Feeders and waterers for Pigeons

[QuoVadis]

Hi! I am new to pigeons (but not most poultry).

Last week a bought 6 young white Homers (I am hoping to do a little "dove" releasing) and two pretty colored Utility King babies just for fun/pets. They will be living in my bantam chicken coop/run, though I already know not to let them breed in there.

My main question is regarding waterers for pigeons. What does everyone use? What is the best kind to keep the water clean, and be lowest matinence for me (I love my nipple waterers for my chickens). How far do they need to be able to stick their beaks in the water to be able to suck it up? Is there any kind I can heat in the winter? This is my important issue because I live in WI and so frozen water is a problem.

And what type of feeder do they make to least mess with? I am not as worried about that though because I'm going to put the food up high though and I am sure any that gets knocked down the chickens will clean up. I am correct in understanding that the pigeons should not have free access to food like the chickens do though?

Thanks!

 

[jak2002003]

Hi... congratulations on getting some pigeons.. you will really enjoy them for sure.

I found a way to allow pigeons to breed when housed with my bantams. I simply clipped the wings of my bantams.. and put the pigeon nest boxes high up out of their reach. Bantams used a ladder to get to their roosts.. and the chickens nest boxes were low down.

Just be careful that no pigeon tries to nest in a low nest box.. and when the young pigeons leave the nest put some things in the coop where they can hide form the chickens... although I found mine were never aggressive with them.. it was other pigeons that would bully the young ones.

Pigeons can have food available all the time... they need that when they are raising their squabs. If you are racing adults... or doing your dove release.. then they need more training.. and only get fed 2 times a day. But if they are in with your chickens they will simply eat the chicken food when they are hungry... and its good for them when they have squabs too.

In the future you might want to keep your breeders in with your chickens and with food all the time. Then keep the none breeders for the dove release in another coop and train them as racing homers.. and give then a feeding schedule.

For the water containers I use the ones for chickens that turn upside down with the tray around the bottom. They can't use the water nipples like chickens do.. and open containers get dirty.

Putting the pigeon feed high up will not stop your chickens eating it.. they will just fly up to get it... unless you clip their wings.

 

[laughingdog]

I use kept full chick feeders n waterers, unless flight training, then only filled so much or only bottom of at feeding time.
I've also used coffee cups.. tea cups for small ports lol, n heard heavy hampster crocker clay bowls would work good too.
my white racers preffer layer and scratch anyway, so wild type bird seed really only for my flying kit rollers.

 

[QuoVadis]

Should I be worried? One of the Utility King squabs doesn't seem to be able to fly nearly as far as his/her nest mate. The nest mate Utility King can fly around 5 feet, but this one can only fly about a foot. Is it normal fro siblings to develop at different rates?

 

[jak2002003]

Should I be worried? One of the Utility King squabs doesn't seem to be able to fly nearly as far as his/her nest mate. The nest mate Utility King can fly around 5 feet, but this one can only fly about a foot. Is it normal fro siblings to develop at different rates?

Its normal.. usually one is bigger and stronger at first. Also king pigeons are not the best flyers as they are so big and heavy... so its going to take time for the young ones to muscle up and get stronger.

So long as its a good weight.. pooping normally and acting alert and active there is likely nothing to worry about.

I breed utility kings.. and quite often some are smaller than others.. and some of my really big ones can hardly fly up to their roost they are so fat.

If the smaller one seems thinner than the bigger one.. you can supplement its food yourself by feeding seed my hand...and some unsalted raw peanuts.. they are full of protein and fats.

 

[laughingdog]

I take larger one out for day etc, n feed weaker one layer pellets or pigeon pellets, n give liquid vit&min etc once day, and larger one put back in nest nightly.

 

[feathersaloft]

My waterers for pigeons. We are going to build the same for the chicken house.
The first picture was before we covered all sides with wire then added a wooden top to the waterer.

2' PVC pipe, with a cap at one end, and an elbow on the other. for filling.
Hubby cut a slot across the top.
Inside of the loft was cut so birds access from inside.

We did learn after this one to put the waterer up higher so dust and feathers don't accumulate, but this is the best place for me to start squeakers who are out of the nest but need to learn to use the waterer.

I dump out daily, then remove once a month (maybe) to wipe clean.

 

[JPBIRD1231]

Hello very cool, but what do you do in the winter ? won`t it freeze ?
John

 

[feathersaloft]

Hello very cool, but what do you do in the winter ? won`t it freeze ?
John

I live in Georgia. We have some nights below freezing, but it rarely stays below freezing for more than a day or so at a time.
I dump it out at bedtime and leave it upside down for the night, then refill in the morning using jugs of warm water.

 

[laughingdog]

You could use fish tank heater or heattape in winter, or heat packs.