Pigeon Talk

[backyard pigeons]

Olive wore her harness for the first time today, and after some initial confusion as to what it was, she has been just great with it, and no longer is paying attention to it. We went on a short twenty minute outing in the garden, and will work up to longer outings as long as she seems to enjoy them. She was very calm, and sunned herself. I set her on the grass, but she climbed right back up onto the bricks and then to my shoulder for today. She has, I am sure, never stood on grass and apparently found the texture strange!

Very neat! I don't see the harness in either picture. Where is it?

 

[Serin]

It's hidden under her very luxuriant feathers. You can see the leash hanging out from behind her shoulders. It's an aviator harness, generally considered the most secure, escape proof harness for parrots, but it's very lightweight. There are three loops, around each wing and the neck, which once tightened and locked make it impossible for her to slip out.

 

[Quacking Pigeon]

Well, I finally broke down and got some pigeons! Yeah!

I've been breeding chickens and ducks for a few years now (also previously had turkey and quail) and I have 3 budgies indoors, but I decided I wanted some pigeons. So I found a fella close to me that had some fantails, which were the first pigeon to ever catch my eye and make me say "I want some of those!". Turned out that he also had a pair of Satinettes, and once I looked those up, I was hooked! So I met up with him last weekend. I got the pair of Satinettes, and he also had some parlor rollers. After looking at the fantails, I decided I liked the parlor rollers better, so I came home with the pair of Satinettes and a pair of parlor rollers.

Being not so new to the chicken world, but brand new to the pigeon world, I'd like to invite you to share your experiences with me. Major differences in raising pigeons as opposed to chickens, etc, etc. Especially pigeon specific stuff that non-pigeon people probably never thought of, etc. I've been reading many of the pigeon related threads here, but hate to hijack them with a bunch of my questions, so here we go..... tell me, tell me.

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I'm also twisting the arm (*wink, wink*) of @Fields Mountain Farm and @shawluvsbirds to get some pigeons too, so we decided we could hopefully learn this stuff together.

I’ve seen Satinettes for sale for at least $100 a pair. How much did you get yours?

Their are these three Satinettes for sale at the moment for $70, there’s the pair and one of the babies. I don’t think I’ll get them as i’d rather focus on the breeds I have now (Fantails, Birmingham rollers (show type), and Serbian highflyers).

 

[WVduckchick]

I’ve seen Satinettes for sale for at least $100 a pair. How much did you get yours?

Their are these three Satinettes for sale at the moment for $70, there’s the pair and one of the babies. I don’t think I’ll get them as i’d rather focus on the breeds I have now (Fantails, Birmingham rollers (show type), and Serbian highflyers).

I think the first pair, I gave $25 for the pair, the only pair this man had. The other 5, I gave $10 each for because that man was ill, and downsizing and needed them gone.

 

[WVduckchick]

Olive wore her harness for the first time today, and after some initial confusion as to what it was, she has been just great with it, and no longer is paying attention to it. We went on a short twenty minute outing in the garden, and will work up to longer outings as long as she seems to enjoy them. She was very calm, and sunned herself. I set her on the grass, but she climbed right back up onto the bricks and then to my shoulder for today. She has, I am sure, never stood on grass and apparently found the texture strange!

Do you think she would fly off without it? I know you don’t want to find out for sure, but just wondering what your thought are about it. Can she fly a little, like a kite?

I would assume she would definitely come back to you, but even a small flight could be dangerous, huh.

 

[h2oratt]

Olive wore her harness for the first time today, and after some initial confusion as to what it was, she has been just great with it, and no longer is paying attention to it. We went on a short twenty minute outing in the garden, and will work up to longer outings as long as she seems to enjoy them. She was very calm, and sunned herself. I set her on the grass, but she climbed right back up onto the bricks and then to my shoulder for today. She has, I am sure, never stood on grass and apparently found the texture strange!

Do you think she will fly away"?

 

[WVduckchick]

Had Brick and Brewer out in my workshop for a little free time. They are very comfortable climbing on me and are getting much better at hopping up on higher things.

 

[h2oratt]

I’ve seen Satinettes for sale for at least $100 a pair. How much did you get yours?

Their are these three Satinettes for sale at the moment for $70, there’s the pair and one of the babies. I don’t think I’ll get them as i’d rather focus on the breeds I have now (Fantails, Birmingham rollers (show type), and Serbian highflyers).

I am looking for some Vegas high rollers, lol

 

[Serin]

Do you think she will fly away"?

Without the leash, probably, and owls have no homing instinct and are easily caught by raptors.

I have bad news with my canaries! The oldest chick died. I pulled them all out and saw they are starving. Mom doesn't know to feed them! I wet some of their food pellets, warmed it up and got both surviving chicks to suck some of the slop off a toothpick and then transferred them to the nest of some of my other birds, four society finches, who have a proven record as being excellent parents. After some hesitation, the finches have started to brood the chicks and feed them so i am hoping they make it. The clueless mother canary is now sitting on fake eggs and doesnt seem to know any different.

 

[WVduckchick]

Without the leash, probably, and owls have no homing instinct and are easily caught by raptors.

I have bad news with my canaries! The oldest chick died. I pulled them all out and saw they are starving. Mom doesn't know to feed them! I wet some of their food pellets, warmed it up and got both surviving chicks to suck some of the slop off a toothpick and then transferred them to the nest of some of my other birds, four society finches, who have a proven record as being excellent parents. After some hesitation, the finches have started to brood the chicks and feed them so i am hoping they make it. The clueless mother canary is now sitting on fake eggs and doesnt seem to know any different.

Oh my goodness! Sorry to hear that.

Nice luck that the finch took over though. That’s amazing in itself!