Pigeon Talk

[Pyxis]

Warning! Completely off topic.
@Pyxis have you seen these??!
I was awestruck by this bird.

Shoebills! Aren't they very prehistoric-looking? Cool birds!

I also like hoatzins for their prehistoric looks. They even have claws on each wing!

 

[Serin]

Shoebills! Aren't they very prehistoric-looking? Cool birds!

I also like hoatzins for their prehistoric looks. They even have claws on each wing!

Chickens and ratites do as well, but I figure you know that! But for others:

it's quite large on an emu.

 

[Qwerty3159]

I got a call from someone in Concord Massachusetts today, 75 miles away.

He looks healthy and his droppings look a lot better than I expected. He's missing almost his whole tail though it looks like a hawk ripped it out.
The nice couple who were looking after him said he showed up about a week ago and they finally caught him in the garage. They were able to track his band through Foy's so maybe I'll get some more back.

 

[biophiliac]

I got a call from someone in Concord Massachusetts today, 75 miles away.
View attachment 2057398
He looks healthy and his droppings look a lot better than I expected. He's missing almost his whole tail though it looks like a hawk ripped it out.
The nice couple who were looking after him said he showed up about a week ago and they finally caught him in the garage. They were able to track his band through Foy's so maybe I'll get some more back.

OMG! I'm happy for you.
I could not bear to think they were all gone forever. Its not your avatar is it?

I

 

[backyard pigeons]

Hey all it’s been a while! I’ve missed a lot it seems.. Loved all the photos that have been posted and have read through the posts, sending love and excitement to all the new/soon to hatch squabs

@Qwerty3159 I hope your birds show up, I’ve got my fingers crossed for their safe return

For my pigeon news, Thing 1 & 2 finally got the boot into their 99% finished loft and attached aviary!
View attachment 2052863
One side of the bedding is sand the other side is pine sawdust.
View attachment 2052862View attachment 2052858View attachment 2052859View attachment 2052860View attachment 2052864

Until the ground thaws so I can move and make the proper modifications to the little coop below plus the chain link pen, they get this pretty large predator proof “little” aviary. It’s dimensions are roughly 3’x2’x5’ (at the point) and the bottom can be unscrewed for easy removal for cleaning or maintenance purposes. I’m going to add a few more things to the loft part for entertainment purposes and just to add a little bit of personality to their loft!

your pigeons are very happy birds! That is beatiful. Well done!!

Nice big flock WV

Well they still haven't come back and I'm pretty sure they wont be returning now that its been like 5 days. It sucks because two of them were my original birds and I lost the entire flock at once. That's the way it goes I guess.

I am so sorry. I was a little behind on this thread, and I k so that you get at least one back. Hopefully more to come.

Chickens and ratites do as well, but I figure you know that! But for others:

it's quite large on an emu.

thanks serin! I had always wondered what the extra skin flap was on my squabs wings...

I got a call from someone in Concord Massachusetts today, 75 miles away.
View attachment 2057398
He looks healthy and his droppings look a lot better than I expected. He's missing almost his whole tail though it looks like a hawk ripped it out.
The nice couple who were looking after him said he showed up about a week ago and they finally caught him in the garage. They were able to track his band through Foy's so maybe I'll get some more back.

yay!! I'm not surprised at all. I hope you get more back. I once had my birds fly thru the night. That was when I only had three birds who open lifted daily. I got one of the three back.

It is interesting what happens when a racer gets lost. They seem to quickly imprint on another location. why did it stay there for nearly a week? It was free, it could have gone anywhere.


I don't want to rush you. But have you considered what you'll do it you don't get another back? I'm sure you will get one more back, but I k now you have considered a new breed.

 

[memphis]

Qwerty!! Great news! This is encouraging.

 

[Qwerty3159]

It is interesting what happens when a racer gets lost. They seem to quickly imprint on another location. why did it stay there for nearly a week? It was free, it could have gone anywhere.


I don't want to rush you. But have you considered what you'll do it you don't get another back? I'm sure you will get one more back, but I k now you have considered a new breed.

He has all but 2 feathers left in his tail so maybe his long-distance flight ability was impaired. His wings work just fine but I've noticed he's been having trouble flying from the ground straight up to the perch in the aviary like he used to and instead he's been flying from perch to perch to get up there. From what they said he arrived either Friday or Saturday last week (they went missing Thursday AM) and they were kind enough to immediately offer him food and water and he was roosting on their porch so I think he wasn't motivated to wander from that safe spot.

I'm pretty sure at this point I won't be getting any of the others back. I had been posting stuff on the Facebook groups for the towns in my area in case any turned up but I hadn't really considered the possibility they could be over 80 miles away, really they could be anywhere! I'm trying to be optimistic though because I wasn't expecting to get any back. My flock was almost entirely males and I think I'm pretty much done with homers though. If I don't get any back in another week or two I'll look into purchasing a hen of some breed so that he's not lonely. I really do like the satinettes!

I could not bear to think they were all gone forever. Its not your avatar is it?

Nope, no sign of him or any of my other birds. I alerted the previous owner of the bird in my avatar and his mate which were my founding birds so if they turn up he'll know and let me know.

 

[Qwerty3159]

Also is there anything I should be giving him for his tail? I lifted up the feathers and saw the holes at the base of his tail where the big feathers were ripped out. He doesn't seem to be in pain.

 

[Hokum Coco]

Also is there anything I should be giving him for his tail?

I had one pigeon loose all his tail feathers. He still flies exceptionally well despite that fact. It had been close to a year; yet for some reason the tail feathers have yet to regenerate.

 

[memphis]

Qwerty...its such a mystery. I keep wondering what happened. Just so glad you got one back.