biophiliac
Rest in Peace 1953-2021
While out filling water tubs late this afternoon, we had a visitor....a pristine white homing pigeon. She was smaller than other homers we have seen. She had a red leg band and may have separated from other homers released.
She landed in the drive between the ducks and the free ranging chickens. The chickens ignored her. The ducks were curious and followed her around as she picked thru the gravel in the drive. When she flew up to the barn roof I set out some mixed grains and a bowl of water up on a ledge near her. After nibbling and drinking our visitor flew to the northwest.
We often have homing pigeons on maiden flights simply drop in for a rest.
A few years ago a grizzle homer visited. He had lost several flight feathers and was tired. We put him in a cage and cared for him (feed, water, and treated for mites) until we could locate the owner using his leg band numbers. Then we met the owner halfway to return the homer to his owner...love a happy ending.

Homer are so intelligent they seem to know the right places to land for some help when they need it!
Click to expand...
We have never had pigeons in our barn so if a single or a few show up, they usually have leg bands indicating they are homing pigeons on a flight. The grizzle's owner said that that bird might even make our place a regular stop on his flight pattern since he stayed so long and received good care. Haven't seen him since.
A homing pigeon is rarely lost unless there has been a storm or a frightening attack by a hawk.
So when one shows up, I always set out food and water high up above my birds even though the homers would get down on the ground with my poultry.
I really don't want them mixing very long with my birds. Most breeders of homers take really good care of theirs, but the grizzle was covered with feather mites. Once caught, he was housed separated in a private cage away from my birds. He was the last bird to be tended each day. Didn't want any possible contamination.
