Found Pigeon

[mbrobbins]

Hi Mary, long time no see. Don't know anything about pigeons, but just wanted to say hi. Hope you are doing well. Did you ever get any more silkies? I still have some from you. They were always my favorites. Take care. Martha

Hi Martha, I'm in remission from non hodgkins lymphoma since 2014 thanks for all the prayers. Still my favorite chickens are silkies, but my husband was overwhelmed with distributing selling all my stock when I was hospitalized, and he just wants a few large fowl laying hens now. I did have a nice white silkie roo that took best of whites right before I got sick, and I was finally getting really show quality stock, and it took me years to work up to that. I'm glad you still have some, I would start all over if I was just a little younger.
I love birds in general, and I told my husband I wouldn't get more silkies if he let me raise some small birds. So now, I have 6 pairs of parrotlets, and am raising young. At least I'm able to keep them caged in one room of the house, and inside, so it is easy to care for them. I get so much anxiety when I go out back and look at all my empty silkie pens. I don't even care about going to the shows because I'm sure I would be tempted into buying more and starting again, but I do miss all my silkie show-breeder-owner friends that I met thru the years. I loved seeing all my buyers hatching nice quality silkies and carrying on the lines.

 

[marneypoo]

Glad to hear you are doing so good. Cool. I have a pair of parrotlets too. And a pair of parakeets. I've had parakeets since I was a kid. I feel lost without them. I hope I never have to get rid of all my silkies. But I guess sometimes you have to do what you have to do. Some of my best white silkies that I show came from your line mixed with mine in my breeding pens. What lines were in your birds? They sure are nice. One of my favorite white roos hatched from your eggs has an ear infection. I just ordered $105 worth of meds from Peter Brown to fix him up I hope. My husband thought I was nuts, but I don't care. He's my boy and I'm going to try to make him feel better. My birds are like my kids. I love them all. Take care. Nice talking to you. Martha

 

[laughingdog]

@Ambrobbins,
You could go for "frillback" pigeons, etc. I've known people who have had to stop keeping n showing silkies n frizzles etc that found fancy pigeon handling breeding and showing so much friendlier easier cleaner healthier, when they had health problems to worry about now, compared to chickens hook bills etc. My pigeons now, and non fancy floofy feather faced n footed chooks before, were a lot easier cleaner healthier etc than any of my hookbills (having had all three inside and out, my hookbills required lot more care when inside, n pigeons less than either or other dove species).

 

[mbrobbins]

HI Marneypoo
I had Bobbi Porto,Judy Lee, Sundance silkies,Sunshine silkies, Marti Mcguire, Sheryl butler,Karen Smith, etc.( Cathy Duckett in Tennessee has some real nice birds, just doesn't show). I have 3 parrotlet chicks in the nest now. Have another pair on eggs. LOVE little birds. I used to buy meds from Foy's pigeon supply, they have lots of antibiotics for Pigeons, but I used them on my silkies if there was ever an issue.

Glad to hear you are doing so good. Cool. I have a pair of parrotlets too. And a pair of parakeets. I've had parakeets since I was a kid. I feel lost without them. I hope I never have to get rid of all my silkies. But I guess sometimes you have to do what you have to do. Some of my best white silkies that I show came from your line mixed with mine in my breeding pens. What lines were in your birds? They sure are nice. One of my favorite white roos hatched from your eggs has an ear infection. I just ordered $105 worth of meds from Peter Brown to fix him up I hope. My husband thought I was nuts, but I don't care. He's my boy and I'm going to try to make him feel better. My birds are like my kids. I love them all. Take care. Nice talking to you. Martha

 

[mbrobbins]

@Ambrobbins,
You could go for "frillback" pigeons, etc. I've known people who have had to stop keeping n showing silkies n frizzles etc that found fancy pigeon handling breeding and showing so much friendlier easier cleaner healthier, when they had health problems to worry about now, compared to chickens hook bills etc. My pigeons now, and non fancy floofy feather faced n footed chooks before, were a lot easier cleaner healthier etc than any of my hookbills (having had all three inside and out, my hookbills required lot more care when inside, n pigeons less than either or other dove species).

True, raising parrotlets are a challenge. I notice you have the white homers, do you ever sell the young weaned ones. I was told that my pigeon looks like a roller. It needs a mate/friend. I've always been interested in white homers. I've heard of a couple of breeders that had to rid their pigeons because of respiratory problems developing. Can I keep a few pairs in a 8'x8' flight pen with an inside loft?
I do need to be careful not to expose myself to anything to get sick again. I figure I will wear a mask when it comes to cleaning the loft.Also wetting the muck down before scraping eliminates the dust and reduces chances of respiratory diseases.

 

[laughingdog]

I no longer for now have white homers sadly. Try "probios" probiotics sold for animals at feed stores. It's same grade as human consumption, but higher viability of quantity of and types of good bacteria, just lot lower price. I took after kept staying sick with extreme meds was on (oddly never got sick from any of all birds as was tested, but do get general allergies if it gets too soaked/wet etc too long and haven't cleaned pens for month or more molding). Local raw unstrained nonpasteurized honey could be good too but I'd ask your doctor about before getting because of bad bacteria rare but possibly concern. I'd get thirty dollar canister filter goggled gas mask type, as lesser quality ones do not work nearly as well as would hope supposed to..I've done mold old lead paint and asbestos removal.
Vinegar is easy cleaner to use to spray and wipe down loft dry again (water proof coating on wood box with wire front, over hanged to keep water out) after scraping daily with paint scraper hoe spade etc, while flying maybe,and before then feeding, keeping loft dry n clean as possible, will keep half to dozen birds per coop n you easily healthy. I've done this with three dozen rollers n flights in lil less than about four foot coop of rollers and flights, daily flying and same results (could only keep healthy pair of homers non flown, for comparison), but two dozen may need to be misted with warm water and vinegar to take dust off if inside not flying or allowing to bath weekly to monthly. I now don't usually have my birds in coops bigger than four feet square because harder to clean, get birds, etc.
I wouldn't keep more than half dozen birds in each generally, for racers/homers half to dozen, one dozen to two dozen or more for flying rollers/tumbler breeds (they do close quarters great and eat poop etc everything less stress n mess). Course you can give as much space as want and they'll enjoy especially if they are not flown.

 

[ChickyDy]

I found a pigeon on the side of the road. It cant seem to fly properly but i think its too young. It want drink water and wont eat the food i give it. What do i do?

Also does anyone know what breed it is?