Can I release them?

[jak2002003]

I have just got 2 YOUNG white homing pigeons. I am not sure how old they are.. but sometimes they still make a squeak sound like a squab.. and they are definitely not yet adults or breeding age.

I have them with my other pigeons (which are free to come and go from the coop all day). These new ones are in a large dog crate.

I really am scared about letting them out.. I would be so upset if they flew away!

People have said that homers can never be let out in a new loft and must be kept as prisoners and only let out the young they produce.

Does that even apply to very young homers that have never been raced like mine?

If not.. how long do I wait before I let them out? Also could I clip their wings so they can walk about.. and then be used to the area when their feather re grow... or its that cruel?

Thanks

 

[nchls school]

I have just got 2 YOUNG white homing pigeons. I am not sure how old they are.. but sometimes they still make a squeak sound like a squab.. and they are definitely not yet adults or breeding age.

I have them with my other pigeons (which are free to come and go from the coop all day). These new ones are in a large dog crate.

I really am scared about letting them out.. I would be so upset if they flew away!

People have said that homers can never be let out in a new loft and must be kept as prisoners and only let out the young they produce.

Does that even apply to very young homers that have never been raced like mine?

If not.. how long do I wait before I let them out? Also could I clip their wings so they can walk about.. and then be used to the area when their feather re grow... or its that cruel?

Thanks

They sound like squeakers. Were they allowed to fly free before you got them; if not they do not know where home is. My recommendation is to pluck the flight feathers of one wing. I see this as a better alternative to clipping in that the feathers will regrow within a month and they will be able to fly again. Clipping means they will be grounded much longer; until they molt-maybe months away. While these youngsters are grounded teach them how to get in and out of their new home. Allow them to see as much of the coop's surroundings as possible so when they can fly they won't get lost on their first flight from the coop. Pigeons have to learn where home is and until then they can not return to what they don't know. Good luck. It is never safe to let older homers out from a new home/loft because they will head for their original loft. Not so with squeakers fresh from the nest or just out of it.

 

[laughingdog]

NO NEED TO PLUCK ALL FEATHERS ON A WING!!!
plucking (can grow back in usually a week, to month), clipping a wing comes back in depending when its molt is, but could later be plucked to grow back faster, than six months at most from clipping.

clipping or plucking, is needed only on one wing, clipping the first five flight feathers (first five sticking out long ones, the "primary flight feathers"), at end of only one wing (looks like a hand), only down to and along the secondary flight feathers.

Cutting/clipping/trimming n or plucking only those first five primary flight feathers sticking out on end of only one wing, will efficiently ground a bird so that can maybe flutter away from preds n up to low perches etc n getting/keeping wings n rest strong, and throws off balance enough so can't fly up or long to far or at all.

 

[laughingdog]

Being gotten young, when feathers in under wing, but not month over then, if gold blood line racing fam,is best, but I've known many people who have resettled great racing winners, but few who couldn't settle squeakers to new loft etc.

The usual "white dove release" Type homing pigeons, are usually the worst homing pigeons. there are now a couple good strains of white racing homers, but most home from twenty five, to sixty miles, at best a hundred miles.

 

[nchls school]

NO NEED TO PLUCK ALL FEATHERS ON A WING!!!
plucking (can grow back in usually a week, to month), clipping a wing comes back in depending when its molt is, but could later be plucked to grow back faster, than six months at most from clipping.

clipping or plucking, is needed only on one wing, clipping the first five flight feathers (first five sticking out long ones, the "primary flight feathers"), at end of only one wing (looks like a hand), only down to and along the secondary flight feathers.

Cutting/clipping/trimming n or plucking only those first five primary flight feathers sticking out on end of only one wing, will efficiently ground a bird so that can maybe flutter away from preds n up to low perches etc n getting/keeping wings n rest strong, and throws off balance enough so can't fly up or long to far or at all.

Absolutely right. I should have explained more fully.

 

[laughingdog]

It wasn't against anyone, i just was half asleep n do same stuff when am, and just worried that would be taken wrong, same as mine are at times..