Pigeon Talk

[Serin]

How friendly is Rowan getting? Is his personality coming out? He looks like a different bird since you've had him. Maybe he's getting more confident. And he has a girl friend! Handsome guy!!

Yeah, he looks so much better! He's well-fed and clean now.

Rowan doesn't like me but he knows I'm not going to hurt him either. I try to operate on a hands-off approach with him, having him step up on a board to move him when necessary rather than grabbing him. I can pet him when he is on the nest or sitting next to Olive, but if she isn't there as support he moves away. He doesn't enjoy being touched so I do so only very lightly and briefly to desensitize him to it for those times I do have to restrain him. He is still very wary even taking food from me but will do it sometimes.

Olive is not as human social as she was before but I'm figuring out her new boundaries. She welcomes petting when she is in her nest and usually whenever she is sleepy but she doesn't allow me to just reach over and pet her when she's out anymore, she won't move away - she doesn't have any fear of people - but she will bite my finger and hold on to let me know she's not in the mood. She still initiates interaction on her own time and will fly to my shoulder sometimes.

 

[WVduckchick]

Yeah, he looks so much better! He's well-fed and clean now.

Rowan doesn't like me but he knows I'm not going to hurt him either. I try to operate on a hands-off approach with him, having him step up on a board to move him when necessary rather than grabbing him. I can pet him when he is on the nest or sitting next to Olive, but if she isn't there as support he moves away. He doesn't enjoy being touched so I do so only very lightly and briefly to desensitize him to it for those times I do have to restrain him. He is still very wary even taking food from me but will do it sometimes.

Olive is not as human social as she was before but I'm figuring out her new boundaries. She welcomes petting when she is in her nest and usually whenever she is sleepy but she doesn't allow me to just reach over and pet her when she's out anymore, she won't move away - she doesn't have any fear of people - but she will bite my finger and hold on to let me know she's not in the mood. She still initiates interaction on her own time and will fly to my shoulder sometimes.

Sounds kinda like ducks. They are much more able to be handled alone, but put them with their own kind and they shy away.

I was able to catch one of my younger birds today, and it happened to be one that I had not handled much at all while it was really young.
It seemed to be having trouble flying up to the new platform. I reached down and it hopped right to me and allowed me to put it up on the platform.

Call Ducklings that hatched today.

 

[memphis]

Cute ducks!

 

[memphis]

Rowan may never develop the bond with you that Olive has. But he's sure come a long way. A stable environment and the love of a good woman has really made a difference!

 

[biophiliac]

Rowan may never develop the bond with you that Olive has. But he's sure come a long way. A stable environment and the love of a good woman has really made a difference!

X2! And I have to disagree w/Serin that 'he doesn't like me'. How could he not have positive feelings toward the provider of food, drink, fuzzy beds and all good things! Some of my homers seek me out fearlessly but still don't enjoy being picked up and handled. I don't believe I would enjoy it either. ... sort of disrespectful of my personal space. I find that the more I respect their boundaries - the more eager they are to interact with me on their owns terms. Doesn't mean I won't handle them when necessary for their health, etc.

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

X2! And I have to disagree w/Serin that 'he doesn't like me'. How could he not have positive feelings toward the provider of food, drink, fuzzy beds and all good things! Some of my homers seek me out fearlessly but still don't enjoy being picked up and handled. I don't believe I would enjoy it either. ... sort of disrespectful of my personal space. I find that the more I respect their boundaries - the more eager they are to interact with me on their owns terms. Doesn't mean I won't handle them when necessary for their health, etc.

Also it is important to keep in mind that Rowan has been through a lot. He had an owner...and they died. He was either let go or sold off. If he was sold off they just let him go and didnt want him anymore. Then he sprained his wing and wandered up our driveway for help. Talk about some baggage I'm not sure how long they remember things for but it might take some time for the bad ones to be replaced with good memories.

 

[backyard pigeons]

Sounds kinda like ducks. They are much more able to be handled alone, but put them with their own kind and they shy away.

I was able to catch one of my younger birds today, and it happened to be one that I had not handled much at all while it was really young.
It seemed to be having trouble flying up to the new platform. I reached down and it hopped right to me and allowed me to put it up on the platform.

Call Ducklings that hatched today.
View attachment 1882417View attachment 1882418

those are super cute! Did they hatch on their own, or did you have to assist any of them?

X2! And I have to disagree w/Serin that 'he doesn't like me'. How could he not have positive feelings toward the provider of food, drink, fuzzy beds and all good things! Some of my homers seek me out fearlessly but still don't enjoy being picked up and handled. I don't believe I would enjoy it either. ... sort of disrespectful of my personal space. I find that the more I respect their boundaries - the more eager they are to interact with me on their owns terms. Doesn't mean I won't handle them when necessary for their health, etc.

I agree! I'm sure Rowan does care about serin!

 

[Serin]

X2! And I have to disagree w/Serin that 'he doesn't like me'. How could he not have positive feelings toward the provider of food, drink, fuzzy beds and all good things! Some of my homers seek me out fearlessly but still don't enjoy being picked up and handled. I don't believe I would enjoy it either. ... sort of disrespectful of my personal space. I find that the more I respect their boundaries - the more eager they are to interact with me on their owns terms. Doesn't mean I won't handle them when necessary for their health, etc.

I don't mean any ill will in saying it, he's just very distrustful of people (and I would be too.) I doubt he has any concept that I am responsible for those things. He might know I bring food, but usually only eats once I set it down and back away.

He will probably come around more over time. He's already made big improvements. I'd like to get him to where he will step on the back of my hand to carry him and eat from my fingers and we're working there slowly. He won't step on my hand, but will step on a perch. He won't take single seeds from my fingers like Olive does (and will only rarely eat out of my palm) but he'll accept treats if I drop them in front of him.

This morning he's been trying to drag entire 24 x 16 sheets of newspaper into the nest.

 

[memphis]

He'll come around. He's pretty smart. Look how far he's come already! How about scattering a few pieces of straw, or whatever they make nests out of, so he can impress Olive!! He wasnt the savviest at wooing her...he needs all the help he can get. At least he finally took a bath!!

 

[Serin]

He'll come around. He's pretty smart. Look how far he's come already! How about scattering a few pieces of straw, or whatever they make nests out of, so he can impress Olive!! He wasnt the savviest at wooing her...he needs all the help he can get. At least he finally took a bath!!

I have but... Hes not so good at nest making either. He tries, but Olive usually just gets tired of waiting and takes the straw from him and puts it in the nest herself.