Help with Orphaned Pigeons Please (pics for those who wanted them:)..

[deerman]

As long as they can see outside the loft. Just take them a few feet away and let them fly back, when they start flying.

I would not try to take them on trips and release them. Yes alot of them have some of the homer blood line, but that is from ones that got lost and could not find their way home. These will be ok unless they get out of eye sight of their home.

Be carefully when first breaking them, stay outside with them hawks can take them main time is when they are learning to fly.

 

[ThiefPouter06]

Quote:
....to add...spring and fall seem to be the worst time for hawk attacks. at least cooper hawks.

 

[MichelleLee]

That will be just fine I do not want to lose them, I would feel horrible if they never made it home. So yard birds they will be. I'll be sure to stay outside with them when they are loose, although I'm not certain that I would be much help if a hawk did take an interest in them. My home is located in the middle of open farming fields on all sides, there is little cover, and we do see a lot of hawks scouring the fields here. They have never bothered my chickens...yet, knock on wood. But this is definitely hawk territory.

I have seen these pigeon whistles (I have been reading up on pigeons night and day lately). In theory they deter hawks, but they sound so pretty and I think they are neat. I might pick up a few of those once they are flying good. Have you guys ever used them and do they really keep hawks away?

I went to the pet store today and picked up some Kaytee Exact hand feeding formula for them. They have been eating the moist dog food VERY well. But their droppings have turned pretty runny (some almost look like just discolored water, with a little bit of brown matter) and I am worried about them getting adequate nutrition, and the dehydration this diarrhea could cause.

They hate it. I mixed it half and half with dog food planning to switch them over slowly. They looked at me like I was nuts after they tasted it. The whole feeding was like trying to feed them for the very first time again, fighting all the way.

At the end I gave them each a small bit of straight dog food and they ate that with the enthusiasm I have come to expect from them at feeding times.

Should I continue to switch them over?
My head says yes...it's like trying to get a toddler to eat his vegetables.

 

[MichelleLee]

Here are the kids! Sorry for the cell phone pics, best I can do for the moment:/


Here is Hawk, formerly known as Pigeon #1.....

And here is Scout, formerly known as Pigeon #2....

 

[nzpouter]

hawk is light blue chequer, scout is blue chequer.

 

[monarc23]

they are gorgeous!

THANK You for sharing!