Pigeon Talk

[backyard pigeons]

So I was just thinking, what made y'all first want to get pigeons? For me, it was a book that I read cover to cover in a very short time. I thought it was cool that you could fly them, and they actuaflewflew, unlike chickens.

 

[cavemanrich]

He slapped me today when i was cleaning his cage out. Wasn't expecting that at all.

I'm not as forgiving as you are...

Spoiler: This would be me

 

[memphis]

Backyard pigeons...I like that topic...what made folks get pigeons.
I don't have pigeons...yet. But what drove my initial interest was the use of them during WW1 as a source of communication. I saw a PBS special on them years ago. Several were even awarded military medals for their service. They profiled one bird who flew through the front, was shot, yet managed to arrive on foot. The bird actually survived but never flew again. The birds were recruited from established coops and written records and diaries show the strong relationships between the birds & their handlers. It was an interesting show that has stuck with me for years.

 

[Pyxis]

So I was just thinking, what made y'all first want to get pigeons? For me, it was a book that I read cover to cover in a very short time. I thought it was cool that you could fly them, and they actuaflewflew, unlike chickens.

I first became interested when I got tagged in a thread here on BYC, on which someone was trying to raise an abandoned feral pigeon egg. I think a couple of us in here probably decided to get pigeons because of the same thread, lol.

 

[Hokum Coco]

What made folks get pigeons?

My grand father Arnold MacKinnon was involved in the battle of Passchendaele WWl where one such pigeon was shot (later died) but managed to deliver a message to save the troops. My grand father was shot twice once through the shoulder another through the leg, saddle, and into Major (my grand father's mount). Both manged to deliver their message and survive.



https://www.military-history.org/articles/pigeons-at-passchendaele.htm

My dad Private O. Murray MacKinnon (1921-1999) FSSF WWll.

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2209279372

 

[WVduckchick]

So I was just thinking, what made y'all first want to get pigeons? For me, it was a book that I read cover to cover in a very short time. I thought it was cool that you could fly them, and they actuaflewflew, unlike chickens.

I believe my interest started a few years ago when a member here hand raised some. They were so adorable! She definitely piqued my interest in them.
Then after that, I would sit and watch the pigeons inside the factory I used to work in. Part of the building was no longer being used and roof panels and windows were broken, so the birds would come inside.

Then I guess the kicker was probably the thread Pyxis mentions. I checked CL and FB and found some within an hour drive, so I went for it!

I first became interested when I got tagged in a thread here on BYC, on which someone was trying to raise an abandoned feral pigeon egg. I think a couple of us in here probably decided to get pigeons because of the same thread, lol.

If we weren’t hatchers, we probably wouldn’t have gotten involved there, but since she was trying to save the egg, we jumped in.
(I assume I’m thinking of the same thread lol)

 

[WVduckchick]

My grand father Arnold MacKinnon was involved in the battle of Passchendaele WWl where one such pigeon was shot (later died) but managed to deliver a message to save the troops. My grand father was shot twice once through the shoulder another through the leg, saddle, and into Major (my grand father's mount). Both manged to deliver their message and survive.

View attachment 1726836

https://www.military-history.org/articles/pigeons-at-passchendaele.htm

View attachment 1726842

My dad Private O. Murray MacKinnon (1921-1999) FSSF WWll.

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2209279372

Love this!

 

[WVduckchick]

I checked Duff’s eggs last night, day 11/12. Both looking fantastic!

 

[backyard pigeons]

I believe my interest started a few years ago when a member here hand raised some. They were so adorable! She definitely piqued my interest in them.
Then after that, I would sit and watch the pigeons inside the factory I used to work in. Part of the building was no longer being used and roof panels and windows were broken, so the birds would come inside.

Then I guess the kicker was probably the thread Pyxis mentions. I checked CL and FB and found some within an hour drive, so I went for it!



If we weren’t hatchers, we probably wouldn’t have gotten involved there, but since she was trying to save the egg, we jumped in.
(I assume I’m thinking of the same thread lol)

Are you thinking of the one lauramunro started? It sure is a cool thread.

 

[backyard pigeons]

My grand father Arnold MacKinnon was involved in the battle of Passchendaele WWl where one such pigeon was shot (later died) but managed to deliver a message to save the troops. My grand father was shot twice once through the shoulder another through the leg, saddle, and into Major (my grand father's mount). Both manged to deliver their message and survive.

View attachment 1726836

https://www.military-history.org/articles/pigeons-at-passchendaele.htm

View attachment 1726842

My dad Private O. Murray MacKinnon (1921-1999) FSSF WWll.

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2209279372

very cool story. Thanks for sharing.