Thought I'd make my own thread on a thing I've been curious about.
My husband and I will be starting our house searching in the spring of 09' with that said... it looks like we will just be looking for a home that's close to his work site and I doubt we'll get any amount of land for several sheds and what not for birds.
I plan to raise my quail indoors if that happens in sunrooms, or in a room built in our future basement. And also small chickens like seramas and possibly silkies all indoors to avoid any problems with neighbors and noises (planning on installing soundproofing as well).
I was thinking if I have a nice covered porch, would it be stupid to think I could make a pigeon coop type thing right in my porch? I know i could make it decient looking and as long as no one watched when I released my pigeons and when they returned I know I could make it look like a storage thing on my porch instead of a coop (incase I have neighbors who think pigeons are nasty).
However, my question is, how sucessful could I be raising homers in a town so close to neighbors IF I do end up getting a home that close to neighbors? All around our county where theres towns, theres feral pigeons....(none in the area i live in now, too far in the woods too many predators and not enough resturants to keep pigeons happy here) so I *THINK* when I'd let my pigeons out no one would be upset as theres already so many pigeons.
I am also curious would my homers possibly attract feral pigeons to my coop/loft whatever you'd want to call it? If so, do I have to worry about disease from pet pigeon to feral pigeon? If they mix bred would it dillute the homing instinct? If it's a bad idea to let them knowingly mix breed how do I effectively keep ferals out of my lofts?
These may be stupid questions, i'm not sure...but was curious to ask them.
My major concern is where to find a breeder at to get my first youngsters from. Any ole' homers will do as long as they're really homers, I don't need winning bloodlines as I won't be racing them other than to let them out to fly around for a bit before they come back.
ALSO, before I forget, how long do I have to keep my young pigeons in before I can start letting them enjoy some freedom? Should I try to teach them to come when I call (like by shaking a feed can) or do I not care and let them come back when they want to.
I'd deffinatly want the lofts to be trapdoors so they can only enter, not exit unless I want them to leave.
Thanks for any answers you can give me even if you can't answer them all. I've raised pigeons before but never homers, other than a 2 homers I rescued that i never found their owners, a feral, and to parlor rollers.
Niki
My husband and I will be starting our house searching in the spring of 09' with that said... it looks like we will just be looking for a home that's close to his work site and I doubt we'll get any amount of land for several sheds and what not for birds.
I plan to raise my quail indoors if that happens in sunrooms, or in a room built in our future basement. And also small chickens like seramas and possibly silkies all indoors to avoid any problems with neighbors and noises (planning on installing soundproofing as well).
I was thinking if I have a nice covered porch, would it be stupid to think I could make a pigeon coop type thing right in my porch? I know i could make it decient looking and as long as no one watched when I released my pigeons and when they returned I know I could make it look like a storage thing on my porch instead of a coop (incase I have neighbors who think pigeons are nasty).
However, my question is, how sucessful could I be raising homers in a town so close to neighbors IF I do end up getting a home that close to neighbors? All around our county where theres towns, theres feral pigeons....(none in the area i live in now, too far in the woods too many predators and not enough resturants to keep pigeons happy here) so I *THINK* when I'd let my pigeons out no one would be upset as theres already so many pigeons.
I am also curious would my homers possibly attract feral pigeons to my coop/loft whatever you'd want to call it? If so, do I have to worry about disease from pet pigeon to feral pigeon? If they mix bred would it dillute the homing instinct? If it's a bad idea to let them knowingly mix breed how do I effectively keep ferals out of my lofts?
These may be stupid questions, i'm not sure...but was curious to ask them.
My major concern is where to find a breeder at to get my first youngsters from. Any ole' homers will do as long as they're really homers, I don't need winning bloodlines as I won't be racing them other than to let them out to fly around for a bit before they come back.
ALSO, before I forget, how long do I have to keep my young pigeons in before I can start letting them enjoy some freedom? Should I try to teach them to come when I call (like by shaking a feed can) or do I not care and let them come back when they want to.
I'd deffinatly want the lofts to be trapdoors so they can only enter, not exit unless I want them to leave.
Thanks for any answers you can give me even if you can't answer them all. I've raised pigeons before but never homers, other than a 2 homers I rescued that i never found their owners, a feral, and to parlor rollers.
Niki
