mixing wild pigeons.

[Bear Foot Farm]

why can you only fly young birds?

If you buy or trap a pair of birds, then try to fly them, there's a good chance they won't return.
If you only fly birds hatched at your location, they will most likely stay.

Sometimes once birds nest at a spot they will return, but it's risky to try.
I bought 20 and kept them penned for 3 months.
The first time I let them out, 10 flew straight away and never came back.

But I have about 50 now, so it's all good LOL​

 

[RachelFromTheBlackLagoon]

Quote:
I completely agree with NYboy. There are plenty of domestic pigeons out there in need of homes. Why trap feral birds that have never been anything but free and pen them? Doesn't seem fair or right. They'd be terrified, stressed and miserable. That's no life for a wild animal.

 

[J3172]

To all that say why trap a free bird, if I don't trap and keep them they will be shot.

 

[Dingo]

I'm curious as to where all these pigeons are that need homes. I've never seen any in my local area being advertised, and I highly doubt they'd be anywhere near free. And the closest to my state that petfinder lists pigeons is PA.
J3172, I say catch em, if you are worried about disease or mixing your flock you can always build them a seperate loft, 4 birds wont need that much space.

 

[J3172]

Thanks, I've never seen free pigeons either, and all I wanted to know is, would the homing gene would be in the offspring of a wild mix? AS if I get them why not get some others. Thanks to all who posted.

 

[Dingo]

I have talked to some who race that have feral/homing crosses and say some of those birds are the best racers they have, just dont count on it and you wont be disappointed.

 

[J3172]

Isn't that the truth.

 

[NYboy]

Go to pigeontalk they have a adoption section. There are always people looking to give away free homers. I believe there are some now looking for homes. You might have to pay for shipping if they aren't close to you. Also go to Mickocoo pigeon and dove resuce, they ask for a small adoption fee

 

[sourland]

My experience with pigeon fanciers is that many are extremely generous and willing to give birds to those with the proper facilities and intentions. I just gave a dozen Birmingham roller squeekers to a young boy who had access to his father's homer loft. Dad wasn't racing anymore, and the boy wanted some pigeons to enjoy in their back yard. Proper people, proper facility, proper intentions so I gave them some young birds. I even put 5 pairs of my breeders back together and am raising them another round of youngsters. Do it the right way, meet the right people, and birds are available. Start by joining a pigeon club in your area. Fooling with ferals is a start, but it doesn't cost any more to feed purebred pigeons than to feed ferals.

 

[bleechme]

Quote:
all pigeons know how to go back home. It's just that homers are better at it. Lets say you have a 2 pigeons you've raised as babies, 1 a homer and 1 a wild pigeon. you let them fly regularly. 1 year later you want to take them to fly about 50 miles from your house for some reason. The homer will make it back home and most likely the wild one won't. But there is a small chance it will make it home and there is a small chance the homer won't either. The chances are just better for homers. Homers are known to come back home even if they are 200+ miles from home.