and entrepreneurship.