Recent content by nxd10

I am quoted as saying mine lived together without problem. That was true. Until they didn't. One of my hens got broody. The pigeons had been nesting nearby. She killed three of them in 3 days and ripped open the breast of a fourth. That very tough bird was actually sewed up by a vet. She...

I have had two birds look like this. I think it was from a hawk. Both recovered. I got good antibiotics from a vet and brought them inside and kept them with my cockatiels, actually (very gentle birds). Made sure they had food and water next to them on the floor (took several days before...

Thank you for all the good expert advice. After just a few days, they seem to be exploring more than just the underside of my car and my mat. I don't know if it's the mineral block, large grit in addition to the chick grit, additional chicken mix in their seed, or better flight training, but...

Thank you. They are eating whole grain food and chicken crumble (not chicken scratch). They definitely want that when they're raising young. But I agree they seem to be missing something important in their diet. I will get appropriate grit and minerals. That's a good thought. It would be...

I have a small flock of currently 14 homing dove in a nice roomy coop. I fly them every day. Good seed plus they forage chicken crumble, especially when they have young ones. They are obsessed with car undercarriages. After they've flown, they go under the cars and start picking things off...

I'm having an odd problem. I have one white racer who has raised a number of clutches. She is the last, very tough, bird left of a series of pigeons who were either hit by hawks or did not return. I have 4 other younger birds, now breeding age. The older bird has been on her nest and...

Two more returned! Two still missing.

Thank you. I will have to fly them hungry - I am becoming averse to tossing than - and what's the point of that! They do have a nice loft and the birds who return have learned the best food is there for those who return first. But, as I say, I have never had this kind of problem...

I have two like this - Barred rocks. The feathers started receding after they were two years old. Part of it's plucking but I notice all my older hens have feathers receding starting at the crest. One is completely bald. No signs of mites. I think it's age. They are almost done laying and...

Or perhaps I am just the worst trainer in the world. I am befuddled by my young birds, who seem completely uninterested in flying. I have had a small flock of homing doves for three years. I have had steady breeding success, but also steady attrition from mostly hawks. However, all of...

I have ones just like that and they always get nasty. My pigeons are talented. :)

Antibiotics? Sounds like she's sitting in poop. And yes, they can get sour crop.

Mine do loft fly almost every day. I have seen them outrace sharp shinned hawks (amazing). But I've also lost some to them close to home. Perhaps that's the problem. My oldest toughest and fastest bird may get kept in just for breeding. She has survived a chicken attack (3 inch open gash across...

Thanks. Yes, I have raised it and that certainly helps. But no matter where I locate it, I get droppings. The covered idea looks good. I'll experiment with that tomorrow. They love to bathe. I have a bath on the open 'porch' (4'x8') that they all use daily. I was thinking about modifying an...

Any suggestions for a good system for keeping water clean in the loft? I currently have a cat water station (jug that replenishes a bowl). For the winter I have a heated dog bowl. My chicken waterer has not worked because it fills with shavings and droppings. All work fine, but they are a...