Pigeon Talk

[WVduckchick]

Checking on Duff's babies. She tried her best to keep me from seeing them.

 

[Serin]

How adorable is she? She sounds amazing. Do you have two finch flight cages modified into one for her cage?

Yes I do. I've done the same to make identical double cages for my finches and budgies. My canaries are by necessity in smaller cages as they are territorial and need their own space... And 4 or 5 more double cages would be too much.

@Serin

Question - Do you always have her on a leash outdoors? It doesn't sound like it's needed to prevent her from straying.

I think Olive could do this...

She is always leashed. It is to keep her safe from hawks and peregrines, very common here in town. When I had a finch aviary in the yard of my old house hawks would slam into it a few times a week trying to catch birds. She is not street smart and would be raptor bait if she flew up into the roof and sat there for example.

I don't think she has the stamina to fly like that either. She is a master of the leisure arts.

 

[Serin]

I admittedly find it a little odd, I’m not even sure why, but it sounds like she has a fabulous life with you. I do enjoy reading about her, especially the intelligence she displays. Birds are amazing!

Im nothing if not odd. Is the idea of house pet birds just not your cup if tea in general? I'm more or less just keeping a pigeon as thousands of people keep a parrot. She is just as affectionate, not any messier, quiet, calm and doesn't bite. For a companion bird she is ideal and their personalities really show when the are so trusting. But I've met folks who wouldn't even keep a budgie in rhe house because they're too messy so to those people a pigeon must be insane.

 

[LaughingDove]

I have several of those finch cages. Would you mind explaining the process?

I can’t get over her alternative life style. So sweet and fun.

 

[Serin]

I have several of those finch cages. Would you mind explaining the process?

I can’t get over her alternative life style. So sweet and fun.

Sure. I unclip the bottom grate and the base panel under that on one cage and do the same for the top panel on the other. Then large white zip cable ties are used to secure the one on top if the other every 6 inches. It can be difficult to line them up so the cage is not crooked and another person to hold them while you tie helps but I have done it alone. They're very secure once attached.

 

[WVduckchick]

Im nothing if not odd. Is the idea of house pet birds just not your cup if tea in general? I'm more or less just keeping a pigeon as thousands of people keep a parrot. She is just as affectionate, not any messier, quiet, calm and doesn't bite. For a companion bird she is ideal and their personalities really show when the are so trusting. But I've met folks who wouldn't even keep a budgie in rhe house because they're too messy so to those people a pigeon must be insane.

Oh gosh no, I seem to always have a few chickens/ducks in the house. And I have 3 horribly messy budgies [coincidentally, I saw the 2 boys mating yesterday ]. I meant no offense, I guess I always feel bad when I have a loner in the house, like an injured or sick bird. And with pigeons being so flock oriented, it seems a little different. But I fully understand the love and camaraderie you have found with her. She does not seem to miss being with birds of her own kind. I am happy that she bonds with all the other animals too though!

Are you sure she is female? I'm just curious. I can't remember if we ever discussed it.

 

[LaughingDove]

That’s a good idea. I have wondered if it was possible but have shied away from it because the cages are so floppy when they are not assembled. I will give it a try soon!
I am selling some of my doves today. It will be sad because I love them all dearly but I just have too many.

 

[Serin]

aww! How sweet! I certainly do enjoy hearing about her! Thank you for sharing. She is very smart. And yes, our types of keeping pigeons are VERY different, it's good for me, and everyone to keep an open mind.

so cute! Did he respond to seeing other pigeons thru video's\pics?

maybe! If she could keep up... Her cute little wings.

Indeed my bird is a pet and yours are more of a hobby, where the birds and the breeding and caring aspect collectively are valued more than individuals right? That is more how I view my canaries and finches..
though i name them all I don't get very attached to most as they are not strongly bonded to me.

She doesn't pay attention to videos of other birds. She has also seen other feral pigeons outdoors, but didn't acknowledge them.

Spread out her wings are actually as large as any other pigeon! But she's not a type bred for performance which is why just a few large rooms seems plenty for her to exercise in. She loves to nap.

Oh gosh no, I seem to always have a few chickens/ducks in the house. And I have 3 horribly messy budgies [coincidentally, I saw the 2 boys mating yesterday ]. I meant no offense, I guess I always feel bad when I have a loner in the house, like an injured or sick bird. And with pigeons being so flock oriented, it seems a little different. But I fully understand the love and camaraderie you have found with her. She does not seem to miss being with birds of her own kind. I am happy that she bonds with all the other animals too though!

Are you sure she is female? I'm just curious. I can't remember if we ever discussed it.

No offense taken. When I got her it was a trial and if she was lonely I'd have not kept her singly but she really has flourished as a companion animal. She has a flock in the other birds and with me and my family and seems very fulfilled. I try to take her with me whenever I can and she is mostly free range in the home. I think the difference between a sick flock bird inside temporarily and a bonded pet bird raised in that environment makes a difference. I got olive at about 5 months of age and she was cage raised so this is the most freedom she's ever known and really just how she's mostly known her life to be now. I think all birds like company but ultimately can live a happy life as long as their social needs are fulfilled in some way. Olive thinks she is people and as said above doesn't seem very interested in other pigeons. she would adjust to a loft I'm sure eventually, but I wonder if she would ever be a normal pigeon after her upbringing because she has grown up in such a human environment. She might wonder why the other pigeons don't have hands to pet her with or why they would choose to sleep in a pile of sticks instead of a luxurious bed.

I am pretty certain she is a girl. She is so quiet, doesnt bow and coo, doesn't carry sticks to her nest and crouches when I pet her sometimes and wants me to tread her back with my hand..but despite that, and how she sleeps in a nest, she hasn't laid any eggs yet. And she hates sticks. I've tried to offer some to put in her nest like a male pigeon woyld and she throws them out immediately.

 

[Qwerty3159]

I've been letting my young birds out daily this week and they've been doing well, trapping in fine, and the best part is they haven't turned into roof/tree sitters like their parents, yet.
Today was the first day they really got airborne and the pair of them took off and flew around my property for about 45 minutes. After that they slowly got further away and it has now been two hours and still no sight of them. I'm a bit worried but their father disappeared for days after a short 1 mile toss and made it back in tornado-force winds so maybe I should ease up.

As for some positive news, one of the new eggs has already hatched and the other is on the way.

 

[backyard pigeons]

Indeed my bird is a pet and yours are more of a hobby, where the birds and the breeding and caring aspect collectively are valued more than individuals right? That is more how I view my canaries and finches..
though i name them all I don't get very attached to most as they are not strongly bonded to me.

She doesn't pay attention to videos of other birds. She has also seen other feral pigeons outdoors, but didn't acknowledge them.

Spread out her wings are actually as large as any other pigeon! But she's not a type bred for performance which is why just a few large rooms seems plenty for her to exercise in. She loves to nap.




No offense taken. When I got her it was a trial and if she was lonely I'd have not kept her singly but she really has flourished as a companion animal. She has a flock in the other birds and with me and my family and seems very fulfilled. I try to take her with me whenever I can and she is mostly free range in the home. I think the difference between a sick flock bird inside temporarily and a bonded pet bird raised in that environment makes a difference. I got olive at about 5 months of age and she was cage raised so this is the most freedom she's ever known and really just how she's mostly known her life to be now. I think all birds like company but ultimately can live a happy life as long as their social needs are fulfilled in some way. Olive thinks she is people and as said above doesn't seem very interested in other pigeons. she would adjust to a loft I'm sure eventually, but I wonder if she would ever be a normal pigeon after her upbringing because she has grown up in such a human environment. She might wonder why the other pigeons don't have hands to pet her with or why they would choose to sleep in a pile of sticks instead of a luxurious bed.

I am pretty certain she is a girl. She is so quiet, doesnt bow and coo, doesn't carry sticks to her nest and crouches when I pet her sometimes and wants me to tread her back with my hand..but despite that, and how she sleeps in a nest, she hasn't laid any eggs yet. And she hates sticks. I've tried to offer some to put in her nest like a male pigeon woyld and she throws them out immediately.

As a majority, yes, I don't have much of a relationship with them. I love them all, but there are a few that stick out. I recently lost my favorite, she was the sweetest thing. She would come and sit on me. After that, I haven't really worked on getting any more tame. She just out of the blue one day sat on me. She wasn't hand raised, infact, she was very very wild for a long time.

About the wings I was meaning just because she is a show breed. Not quite a racing homer...

I would say, at first I didnt like the idea of a indoor pigeon, just because of how flock oriented they are. But I think she has a very good life. Maybe someday I will keep one indoors also.