New homers question

[bnew17]

I picked up 5 young homers. Are they called squeakers? I got them from the previous owner (who did NOT fly them) 2 weeks ago. He recommended that I keep them in the coop 4 weeks before releasing them. My question is, what is the best way to introduce them out of the pen? I have a bob door and when I put them in the coop originally, I put them in through the bobs. Do I need to get a hold of them a few more times and put them through the bobs so they will learn that is the way back in, or will they naturally do that? Do i release them individually, or leave the door open?

 

[sourland]

Is there a landing platform in front of the bobs? I like to build a settling cage on the landing platform, leave the bobs open, and allow young birds access to the landing platform while protected by the settling cage. I actually make the settling cage large enough that they can access the loft roof and view their 'home'.

 

[bnew17]

Is there a landing platform in front of the bobs? I like to build a settling cage on the landing platform, leave the bobs open, and allow young birds access to the landing platform while protected by the settling cage. I actually make the settling cage large enough that they can access the loft roof and view their 'home'.

Yes I have a landing platform. This is the coop i just built.

 

[Qwerty3159]

Yes I have a landing platform. This is the coop i just built.

Looks good. I’ve trained birds to go in and out of the trap loads of times without a settling cage but it makes everything way easier. The settling cage could be as simple as a wire dog kennel you fix to the side of the coop, so that the only option for the pigeons is to stay in the cage or use the bobs to enter the loft. Do this when they’re hungry and they should come right in. You can also pin one or two of the bobs up the first couple times, I’ve found that this makes the birds much less nervous to go through them. Beware that if you don’t have all the bobs down they can get back out, though.

 

[sourland]

I'd be tempted to make the landing platform larger (so that multiple birds could land at the same time) and place the settling cage on it.

 

[Qwerty3159]

I'd be tempted to make the landing platform larger (so that multiple birds could land at the same time) and place the settling cage on it.

Great point! Plus the benefit of having a big landing board is when it’s not in use you can flip it up to cover the trap that way no predators get in.

 

[Chullicken]

I'm trying to venture out into pigeons and this post has been awesome to read~ Thank you everyone so far for the great info.