Adopted Homers... will they stay?

[LamarshFish]

and if they breed, their babies will almost for sure stay. they don't know any other home. Some people who buy adult homers, they first let them raise babies before they open the coop door. they are forced to take care of their babies, and right away get used outside. then they will stay. so will their babies.

I haven't been down this road yet myself, but I hear it takes at least 3 or 4 rounds of raising young in a new loft for adult homers to home to the new loft, and even then, sometimes they take off and don't come back.

 

[Hokum Coco]

let them raise babies then they will stay. so will their babies.

In a perfect world this is true.

Trust me with superior homers even after a year in captivity and multiple off spring they will return home from 728 miles.

I must admit this is the exception rather than the rule.

It can happen ask me how I know.

 

[BaJa]

yes, but I doubt they're top brand racing homers. With my feral pigeons, they stay if they raise babies. also, if you have a nice, large coop, with plenty of food, and they raise babies, there's a large chance they will stay. but like Hokum Coco said, its not 100% sure

 

[BecKub]

In a perfect world this is true. Trust me with superior homers even after a year in captivity and multiple off spring they will return home from 728 miles. I must admit this is the exception rather than the rule. It can happen ask me how I know.

Hahaha how do you know??

 

[BecKub]

Well I'm excited to say that she came back! My husband checked the loft after dark when he got home (we were gone all afternoon) and all 4 birds were happily perched in the loft.
Not only did she come back, but she managed to navigate through the bob door I left open for her!! I've only had them go through it once before, so I was thrilled she figured it out after not being trained! I left it open as a "just in case" but was kinda figuring on having to net her at some point. I'll continue to train them on it to get them used to it, but I was very happy! I guess she got hungry enough after a full 24+ hours away lol.

My next question... when will they start to breed? Spring? Or are they not on a cycle? We have nesting boxes and I put some straw in there just to help manage the poop. I also have wood shavings and sawdust (we use for our chickens). What's the best thing for them when the time is right?

Also, I feed them a mixture of wild bird food, chicken egg layer pellets and cracked corn. Is that a sufficient diet?

 

[Hokum Coco]

when will they start to breed? Spring?
Also, I feed them a mixture of wild bird food, chicken egg layer pellets and cracked corn. Is that a sufficient diet?

Females begin to mature at about 6 months of age. I have had males mature as early as 4 months. Chances are they may breed as soon as they are old enough. That could mean winter months in your case. They will definitely begin breeding in February the 14 that is when I start my flock.

Your diet is more than sufficient.

PM[/GALLERY]

This a pigeon mixed grain available in some areas (but not in mine) that a lot of fanciers use.



If you want to hand tame your birds I would suggest shelled unsalted peanuts hand fed as a treat only.

 

[BaJa]

Also, I feed them a mixture of wild bird food, chicken egg layer pellets and cracked corn. Is that a sufficient diet?

yes

 

[BaJa]

My next question... when will they start to breed? Spring? Or are they not on a cycle? We have nesting boxes and I put some straw in there just to help manage the poop. I also have wood shavings and sawdust (we use for our chickens). What's the best thing for them when the time is right?

Unlike other birds, pigeons nest the whole year round, up to 6-7 times a year, and straw works great. try adding little sticks. they love that!

 

[BaJa]

Well I'm excited to say that she came back! My husband checked the loft after dark when he got home (we were gone all afternoon) and all 4 birds were happily perched in the loft.
Not only did she come back, but she managed to navigate through the bob door I left open for her!! I've only had them go through it once before, so I was thrilled she figured it out after not being trained! I left it open as a "just in case" but was kinda figuring on having to net her at some point. I'll continue to train them on it to get them used to it, but I was very happy! I guess she got hungry enough after a full 24+ hours away lol.

good to know she came back. You might as well just leave the door open for all the others to fly. One knows how to do it now, and it will be an example for the others. Also, pigeons are pretty clever, and the other ones will get back easily. I was bought an adult pigeon, but it escaped within a week. Now what do you think? It followed the others right back into the coop, and did that its entire life. Not saying everyone has that much luck, but you got them locked up now for quite a while, and I'm certain they'll stay.

 

[BecKub]

Unlike other birds, pigeons nest the whole year round, up to 6-7 times a year, and straw works great. try adding little sticks. they love that!

We have plenty of sticks around, I'll do that! It'll be a good project for my 9 year old son