Pigeon loft in tractor shed... bad idea?

[OhZark Biddies]

I am a big fan of feral pigeons BTW. Raise a few clutches, and then loft train them to free-fly. Then let original parents free as they were before. Some may decide to stick around once they found a comfortable home with a well stocked pantry
I also think that feral pigeons are more "street smart" than other breeds. JMO. so in your consideration of flying raptor concerns, I think this would be best route to try.
I also think that feral pigeons are not susceptible to In-breeding issues that can arise with so many of the domesticated animals. These are just my thoughts, and I'm not a scientist,,, and I don't play one on TV.

Your other location on gable end of barn sounds much better option. As to pigeons for food purposes, I suggest Kings. I still do not think pigeons as such a useful food source, compared to similar size birds like quail.

so... concerning trapping barn pigeons... do you have any thoughts on how to get pairs?

or would random ones just re couple after a little while?

Another thought I had was to check the barn for nesting in a month or so and if I can access the nests I might just swipe some young birds once they are ready to be on their own... but that plan might or might not work out depending on several things

 

[OhZark Biddies]

As to pigeons for food purposes, I suggest Kings. I still do not think pigeons as such a useful food source, compared to similar size birds like quail.

I've raised quail in the past, and not interested in doing so again at this point...

But if I used pigeons for meat it would probably be just a matter of managing the extras... I’ve not really seen any of the squabbing breeds available locally... and the breeders I find online seem to want quite a bit $ for them... but maybe I’ll happen onto some someday

To start with it’ll probably be ferals or homers or rollers as that is what I have locally ... but it’ll likely be next month before I get anything

 

[LamarshFish]

I’m pretty ignorant about keeping pigeons, but was thinking of building a small loft...

I have a lean-to that is open on both ends and I park my tractor in there... I had the idea of building a loft on one end, making it about 6 ft x 6ft, the tractor would end up parked about 3-4 ft away..

My question is this, if I were to do this would starting the tractor and pulling it back in freak out the pigeons too much and cause them to get injured, etc.

After sketching this all out to use that end of the lean-to, it just dawned on me that this might not work due to the tractor noise

thanks in advance

You'll be fine with the shed so long as you have a proper balance struck between ventilation and preventing drafts. You want ventilation, but any drafts on them where they roost or sleep can be a death sentence when it's cold.

As for the tractor starting, it shouldn't be a problem if you are somewhat congisant about introducing them to it. Don't just fire it up for the first time while it's inside the shed, try using it a few times a bit farther away. They are super smart and learn fast what is and what is not a threat to them. I mow my lawn right next to my loft and my pigeons are used to it and don't care at all. They acclimate to things pretty well.

 

[cavemanrich]

so... concerning trapping barn pigeons... do you have any thoughts on how to get pairs?

or would random ones just re couple after a little while?

Another thought I had was to check the barn for nesting in a month or so and if I can access the nests I might just swipe some young birds once they are ready to be on their own... but that plan might or might not work out depending on several things

If you are going to get barn pigeons, you may easily find the pair sitting on a nest somewhere in the rafters of the barn. You would need to get them at night in the dark. Be careful not to fall off ladder in dark. Not sure you have that option. If you would just get a bunch of ferals in a capture, they would pair up in short time. You may get paired ones already. Keep those that you like, and release the rest.

Here is a YouTube video on making your own trap. (ground level)

I’ve not really seen any of the squabbing breeds available locally... and the breeders I find online seem to want quite a bit $ for them... but maybe I’ll happen onto some someday

I can get meat pigeons at my Live Poultry, store. Those are just as good as any that you would buy from breeders. I purchased white pigeons from that store. They were white homers.
They had the large White Kings. Beautiful, but Kings were not the type that I wanted.