Found a racing pigeon and the owner doesn't care

[biophiliac]

That is a young bird it has no iridescent neck and the cere on his beak has not turned white yet. My birds my older alpha ones in particular will only fly to me and my grand daughter when in the loft.

Yes. Hatched May 7, 2018.

 

[PalomaNova]

Yes a milk crate box and string house in your idea for a few days and providing her with food and water and you should be good to go.

I have to be honest i am not sure what do you mean there. Can you please elaborate on your suggestion?

 

[PalomaNova]

You have already started to earn trust. Two words are key in this aspect of animal behavior: habituation and reinforcement. You can think of food rewards, ie chopped raw peanuts or sunflower seeds as one example of positive reinforcement

Thanks for this. That's highly encouraging. Currently we are free feeding her because we never undestand when she eats. During the day she just sits in the tree and i come talk to her and throw some seeds. I have a large dog that stays outside during the day and if i am out he follows me to the place the pigeon stays - that may be a scare for the pigeon though i guess. Sometimes i try to close him and go there alone, but to be honest it is difficult to stay there and just sit as it is a bushy corner
I have offered her a flater bowl filled with water as a bath, however i did not see her bathing. I am not sure what a water bath size for a pigeon should be?

 

[Hokum Coco]

I have to be honest i am not sure what do you mean there.

The first thing that must be done to put your idea into effect is to catch the pigeon. That can be done with patience a milk crate a stick to serve as a prop the front edge off the ground a string to attach to the stick to trip the prop when the pigeon goes under the crate or box to feed.

we are thinking to build a hole to go into a garage where a cage

Next you will have to house your pigeon in your idea for a few days with fresh food and water until he adjust to it's new home and can come and go as you planned.

 

[biophiliac]

ly we are free feeding her because we never undestand when she eats.

She will eat when you feed her, just pick a time that's good for you and keep to it if you can so she can predict when dinner is. (imo predictability is both reinforcing and a trust builder) Once or twice a day is fine, and they like a good drink after eating. Put the seeds on a flat surface where she can see them. A raised platform away from your dogs reach is an idea too. If your dog is calm an quiet I don't believe the pigeon will mind his presence. My birds pay no attention to my dog.
eta- once she is coming to eat you can implement the capture method suggested if you wish. ...or you could provide a dovecote style shelter and see if she will move in.

I am not sure what a water bath size for a pi

A cat litter pan size is good.

 

[biophiliac]

t sit as it is a bushy corner

Why not establish her feeding station in a location that is convenient for you and your dog to sit quietly and watch her from a distance at first. Pigeons have excellent eyesight and she will definitely see the seeds wherever in your yard you put them. I feed mine 2x per day, am and pm. I shake some seeds in a can as a dinner call. Since she is a racer, she is probably familiar with a program like this.

 

[DeeAnn5]

Good of you to help it! Are you in the U.S.? If so, which state are you in? Another option is, if he could be kept in a predator-proof cage in a barn for a few months, he would adapt to the new environment and then could be a free range barn pigeon. I don't think dog crates are cruel, but they're not predator proof. The raccoon only wants to eat it's head, still it would be very scary for the bird and she could injure herself in the cage...That's why I always give at least 3 sides together, a "corner" to hide in...like say from boards...raccoons are pretty strong too and can actually just dismantle a regular cage...

 

[SDocheff]

I am sad to report that my new boarder, the racing pigeon, hasn’t been seen around here for a couple of days. She may have flown the coop! She did this once before and I thought we’d seen the last of her but she reappeared after a day or so. Do they do this? I hope she’s not gone for good this time.