Pigeon Bulletin Board?

[Kiki]

Don't know if I will race, but I am obsessed with everything about racing homers!
As I think more about the eight birds I have, I'm more inclined not to fly them until they have given me some babies. They are all just such nice looking birds and their history so uncertain that I would be risking too much. I do NOT want to keep them captive forever! I'm planning to switch out the box perches for 3 more nest boxes and to enlarge the aviary in the meantime.

It's all still new and exciting to me so plans are likely to evolve more. LOL

Pigeon math?

 

[Kiki]

Whether you enter races or just take your pigeons a distance and have them return home will generate the same amount of adrenaline when you see them return. I have NO DESIRES to race now/before/or future. It is nice to take them with you when you go to visit your relatives for dinner, and release them from their house. (the farther your relatives live the better)
You will be flying the young from your loft before you chance on releasing the parents.
You know the saying. Never release a bird the you are not comfortable with loosing.

Watching the video left me with some wondering questions.
How does he enter races in different parts of the country and world.
Does he have properties and lofts all over.???
For example; How does he race in South Africa If he lives in Florida???
Where do his pigeons end their race???
Does he take young pigeons to location and spends a long time there and homesets them at that location? I understand that he is not short on cash as per his statement in video.

Just some of my thoughts....

This is amazing!
I can't wrap my head around it just yet.

 

[biophiliac]

Hi everybody, I'm just excited to share my observation...
This morning (day after Valentine's @sourland ) I saw 2 of my birds doing the 'French kissing' thing, I think it's called billing. I was surprised, don't even have any nest bowls yet! The best part is that they are the (supposedly) Houbens. I was hoping they would pair up but with 8 birds in the loft I didn't think it would happen naturally. Sure hope they stay together. Maybe they are a little older than the others. Anyway, @cavemanrich I will be alert for more courting behaviors! When should I put some nest bowls and materials in? They haven't taken a nest box yet.
These are the two

P1000977 (2)

• biophiliac
• Feb 8, 2018

P1000973 (2)

• biophiliac
• Feb 8, 2018

 

[Hokum Coco]

When should I put some nest bowls and materials in?

In a perfect world you can expect eggs as early as 10+- days.
That is the rule of thumb after you see them copulate.

 

[Kiki]

Feb 25th-ish! WOOT!

 

[cavemanrich]

When should I put some nest bowls and materials in? They haven't taken a nest box yet.

Put a nest bowl in anytime. (inside nest box) Then scatter some hay/nesting materials, on the floor or in aviary. The male is usually the nest builder, so he will pick up things and build nest. They do not make a very cushy nest, just enough to keep eggs from rolling around easily.

 

[cavemanrich]

If you already purchased nest bowl, then what I am saying does not apply.

I simply used kitchen bowls, that I ether had extras, or got from Dollar Store. The purpose is to keep the nesting materials in as well as Junior from falling out when very young. It keeps the lil ones close to mama n papa while in the nest. In nature, feral pigeons build their nests on flat surfaces, like window sills, and bridge underpass cement flats. But of course we LUV our pets, so we bend over backwards for them.

 

[biophiliac]

If you already purchased nest bowl, then what I am saying does not apply.

I simply used kitchen bowls, that I ether had extras, or got from Dollar Store. The purpose is to keep the nesting materials in as well as Junior from falling out when very young. It keeps the lil ones close to mama n papa while in the nest. In nature, feral pigeons build their nests on flat surfaces, like window sills, and bridge underpass cement flats. But of course we LUV our pets, so we bend over backwards for them.

Should I make holes in the bowl like the one in the pic?

 

[Hokum Coco]

This is the dog dish I use for nest bowls it is approximately 10" in diameter and does not tip when parents exchange duties. They are available at the Canadian Dollar Store. Flimsy nest bowls can result in the loss of your eggs which I had happen.

 

[biophiliac]

View attachment 1266325


This is the dog dish I use for nest bowls it is approximately 10" in diameter and does not tip when parents exchange duties. They are available at the Canadian Dollar Store. Flimsy nest bowls can result in the loss of your eggs which I had happen.

I have found some at the dollar store.

But still wondering if I should drill 3 holes in the bottom like the clay ones have?