Help! Homing pigeon won't leave my yard.

[MsPink90]

Hello everyone I've joined the community in hopes of some advice. We have recently had a beautiful homing pigeon who has visited everyday for the last week in search of food and water. He follows my husband while he's working in the garage and has even let me pet and love on him.... I have never worked with pigeons before but do currently own parrots and have for years. I noticed a hawk flying around this morning and was worried for our new friend Pete the pigeon. Pete came for his morning breakfast like he has every morning and I managed to get him into a LARGE dog crate. Its the plastic kind of crate with ventilation holes all around the top and a metal vented door on the front..Unfortunately I can't invest a ton of money but I went to my local pet store and found some dove and pigeon seed I have been feeding him. I also make sure he has a bath sized dish of water at all times because it has been 100 degrees plus over the last few days. I have read that egg shells can be used as a grit for pigeons but I'm still not really sure.. I also don't know what kind of a structure to build for Pete. Please any advice on how to care for our new friend and keep him happy would be greatly appreciated! Thank you

 

[biophiliac]

You have taken the right first steps! Good job


Does Pete have a band? [we always like pictures]

 

[biophiliac]

For the drinking water, it needs to be deep enough for Pete to put his beak in up to the nares at least. Pigeons drink by sucking the water, different from chickens. Discourage drinking from the bath water. Special pigeon grits provide some essential minerals and nutrients but you are probly ok for now with just any chick grit or oyster shell. His housing will depend on how you intend to keep him/her. Adult pigeons need a mate to be happy.

 

[biophiliac]

You don't mention any injury or suspected illness so I suspect by the behavior you describe this may be a juvenile, recently weaned who can eat on his own but would really rather be fed ;D. At that stage they are not too scared of people. What do you think about his age/condition?

 

[biophiliac]

This thread may be helpful to you...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...t-technical-manual-the-homing-pigeon.1184480/

or this..
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/what-do-you-think-of-my-pigeon-mansion.1184273/

 

[MsPink90]

He does have a band and we did contact his owners. He was banded in 2016 so he's around 1.5 - 2 years old? Unfortunately his owner did not want him back and didn't give us any information about him. ... He has two separate water bowls one for drinking and a large one for bathing both are deep enough to drink and bathe in. I have done a lot of reading about the birds themselves . He doesn't have any injuries. I gave him a good look over like I would my parrots. But he does have lice so we are already treating him for that. I would like to build an outdoor aviary for him on the front of our garage and cut a passage to an indoor enclosure so he can come in and out during the day. It has just been so bloody hot out so I've been misting him down if I notice he is panting and that seems to help a lot plus he just loves it. Pictures will be coming soon I promise! Lol. And thank you for all the advice and information links. Keep it coming we really appreciate the help.

 

[biophiliac]

Well you sound like you are experienced with birds and Pete is very lucky to come under your care!!

 

[MsPink90]

Thank you! You have defiantly boosted my confidence. I really wasn't sure if I was doing all the right things for him or if it was going to be possible to keep him. But after reading some more and the help of the forms I think we can give Pete what he needs to be happy. I'm excited and after we get an enclosure built for him we will start looking for some friends to keep him company. . We do live right in the middle of ST.Louis MO so I'm having a hard time finding grit..I might have to venture out a little further to a feed store to find it..also my local petstore quit carrying Diatomaceous Earth!! Why??!! I use it to treat the yard and our house for fleas and to keep things like lice away. Oh well haha hopefully the feed store might carry food grade DE.

 

[LamarshFish]

But he does have lice so we are already treating him for that.

A daily bath with Borox should do the trick on the lice, and maybe a dusting in diatomaceous earth when the bird is dry. You may also look up some commercial products sold for delousing pigeons, as there are several.

I would like to build an outdoor aviary for him on the front of our garage and cut a passage to an indoor enclosure so he can come in and out during the day.

This is a way to go. I know two different folks around me who keep their pigeons this way. So long as you don't mind using the indoor space for birds, and modifying your garage, it keeps things simple by not having to build a loft and you also don't have to worry about weather problems as much (although pigeons are quite hardy). Ventilation with this option will be something you should pay attention to. I have found the best materials for building aviaries is 1x1" lumber (pressure treated if it will be outdoors) and 1/2"x1/2" mesh wire fencing or cage material (sold in the garden fence section of Home Depot), which can be easily cut to desired lengths using wire sheers, and use regular nippers to clip off the sharp ends if they stick out.

I think we can give Pete what he needs to be happy.

It sounds like it, but if you intend to keep Pete, I think he'd be most happy with a pal or two. Pigeons like the company of other pigeons. It doesn't take much more effort to keep several pigeons, only the added cost of feed, which IMO is negligible. Below is a link to a list of breeders, which you can filter by state. Not sure how old it is, but worth a try to buy a few young birds to put in with Pete. Pigeons are gregarious critters and love company--there may be some pecking and wings flinging at first, but it will only last a few days and in no time they'll be preening each other and hanging out like buddies.
http://mumtazticloft.com/PigeonBreeders.asp

We do live right in the middle of ST.Louis MO so I'm having a hard time finding grit..I might have to venture out a little further to a feed store to find it..also my local petstore quit carrying Diatomaceous Earth!! Why?

Try Foy's Pigeon Supplies (link below). They have all the good grit you'd need. I recommend just the standard red grit. Buy a smaller bag like 10lbs otherwise shipping from them will not be economical.
http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com/OrderRetrievev2.aspx?CatalogueID=0

I have found diatomaceous earth online on Amazon. In addition to dusting a bird with lice, it is also good to clean the loft area with from time to time. I use a duster thing, which just sprays the dust for you rather than having to scoop and sift it yourself, they are only like $5.

 

[MsPink90]