Is there an unsafe temp to offer pigeons baths?

[LamarshFish]

The other weekend when it was 45 I offered them a bath and they indulged, but the other day it was around 40 and I drew them another bath and they didn't touch it. It was frozen the next day. They must just know.

 

[Kusanar]

Not tame pigeons, but it was 33 degrees today and every starling in the city was fighting over about 3 mud puddles to take baths in... so obviously it's ok for SOME birds at that temp.

 

[Hokum Coco]

I'm getting my first 6 homers in a few days.

Getting started is a bit scary and stressful as you are about to find out. Hoping everything goes well for you Backyard buddy. I have been watching your observations and you are more than ready. Homers are my favourite and only breed in my loft wise choice.

SAFE GUARD YOUR BREEDING STOCK

Be patient and DO NOT FLY ANY BIRD YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO LOOSE.

 

[biophiliac]

The other weekend when it was 45 I offered them a bath and they indulged, but the other day it was around 40 and I drew them another bath and they didn't touch it. It was frozen the next day. They must just know.

I wonder if it makes a difference if it's sunny or cloudy?

Getting started is a bit scary and stressful as you are about to find out.

Thanks Ron, I think I benefit from having followed Lamarsh's experiences getting started. And I will have experienced backup like yourself on this site to help me as I go.

 

[LamarshFish]

I wonder if it makes a difference if it's sunny or cloudy?



Thanks Ron, I think I benefit from having followed Lamarsh's experiences getting started. And I will have experienced backup like yourself on this site to help me as I go.

I'm glad my experiences have helped. One piece of advice I'd offer in the first handful of months is to try not to get too emotional. Let them fly when they're ready, and fly them often. If you lose birds, they're not worth having. My two birds breeding right now, one is one of my original birds, and the other came only a week or so after, and most of the birds I've lost I got after them or at the same time, so I have birds breeding that have been through so much (i.e., good stock to have breeding).

As far as flying goes and avoiding hawks, one new thought I've had when it comes to deciding whether to fly on any given day is to pay attention to the neighborhood around sunrise and a few hours after, and only fly them on "busy squirrel days," meaning days when you see tons of squirrels and other critters out. If you pay enough attention to critters, you'll notice that there are just certain days they are everywhere and all out at the same time doing their things, and on other days there is NOTHING. I'd say your birds are at a very high risk flying on those nothing days, since the hawks will be hungry. On the busy critter days, fly your birds a few hours after they critters are out and about (likely late morning, early afternoon), that way any nearby hawks have likely already snagged a much easier kill and are full, and won't bother with your tougher to get flying meal. Just a thought.

 

[Hokum Coco]

If you lose birds, they're not worth having.

That is a good rule of thumb that will stand you in good stead when you are training squeakers.

Will not prepare you for heartbreak when you loose one of your best birds.

 

[laughingdog]

Healthy wild feral and pet pigeons /rock doves, will bath in coldest weather when available if healthy feathers dusty, enough fat covering enough muscle, and some sun hopefully not windy for few hours.

 

[biophiliac]

Healthy wild feral and pet pigeons /rock doves, will bath in coldest weather when available if healthy feathers dusty, enough fat covering enough muscle, and some sun hopefully not windy for few hours.

It will be 34f and sunny tomorrow, 42f and cloudy on wednesday. I'm thinking I should offer their first opportunity to bathe. It has been in the minus single digits since I got them at the end of dec. The sunny day?

 

[LamarshFish]

It will be 34f and sunny tomorrow, 42f and cloudy on wednesday. I'm thinking I should offer their first opportunity to bathe. It has been in the minus single digits since I got them at the end of dec. The sunny day?

I am shooting for offering a bath to my birds Wednesday or Thursday, as the temps will be above freezing.

Also looking forward to being able to remove the giant accumulations of poop that have accumulated and froze so I couldn't really scrape them out.

 

[Hokum Coco]

looking forward to b to remove the poop that have accumulated and froze

I find the nylon mesh feed bags in areas where poop collects to be the answer to frozen poop. It just peels off in freezing temperatures. A tarp would also work equally as well.