I want to get some plain pigeons but very hard to find

[Triplell]

We would rather not shoot them either. Lately we have something that fly's in and is eating them. The hay loft is completely closed off to my chickens and ducks so what ever is getting them wont bother my poultry. We would rather not have to alway's clean up the poop from them or all the feathers and limbs either. I don't mean to be so graffic but it is a problem. Being that they usually end back at our place we thought that we could sell the pigeons to them and at least make alittle while we are having to clean up after them.

 

[Mary Of Exeter]

Hmm. So how are the pigeons getting in? I would suggest covering any open areas with wire if nothing else to keep them and other critters out. I can totally understand not wanting birds roosting and pooping all over everything. Once you close off their entrance places you can capture all the birds and release them in town/city where other ferals are living. Hopefully they will integrate with the flock but if not, at least they won't be able to get to your hay if they come back.

 

[Triplell]

That is very true. This barn is over 100 yrs. old and we are not able to get to all the windows and the front door of the loft is ready to fall down. We would have to hire a company to come and do this. If and when we can afford this or wait for a storm to take some metal roofing then we maby can get it done then. Then it would be nice to make a place for raising pigeons up there in a controled pen. We have gulls(sea) all over town already from all the lakes (10,000) here in Minnesota.

 

[Count Von Chickula]

Do you have access to where the pigeons are in your area (your barn, a neighbor's)? If you want to catch them on the cheap, I use a simple fish landing net -- the bigger the better -- on the end of a long (really long) poll or section of PVC pipe. I take the kids out at night to where they roost (the pigeons that is, the kids roost in their beds!) and have the kids shine a flashlight on the birds while i hold the net up to them and when they take off I net them. It is fairly easy because the birds are basically blinded by the light. It is harder in silos but I have caught them there as well. As a kid I 'd quietly climb up the inside of silo and use the light only as I needed it. They sometimes roost in a cupola (that funny structure on some barns for ventilation) if you can access the insides of one from inside the barn.

As far as feed, the wild ones are very resourceful and I feed them what the cows or horses eat, but they like to pick through mixed bird seed. DON'T feed them raw soybeans because it can be toxic to them. They love corn, also. a little small grit is also necessary if you keep them.

The best time to get them to stay around is to pen them up long enough for them to nest. that mother instinct is strongest and the birds will stay if they have young to tend. Anyway, I hope that gives you some ideas.

 

[Triplell]

Thanks, that does give me a few idea's. We do know that they are nesting in the barn as we find their eggs sometimes on the floor of the loft. This old barn is almost 3 story's tall. The main floor is 10ft and the rest is all loft. I think trying to net them would be very hard with it being so tall.

 

[deerman]

some also shoot the pigeon after they flush for the dogs . but most will not tell you that, it is legal to do also

 

[laughingdog]

ive heard of people catching other's prized winning expensive racing pigeons, messanger pigeons in old days (to get messages, then send fake ones), as well as ferals, by just shooting out the primary flight and tail feathers, then plucking the broken feathers to let them grow back in quick. kinda wrong, but better than shooting the actual bird i guess.. ???

 

[Triplell]

I will give that a try as many other things that I've tried have not worked so far.