Paired with a feral

[ilikepigeons]

One of my male homers previously paired up with a feral female and left but came back when he learnt the food wasn't so good, he didn't see the female for a good while after that. I paired him up with one of my other hens and thought all was well, but no. He's seeing the feral again and is building a nest and possibly incubating eggs for her. Not coming back to roost at night, but still coming twice a day to be fed.
I only have 4 birds and desperately want to breed some chicks this year, one pair is strangely not laying and my other male has gone off with this feral. I can't catch the feral as she is terrified of people and never comes here but since the male is still coming back twice a day I can hopefully lure him into the coop and shut the door, and keep him inside for a while.
Will keeping him inside work, how long do I keep him in and do I need to put my hen in the coop with him ?(which would require me somehow catching her too)

 

[ilikepigeons]

He’s smart.. won’t go in the coop or let me grab him.. if y’all have any suggestions on how to catch ‘em that would be appreciated too

 

[Hokum Coco]

This is one form of pigeon live trap. However a box stick string and feed maybe all you need.

 

[LamarshFish]

He's seeing the feral again and is building a nest and possibly incubating eggs for her. Not coming back to roost at night, but still coming twice a day to be fed.

This is a good way to introduce disease into your loft. I would do what you're planning, and try to prevent him from leaving.

Will keeping him inside work, how long do I keep him in and do I need to put my hen in the coop with him ?

Tough to say. That could work, but pigeons are weird, smart and form complicated pair bonds. Even if he pairs with one of your hens, he could still go after that feral.

 

[Hokum Coco]

Will keeping him inside work, how long do I keep him in and do I need to put my hen in the coop with him ?(which would require me somehow catching her too)

If you do manage eventually to catch your pigeon I would pair him with one in you loft and not release him until he has raised at least one batch of squabs with his mate.

 

[cavemanrich]

I personally would welcome the feral to join the loft. If your pigeon is building a nest, he may convince the feral to use the nest, Then simply keep both until young hatch out.
I am one, around these pigeon forums to favor feral pigeons. Meaning,,, since I don't race, or show,,, a feral pigeon is equal to any other one out there. They are also street smart.
I have had ferals congregate with my pigeons on loft flights. Who knows what happened when they were out of my sight.
I also do not make assumptions that feral pigeons are diseased. If they are,,,, they usually die, and are not that swift to seek company of other pigeons.

I also wear patches such as below on my clothing.

 

[cavemanrich]

He’s smart.. won’t go in the coop or let me grab him.. if y’all have any suggestions on how to catch ‘em that would be appreciated too

Just offer feed seeds inside loft.

 

[ilikepigeons]

I personally would welcome the feral to join the loft. If your pigeon is building a nest, he may convince the feral to use the nest, Then simply keep both until young hatch out.
I am one, around these pigeon forums to favor feral pigeons. Meaning,,, since I don't race, or show,,, a feral pigeon is equal to any other one out there. They are also street smart.
I have had ferals congregate with my pigeons on loft flights. Who knows what happened when they were out of my sight.
I also do not make assumptions that feral pigeons are diseased. If they are,,,, they usually die, and are not that swift to seek company of other pigeons.

I also wear patches such as below on my clothing.
View attachment 2990361

Yes, they've been slowly moving in. I put feed down for them and the whole flock eats together, recently I have locked up the bully pigeon who was blocking them from coming in the loft, so now the homer male has started roosting here , and I was able to get the two (one more feral joined the flock shortly after I started feeding the first one, so now there is two I feed, both also have names so I guess I have semi adopted them) to start eating inside the loft, so now I am hoping that they will decide to move in.
They roost on the roof, powerlines and trees here, I was also able to track them down in the trees and there is no nest, they are just roosting there right now. Perhaps my homer male might encourage them in if he likes the nesting spots I have for them.

 

[cavemanrich]

I was able to get the two (one more feral joined the flock shortly after I started feeding the first one, so now there is two I feed, both also have names so I guess I have semi adopted them) to start eating inside the loft, so now I am hoping that they will decide to move in.

I was also able to track them down in the trees and there is no nest, they are just roosting there right now. Perhaps my homer male might encourage them in if he likes the nesting spots I have for them.

If you go to the thread Pigeon Talk, you can find posts about feral adoptees. I can search them out for you, but you can find them just the same. It is also a great thread with much info.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/pigeon-talk.1276029/

I name my pets also. But did have a slight difficulty when all my 15 or so pigeons were identical white. When my number was 15,,, many were young squabs in that group. Some didn't make to adult, and some split on me at first release,
Pigeons do not make nest in trees to my understanding. At least I have never seen a pigeon nest in any tree. They like flat ledges preferably out of the weather. Bridge underpasses are a favorite in my area.
Not really sure, but I suspect the term Rock Dove,,, (the beginners of all pigeons) may come from where they nested in the wild,, on rocks with overhang protection from weather.

 

[ilikepigeons]

If you go to the thread Pigeon Talk, you can find posts about feral adoptees. I can search them out for you, but you can find them just the same. It is also a great thread with much info.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/pigeon-talk.1276029/

I name my pets also. But did have a slight difficulty when all my 15 or so pigeons were identical white. When my number was 15,,, many were young squabs in that group. Some didn't make to adult, and some split on me at first release,
Pigeons do not make nest in trees to my understanding. At least I have never seen a pigeon nest in any tree. They like flat ledges preferably out of the weather. Bridge underpasses are a favorite in my area.
Not really sure, but I suspect the term Rock Dove,,, (the beginners of all pigeons) may come from where they nested in the wild,, on rocks with overhang protection from weather.

I'll have a look through Pigeon Talk sometime then, sounds like a good thread.

Ha! Yes it is for that reason I don't name my zebra finches in the aviary, most are all white and there is 11 of them So far the pigeons have been all different colours, so that makes it a bit easier.

Yes, that was my understanding too, I have had two males try to build a nest in the trees before, so far they have not succeeded, the grass has only fallen out of the tree. (what a surprise, if you let go of the piece of grass it falls down )