Pigeon Talk

[Fields Mountain Farm]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/don’t-tell-my-husband-we’re-getting-pigeons.1293192/
Yay!

Thanks for the link!

 

[Serin]

She seems like the perfect companion for you! What made you decide to get a house pigeon? I don't know if she's using that nest bowl but it seems to be taking up a lot of space. I only give mine nest bowls when they are breeding, otherwise they are ignored and get in the way. If I did put a bowl in that cage I'd put it on or under the shelf. JMO.

I like birds a lot and have kept other birds for the past five years. I was looking for a larger, more interactive bird that would do well indoors. Pigeons provide a similar level of companionship to a parrot but are much more easygoing, quiet and not destructive. I think they should be more common house pets, and parrots much less so - as parrots on the whole are wild animals and are just so smart, so sensitive and so temperamental, they aren't very good pets for most people whereas pigeons are truly domesticated.

I was advised to make sure she always had a nest available, because indoor single pigeons will lay eggs throughout the year and without a safe space to sit on them for a few weeks can become chronic layers to the harm of their health. Not providing a nest can prevent some birds like parrots from laying, but I know firsthand it does not work for canaries and I was told it doesn't for pigeons either, especially when they live inside where it's basically always like springtime.

She does like to sit in it during the day, but she does not sleep in it. Her cage is open almost all the time and she can come or go, so it does not really take up space. Her cage is just her bedroom.

 

[CacklingRanch]

Her crest is cute!

 

[backyard pigeons]

Well, actually parlors rollers roll backwards,and parlor tumblers roll forward. I agree, unless they're like WV's, that roll once or twice, it does seem kinda cruel. I got them, and after a little, I felt really bad for them. I have one 30+ ft one left. I rarely roll it.

Jacobins can actually see out of their crest, when they relax, they can see quite well. Budapest tumblers eyes aren't to large, it's simply the care isn't as small around the eye, like a normal pigeons, so it looks to large. Though I would never want any of these birds!

What about owls? There beaks seem to short to eat well, many can't even feed their young. What do you think about this? Is that cruel?

I hope this hasn't sounded mean in any way, just wanted to see what an owl person would say about their beak.

@Serin , did you see this? Again, I hope this didn't sound like I'm debating you, I'm just curious! Thanks.

 

[Serin]

@Serin , did you see this? Again, I hope this didn't sound like I'm debating you, I'm just curious! Thanks.

I didn't see it, sorry.

Rolling backwards is arguably worse than forwards.

Jacobins still have very reduced vision and cannot see around them.

Budapests eyes are actually enormous, it isn't just a cere different. In the most extreme lines, the eyes don't fit into the skull sockets, and purportedly they can pop out under stress!

The Old German Owl is considered a medium beaked breed, they are structurally sound, can feed themselves with no issue, and rear their own offspring. They have a crest and a chest frill, but they are very slight, especially in Olive as she is not a "high quality" bird of her type. But they are at the end of where I consider ethical breeding, and a bill much shorter would become problematic. Satinettes, which have slightly shorter bills than German owls, may be prone to seeds being lodged in their nostrils as they are compressed more than in a normal bird. And beyond that, there are pigeons called Safis where they've been bred down to almost no bill, and these are not ethical to be producing intentionally. The chicks have to be fostered or hand-raised because adults cannot feed them, and the adults can only eat from a full dish as they can't pick food up from the ground.

 

[backyard pigeons]

I didn't see it, sorry.

Rolling backwards is arguably worse than forwards.

Jacobins still have very reduced vision and cannot see around them.

Budapests eyes are actually enormous, it isn't just a cere different. In the most extreme lines, the eyes don't fit into the skull sockets, and purportedly they can pop out under stress!

The Old German Owl is considered a medium beaked breed, they are structurally sound, can feed themselves with no issue, and rear their own offspring. They have a crest and a chest frill, but they are very slight, especially in Olive as she is not a "high quality" bird of her type. But they are at the end of where I consider ethical breeding, and a bill much shorter would become problematic. Satinettes, which have slightly shorter bills than German owls, may be prone to seeds being lodged in their nostrils as they are compressed more than in a normal bird. And beyond that, there are pigeons called Safis where they've been bred down to almost no bill, and these are not ethical to be producing intentionally. The chicks have to be fostered or hand-raised because adults cannot feed them, and the adults can only eat from a full dish as they can't pick food up from the ground.

Yes, it's 100% inhumane to breed down to almost no beak. At the Louisville pigeon show, German owls had such short beaks, and many had to be fostered. But I'm glad you're isn't that way. Do you dislike chickens like polish, silkies etc with reduced vision? What about larger meat pigeon breeds that can't fly?

 

[Pyxis]

They look great! You can tell that's a male and female quite well. Are they in the pigeon post yet?!

Not yet! They were a little more expensive than the original ones I was getting, so I had to send a check to cover the difference.

Budapests eyes are actually enormous, it isn't just a cere different. In the most extreme lines, the eyes don't fit into the skull sockets, and purportedly they can pop out under stress!

I'd guess you're not a fan of pugs either? I'm not, for the same reasons (sorry WV!). Unfortunately a lot of dog breeds have been bred to extremes, like King Charles Spaniels, whose brains are actually too large for their shrunken skulls.

 

[Serin]

I don't, as a rule, like show animals of any persuasion. They are the most inbred, exaggerated animals. It is not surprising to me show line owls are structurally unsound in the name of aesthetic - I would not want to raise those types of birds.

Any animal that has reduced vision due to excess hair/feathers is problematic to me. A dog can be given a haircut and it's fine, but birds may be more difficult due to blood feathers and such. I'm iffy on it. Silkies are not the birds for me, I will say.

Meat pigeons can all fly to some degree. They are usually structurally sound but large and lazy. They are still OK but bordering on problematic. They're a far cry from broiler chickens though, which are terrible.

 

[backyard pigeons]

Not my bird but my picture. They can see just fine in front of themselves when showing and then when relaxed they can somewhat see to the sides as well.. These bird is an Almond Jacobin I saw at the BCPPA show.

View attachment 1678921

Here's a pic that holm took of a jacobin. It's not extremely reduced vision but not the best either. I understand you not liking them. Same for you bio

 

[backyard pigeons]

I don't, as a rule, like show animals of any persuasion. They are the most inbred, exaggerated animals. It is not surprising to me show line owls are structurally unsound in the name of aesthetic - I would not want to raise those types of birds.

Any animal that has reduced vision due to excess hair/feathers is problematic to me. A dog can be given a haircut and it's fine, but birds may be more difficult due to blood feathers and such. I'm iffy on it. Silkies are not the birds for me, I will say.

Meat pigeons can all fly to some degree. They are usually structurally sound but large and lazy. They are still OK but bordering on problematic. They're a far cry from broiler chickens though, which are terrible.

Yes. Meat chickens are awful.