Giving up

[sourland]

Update! While out feeding my dogs tonight out of the corner of my eye I caught motion in the sky. I looked up just as a black hen landed on my loft, entered through the bobs, and came out to the aviary. I immediately got feed, filled the water dish and watched her settle in at 'HOME'. How can you not respect something with that much desire to return home. If only she could tell the story of her travels.

 

[fowlsessed]

AMAZING! That's great.

 

[jak2002003]

I am glad you might keep a few pigeons. I know I could never be without my birds, but I do understand when something bad happens like in your hawk situation, you can feel so helpless and depressed its tempting to give up.

I used to keep white racing homers and fantail doves in the UK. They are the best 'pets', so interesting to watch, breed, and lovely to see flying. When I had to move to Asia I had to sell them. It was the hardest thing. Especially as some returned to my home a few days before I was due to fly out, and their loft was gone.

I had some problems with hawks back then. When I was getting the attacks I stopped flying the birds for just over one month. The hawk must have forgotten about the birds, or got too hungry and moved on after that, so I was able to start letting the birds out again. I always made sure the birds were hungry and would return quickly to the loft, and not spend hours sitting about in rooftops - this is when my hawk attacks happened.

Interestingly I never lost any of the fat lazy fantail doves. They tended to walk about on the ground or sit on top of the loft. If they spotted a hawk they would sound their alarm sound and all dive into the thick bushes, or down behind the loft to hide. This they were actually more clever than the white homers!!

It might be your hawk is nesting and has chicks to feed, and has seen you flock as an easy meal. If you stop flying them for a while maybe the hawk will move on, and also once its chicks disperse it will not need to hunt so much. It also may migrate (depending of what species it is).

I saw a funny story about some pigeon racer guy who painted large eyes on the birds wings - like some butterflies have). It was intended to frighten any hawk that tried to catch the pigeon. I don't know if it would work, but I found the story quite interesting.

 

[GulfStar]

See, it's not time to quit. The bird says so!

 

[sourland]

"The bird says so." I have no idea how far she flew. The auction is about 50 miles away. I have no idea where the buyer lives. Birds have only ever been loft flown, but she had enugh instinct/desire to return HOME. I was pleased to see that she returned in good condition. Whoever bought them is caring for them.

 

[Faith SL]

Update! While out feeding my dogs tonight out of the corner of my eye I caught motion in the sky. I looked up just as a black hen landed on my loft, entered through the bobs, and came out to the aviary. I immediately got feed, filled the water dish and watched her settle in at 'HOME'. How can you not respect something with that much desire to return home. If only she could tell the story of her travels.

That is amazing! I am very glad to hear that one of your loyal feathered friends safely returned to her chosen home and to you

Is this black hen a Roller? If so, that is very uncommon (and lucky) for a Roller pigeon to find her/his way home from 50+ miles away.

 

[albert w]

Pigeons 101... Your new pigeon needs a friend. Hahaha!! An so it begins.

 

[sourland]

That is amazing! I am very glad to hear that one of your loyal feathered friends safely returned to her chosen home and to you

Is this black hen a Roller? If so, that is very uncommon (and lucky) for a Roller pigeon to find her/his way home from 50+ miles away.

Roller/homer X - by the look of her somewhat higher % of roller blood. A cross I developed for more hawk resistancce. To a certain degree it was successful. I selected and bred mostly self blacks and black/white flights. It made for a very flashy flock when in flight.

 

[ThiefPouter06]

Well the bottom half of your signature says it all..........