Pigeon Talk

[biophiliac]

Hello all! Sorry I’ve been absent. Just been super busy.
I enjoyed the Rosie and Olive story while catching up.
CCUK needs to update us on the loft build. Looking good so far!
Bio, your two little ones are looking good!

Was watching the birds yesterday and I really love the look of Egan (Trip/Rocky offspring) now 13 weeks old. Looking pretty feminine?
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Egan is lovely. for a hen!

Hey bio, did the feral ever trap?

Never saw him again...

. But I don't know if it's right to split the two birds just so Olive bonds with people again.

I would feel fine about splitting them if that's what you decide.

I'm feeling bad about all my options right now.

To me it seems like your options are good ones. If you decide to separate them, the Chicago Pet Pigeon rescue is a great resource to have.

I also don't think it would hurt to wait and see how their behaviors shake out. At least you would have the 10 days waiting for pick up to make up your mind. That's about as long as you've had Rosie to date.

I don't think it's wrong for you to want your Olive back.

As far as that goes, his rehab is complete. I took him in because I didn't think he had any other options and we were luckily close enough that we could arrange to meet ... I

Love you for that!

@Fields Mountain Farm - Love the new avy and you are correct describing pidgy breeding/egg laying.

 

[CCUK]

Ash's babies have hatched. She's sitting tight so I don't want to disturb her if I can help it. I did get a peek though. They are tiny!

 

[biophiliac]

Ash's babies have hatched. She's sitting tight so I don't want to disturb her if I can help it. I did get a peek though. They are tiny!
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I see one! Now to wait for the colors.

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

I need input.

90% sure Rosie is a cock now. Lots of mounting today and some tentative billing/feeding where she sticks her face down his beak and gets some...goop.

But Olive has gotten very aggressive about being touched and is biting us, even off the nest.

I got Olive as a companion animal and she seemed to thrive in that situation and was extremely tame with all people. I was okay keeping two pigeons if both remained handleable. If having a bird mate makes Olive act out, that's kind of changing the dynamic too much.

I don't know if it would be appropriate to split them again. Olive seemed happy before. She seems happy now. But she is not being nice anymore, and is avoiding me out of the cage.

Rosie is fully recovered - and being with another bird seems to have been important in that. His wing hangs a little but he flies well and seems to be a healthy weight again. As far as that goes, his rehab is complete. I took him in because I didn't think he had any other options and we were luckily close enough that we could arrange to meet but it was always on a trial basis. If they hated each other, it wouldn't work. I didn't expect the opposite, that they'd bond and that my bird wouldn't just be less attached to me (I anticipated that), but would actively dislike me!

I contacted the Chicago Pigeon Pets Rescue to get their input, and they offered to take Rosie in but it would not be possible for a volunteer to come and get him for about 10 days. They would have him checked by a vet, placed in a foster situation with someone else really into pigeons, and then adopted into another family, probably as a companion for another not so tame rescue bird. He'd be really well cared for. But I don't know if it's right to split the two birds just so Olive bonds with people again. She was with pigeons before I got her, and adjusted well. I'm feeling bad about all my options right now.

Maybe the biting is just a one-off thing, because she enjoyed snuggles this morning in her nest, but I have a bad feeling.

I guess a third option is rehoming them together to someone with more space or a loft, who doesn't need them to be tame and handleable.

Edit: I put Rosie in the other room to see what Olive did. Olive was immediately very affectionate with me, as in he wasn't out of her sight for a minute and she was preening my hand and wanting pets.

I'd honestly wait a bit. Maybe shes working on an egg. You mentioned shes been broody. Maybe shes hormonal. Give it some time before you decide. Shes your bird now so its up to you

 

[CCUK]

Lofts coming along nicely. Still a shed load to do though!

 

[backyard pigeons]

Lofts coming along nicely. Still a shed load to do though!
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Very nice! Is the rest gonna be an aviary?

 

[Serin]

I have good news.

If y'all remember my saying I used to have an aviary at my old place, well the aviary is still there. I've not used it at all in two years because it was built on my great grandmother's property when I was caring for her and she passed away 2 years ago. I moved a few blocks away because the house was going to be sold and I expected that the aviary would be taken down then. But my relatives in charge of managing the estate have not gotten it sale ready. It needs a lot of work and it took ages just to empty as my grandmother hoarded for 70 years in the basement and attic. But anyway long story short is that the property will not be selling until spring and I am able to use the yard for the rest of the summer.

I spent all yesterday clearing out the brush that had grown inside, secured a heavy duty tarp to the roof and windward side to block wind and rain, and today ive moved over Olive and Rosie and my other birds to enjoy a bit of summer camp for the next few weeks to months depending on weather.

The aviary is 8 x 8 x 8 feet with a 4 x 4 x 8 double door system. It was built with 1/4 inch hardware cloth on all sides and is predator proof - very little comes in the garden but we used to get hawks sitting around it. Its got a lock and its a short walk from my current residence to check food and water periodically.

Olive only has eyes for Rosie now but I figure if you love something, set it free, If she is happy then that's good. She gets to be a pigeon now. I will bring the birds back inside probably end of September or early October depending on weather by which time ill be able to get the pigeons a larger cage.

They are doing well with the budgie flock and finches. Only my canary isn't coming out, because he is mean to the finches.

 

[backyard pigeons]

I have good news.

If y'all remember my saying I used to have an aviary at my old place, well the aviary is still there. I've not used it at all in two years because it was built on my great grandmother's property when I was caring for her and she passed away 2 years ago. I moved a few blocks away because the house was going to be sold and I expected that the aviary would be taken down then. But my relatives in charge of managing the estate have not gotten it sale ready. It needs a lot of work and it took ages just to empty as my grandmother hoarded for 70 years in the basement and attic. But anyway long story short is that the property will not be selling until spring and I am able to use the yard for the rest of the summer.

I spent all yesterday clearing out the brush that had grown inside, secured a heavy duty tarp to the roof and windward side to block wind and rain, and today ive moved over Olive and Rosie and my other birds to enjoy a bit of summer camp for the next few weeks to months depending on weather.

The aviary is 8 x 8 x 8 feet with a 4 x 4 x 8 double door system. It was built with 1/4 inch hardware cloth on all sides and is predator proof - very little comes in the garden but we used to get hawks sitting around it. Its got a lock and its a short walk from my current residence to check food and water periodically.

Olive only has eyes for Rosie now but I figure if you love something, set it free, If she is happy then that's good. She gets to be a pigeon now. I will bring the birds back inside probably end of September or early October depending on weather by which time ill be able to get the pigeons a larger cage.

They are doing well with the budgie flock and finches. Only my canary isn't coming out, because he is mean to the finches.

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Wow! That is beautiful! I love it!

Will the birds be allowed to breed?

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

I have good news.

If y'all remember my saying I used to have an aviary at my old place, well the aviary is still there. I've not used it at all in two years because it was built on my great grandmother's property when I was caring for her and she passed away 2 years ago. I moved a few blocks away because the house was going to be sold and I expected that the aviary would be taken down then. But my relatives in charge of managing the estate have not gotten it sale ready. It needs a lot of work and it took ages just to empty as my grandmother hoarded for 70 years in the basement and attic. But anyway long story short is that the property will not be selling until spring and I am able to use the yard for the rest of the summer.

I spent all yesterday clearing out the brush that had grown inside, secured a heavy duty tarp to the roof and windward side to block wind and rain, and today ive moved over Olive and Rosie and my other birds to enjoy a bit of summer camp for the next few weeks to months depending on weather.

The aviary is 8 x 8 x 8 feet with a 4 x 4 x 8 double door system. It was built with 1/4 inch hardware cloth on all sides and is predator proof - very little comes in the garden but we used to get hawks sitting around it. Its got a lock and its a short walk from my current residence to check food and water periodically.

Olive only has eyes for Rosie now but I figure if you love something, set it free, If she is happy then that's good. She gets to be a pigeon now. I will bring the birds back inside probably end of September or early October depending on weather by which time ill be able to get the pigeons a larger cage.

They are doing well with the budgie flock and finches. Only my canary isn't coming out, because he is mean to the finches.

View attachment 1869396 View attachment 1869397 View attachment 1869398 View attachment 1869399 View attachment 1869400 View attachment 1869401 View attachment 1869402
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Yay!! I'm so glad. Are you gonna move the aviary to your current residence? They all look so happy!!!!

 

[Serin]

Yay!! I'm so glad. Are you gonna move the aviary to your current residence? They all look so happy!!!!

Can't move this one, it's too big, but I will get some use from it for a few more months at least.

Wow! That is beautiful! I love it!

Will the birds be allowed to breed?

I hung a basket with one of the fleece beds in it up in a high corner out of the sun and rain and both birds are roosting in it. I'm not opposed to letting them have a brood just to see what comes out of it.