Babies being killed inside open loft

[IdahoMike]

I have a open loft where the pigeons are free to come and go as they please. I've got six nesting box's but for some reason my birds want to make their nest on the floor. Not all of the babies but more then I care to see are being killed within the first week or so of being born. I just picked up 2 dead babies yesterday that were fine on Friday but appeared to be pecked to death by adult birds. I don't manage the birds with the exception of keeping plenty of good food for them inside the loft. I'm guessing that these new babies that are being hatched on the loft floor in close proximity to the food supply are being killed by over aggressive males or perhaps single birds without a mate. How do I get the birds to use the nesting box's? Should I throw the eggs out when I find them on the floor or should I move them to one of the nesting box's? Also what about moving the babies into one of the nesting box's once they hatch? Would the parents still care for them? My loft dimensions are 4' X 4' on the floor and 8' tall. At any given time I could have 8-12 birds occupying the loft. Is this too many birds for a loft of this size?

 

[Old_Strain_Lover]

once they have already laid, it's too late. Moving the eggs and babies most likely wont end well unless the babies are already big enough to get around on their own. You need to lock them into the nest boxes before they lay. Get them used to the nest boxes and have them lay in there, and then you can let them out. Never let them nest on the floor (you already see what happens). I can't see your setup, but can you take some screen and kind of make a cage out of the nest boxes? You'll need to get them used to it somehow because they already have picked up a bad habit by nesting on the floor. Give them a bowl and nesting material in the nest boxes and lock them in there.

 

[backyard pigeons]

I have a open loft where the pigeons are free to come and go as they please. I've got six nesting box's but for some reason my birds want to make their nest on the floor. Not all of the babies but more then I care to see are being killed within the first week or so of being born. I just picked up 2 dead babies yesterday that were fine on Friday but appeared to be pecked to death by adult birds. I don't manage the birds with the exception of keeping plenty of good food for them inside the loft. I'm guessing that these new babies that are being hatched on the loft floor in close proximity to the food supply are being killed by over aggressive males or perhaps single birds without a mate. How do I get the birds to use the nesting box's? Should I throw the eggs out when I find them on the floor or should I move them to one of the nesting box's? Also what about moving the babies into one of the nesting box's once they hatch? Would the parents still care for them? My loft dimensions are 4' X 4' on the floor and 8' tall. At any given time I could have 8-12 birds occupying the loft. Is this too many birds for a loft of this size?

Hello there!

are the babies bloody when dead? Is so, it is probably a aggressive male.

If They are just dead with no injury, it could be a bunch of different things. Is it cold right now where you live? I'm guessing so, since you are in Idaho.

As for the loft being to small, probably not since the birds are free to fly whenever they want. Otherwise, yes. Do they want to fly and be out in the open alot?

I hope this helps!

 

[IdahoMike]

Yes they are definitely being pecked to death. I'm thinking it's maybe an aggressive male. They are free to come and go as they please so they do spend a lot of time outside of the loft. The loft is in the SW corner of our 20 acre hayfield and next to a pond we built when we built our house 3 years ago. This loft was given to me by a friend when I got my first German Shorthair. In the early days I would use the birds in remote launchers to steady up my young GSP. The birds were always allowed to fly back to the loft to be trained with another day. I'm just wondering why they would rather nest on the floor instead of the nesting box's? Last year whenever I found eggs on the floor I would just throw them out. It helped and a few started using the box's but the majority still wanted to lay their eggs on the open floor. This loft is where birds come to roost and feed. I have snowshoed down to it in the winter to make sure they always have food but it's not something I check on every day.

 

[jak2002003]

You need to stop them nesting on the floor.

If a pair or 2 nest on the floor, then they claim the floor space as they nesting territory. So any other birds, including your baby ones from other pairs, are seen as intruders and will be pecked and chases away. But, the babies can not get away and so will be killed.

Every time they attempts to nest of the floor you should remove the nest and eggs. Maybe even put something over where the nested to prevent them trying again. After a while they will use the boxes as they have no alternative.

As for the boxes, make sure they are the correct size and comfortable for the birds... not wet or too hot, too small etc.

 

[backyard pigeons]

I have birds that refuse to nest anywhere but the ground. There nothing wrong with it, if you provide a box on the ground for them. Otherwise, they will protect the whole floor.

I made a 1×2 plywood box in a corner. It has a small little opening, and the birds love it. They y don't protect anything but the box, so it isn't a problem. Maybe you could do that @IdahoMike .