Do fancy pigeons fly much?

[jak2002003]

Hi. Welcome to the fun world of keeping pigeons!!

I used to have a similar set up to you. I kept about 6 white fantail pigeons, some Old Dutch Capuchines, a rescued feral, and pair of German Owl pigeons.

Please take my advise, and DO NOT let them free range all day - coming and going as they want. If you do this you will loose them... to cats, sparrow hawks, accidents and strong weather. Also, they will start to perch and poop on your neighbours roofs, window ledges, cars and garden furniture and start nesting in places you can't get to, like on other properties,.... which will make your neighbours annoyed and see the birds as a bad thing... and might even report you to the council. They will also be at risk for diseases from drinking dirty water, eating bad food they find, and picking up diseases form wild feral pigeons attracted to your birds when the see them flying about.

Keep them in a coop, with attached aviary so they can still go out into that and sunbath, shower and get fresh air.

You can then get them settled in, and then start to train them to come back to the coop on a call. That way you can let them out to free fly, enjoy watching them flying about and doing their pigeon stuff, having a bath, etc, and then after an hour or so (or when you are ready), call them back into the coop, feed them and shut them in again. This way is much better for your birds safety, health, and good neighbour relations.

 

[Helen_Jayne]

Hi. Welcome to the fun world of keeping pigeons!!

I used to have a similar set up to you. I kept about 6 white fantail pigeons, some Old Dutch Capuchines, a rescued feral, and pair of German Owl pigeons.

Please take my advise, and DO NOT let them free range all day - coming and going as they want. If you do this you will loose them... to cats, sparrow hawks, accidents and strong weather. Also, they will start to perch and poop on your neighbours roofs, window ledges, cars and garden furniture and start nesting in places you can't get to, like on other properties,.... which will make your neighbours annoyed and see the birds as a bad thing... and might even report you to the council. They will also be at risk for diseases from drinking dirty water, eating bad food they find, and picking up diseases form wild feral pigeons attracted to your birds when the see them flying about.

Keep them in a coop, with attached aviary so they can still go out into that and sunbath, shower and get fresh air.

You can then get them settled in, and then start to train them to come back to the coop on a call. That way you can let them out to free fly, enjoy watching them flying about and doing their pigeon stuff, having a bath, etc, and then after an hour or so (or when you are ready), call them back into the coop, feed them and shut them in again. This way is much better for your birds safety, health, and good neighbour relations.

Thanks that's helpful advice. We have a decent shed from our allotment which we are repurposing as a loft but now I know we need to build an avairy onto the side and we do have room for that. It makes sense, everyone hangs their washing in the little back yards and a flock of pigeons pooping on the washing isn't going to go down well.

I have another question I will put in a separate thread! Thanks a lot.

 

[Hokum Coco]

I was thinking of archangel pigeons Yes fairly good fliers or white fantails No as a rule (there is always exceptions) or any of those fancy breeds? Do they tend to spend most of the time in the loft or on the ground?

Most breeds with exaggerated features such as a neck that is cocked back or large feathered feet tend to spend most of the time on the ground.