We found a Racing Pigeon today, apparently it was hanging out on the barn roof and the kids noticed it, they called to it and it came right down to them and was hanging out with them... They offered it some food and it's as tame as can be, pet tame in fact the kids were touch and petting it as it ate some scratch grains they hand in their hands... We picked it up and took down the leg band number and identified the owner from the Grand Rapids, MI area, we emailed them and apparently the bird we have is no longer his, but he is going to notify the new owner... He did give us some info though it was released in Gas City, IN for a race back to Grand Rapids, MI yesterday... Apparently what is becoming a world wide problem that no one can fully explain, the birds are losing their orientation... Out of the 300ish birds released for the race yesterday only about 100 made it back home so far... The race from Gas City, IN to Grand Rapids is almost due North, but apparently this birds compass sent it about due Northwest and 100s of miles off course and on the other side of Lake Michigan...
We will keep it for a few days feeding, hydrating and letting it rest, then release it and hope it finds it's way back home, that is unless the new owner suggest we do something different...
X2 I hope the little guy makes it home. Very cool! Kinda scary that they're getting lost though.
Has anyone had experience with pullets NOT laying in the nest boxes???
My mid March hatch has had red combs for a few weeks. Many of the birds I sold are already laying for their owners, but the ones I kept are either maturing slower or finding somewhere else to put their eggs. I've checked "the stump" - one of their fav hang-outs - and occasionally the compost pile & gardens. I can't be sure they're even laying. My dogs could also be eating the eggs if they're being laid anywhere but inside the coop. Any suggestions?
You could keep them locked up for a few days. Put golf balls/fake eggs in the nest boxes. Threaten them. Lol if I had the answers I'd use them. Lol we had been doing pretty good off and on and then a couple days ago found a hidden nest in the back half of our coop behind our stock tank brooder #1