Pigeon Talk

[backyard pigeons]

So add 2 more to my loft. Trip and Rocky’s pair hatched yesterday. That’s 6 babies in 14 days. One more pair of eggs to go!
Doesn’t he look proud?
View attachment 2062767View attachment 2062768

He sure does! He is a pretty bird!

My guess is those are Homing pigeons? I want mine to do that, though I don't care much about big pigeon races and that kind of stuff.

they most likely are, but all breeds of pigeon can free fly and return with a little training. Homing pigeons are the only ones that you can take from the coop, release them and they return. My favorite breed to fly is homers, but many other breeds are bred for flying.

I will be building the coop, mostly from scratch. Advice?

keep it simple. Pigeons don't need much. Build it twice as big as you need, and twice as much ventilation as you think you need. Build it with common lumber sizes, for examole, so one like 4×8, but not 5×7. this is if you are building from bought lumber. Pallets and what not, this doesnt matter as much.

Make the floor wooden, or wire. Don't do dirt. Too many disease issue in my opinion.

what supplies do pigeons need?

a feeder, a waterer, perches, nesting boxes, (if you are gonna breed, which is a fun experience), and, the coop. They are very simple. Nothing fancy.

pigeons do not like round perches. Flat perches are great for their feet.

About how much does it cost to feed pigeons? I want to get 4-8.

depends on what you feed. a grain mix of 50 pound for 8 birds should last 6 months.

Let me know of any more questions you have.

[/QUOTE]

It was frustrating because I made sure to purchase from a racer in the area because I wanted good stock.

I can understand why you wanted good stock. I am surprised he didn't sell you good stock, but if he races, he has good stock.

People are always eager to help people into pigeons, but not into racing. it's annoying, that is why race clubs went from a club of 75 people, down to 15 in 25 years. it's silly.

I do think though that for whatever reason there is something off with these birds. I got 7 from him originally and I lost one to sickness and the rest to hawks or them just disappearing. By January last year I was down to 4 and satisfied with the routing I was seeing from the cock in my avatar and another bird so I took those two on a quarter mile toss just to see what they would do and they flew in the direction of home but I didn't see them for another day.

I am guessing he sold you bad birds OR, the club races only from one direction. Over time, the birds are only flown from that direction. They will lose their sense of coming back from all directions quite quick. So say his family of birds have only been tossed from South for 10 years. There hawks chased them north, and over night they flew a few miles north. When they tried to come back, they were doomed. I may be wrong, but it is a possibility.

 

[ChickenTenderKesha]

Well there were some issues with USPS but she's here now.
View attachment 2061790
She's a '19 mostly white grizzle and actually reminds me a lot of the last white bird I had who was very beautiful and sweet. I still don't know if I want to build up a flock of homers again but at least now I have the option if I do. She's supposedly from very good stock.
If I'm able to find a nice pair of Dutch capuchines I might pick those up too we'll have to see but I'm very satisfied with this purchase

Oh she’s so pretty Qwerty!! I’m glad she arrived to you safe and sound

I'm considering getting pigeons! No guarantees yet, but I'm aiming to get some this year or the next. Complete newbie to the pigeon world. I have a friend who has pigeons, and he lets them out once a day and they fly for about ten minutes then they return to his loft. My guess is those are Homing pigeons? I want mine to do that, though I don't care much about big pigeon races and that kind of stuff.

My number one priority right now is building the coop and researching what they need. I will be building the coop, mostly from scratch. Advice? Also, what supplies do pigeons need? I don't want to get a bunch of stuff that is just for decoration and such, I'm just that kind of person!

About how much does it cost to feed pigeons? I want to get 4-8.

I have read through all the pigeon articles on BYC and learned some, but I still have a lot of questions. I am working on reading through the previous posts on this thread and other BYC posts about pigeons.

Sorry about all the questions, to a little carried away by my questions while writing this. Tell me when you are ready for load to of pigeon questions!

Can't wait to learn more about pigeons and all of you pigeon keepers!

This is definitely the place to be!! Welcome to the pigeon side of things. I’m still fairly new here myself, but I will tell you that everyone here has some great knowledge and advice when given.

I just built a “little” loft added onto my chicken coop (taking advantages of the high peaked ceiling I have in the shed-coop). It’s got some odd dimensions that aren’t great for lumber purposes (the floor measurements are something like 4’x6’) but it worked for what we had on us.I posted about it a handful of pages back and am still in the works of typing out a thread for its building process.

I can’t wait to see what you build and the birds you get!

 

[PioneerChicks]

Welcome! You have come to the right place to learn more about pigeons and chat with other pigeon lovers.

they most likely are, but all breeds of pigeon can free fly and return with a little training. Homing pigeons are the only ones that you can take from the coop, release them and they return. My favorite breed to fly is homers, but many other breeds are bred for flying.
keep it simple. Pigeons don't need much. Build it twice as big as you need, and twice as much ventilation as you think you need. Build it with common lumber sizes, for examole, so one like 4×8, but not 5×7. this is if you are building from bought lumber. Pallets and what not, this doesnt matter as much.

Make the floor wooden, or wire. Don't do dirt. Too many disease issue in my opinion.
a feeder, a waterer, perches, nesting boxes, (if you are gonna breed, which is a fun experience), and, the coop. They are very simple. Nothing fancy.

pigeons do not like round perches. Flat perches are great for their feet.
depends on what you feed. a grain mix of 50 pound for 8 birds should last 6 months.

Let me know of any more questions you have.

This is definitely the place to be!! Welcome to the pigeon side of things. I’m still fairly new here myself, but I will tell you that everyone here has some great knowledge and advice when given.

I just built a “little” loft added onto my chicken coop (taking advantages of the high peaked ceiling I have in the shed-coop). It’s got some odd dimensions that aren’t great for lumber purposes (the floor measurements are something like 4’x6’) but it worked for what we had on us.I posted about it a handful of pages back and am still in the works of typing out a thread for its building process.

I can’t wait to see what you build and the birds you get

Thank you all for the warm welcome and advice!

 

[Qwerty3159]

When I start training, my first toss is from 10 miles... routing takes them out a few miles so I don't even bother with those short tosses. If you lived closer I would set you up with some good birds.

I appreciate that. Do you think I'd get any good birds out of that one from the original group I have left and the new hen I just bought? She's supposedly from good stock I think up to a few hundred miles. I don't need a race winner or a bird that can come back from hundreds of miles away, but I do want one that can find its way home if it gets chased off.

I am guessing he sold you bad birds OR, the club races only from one direction. Over time, the birds are only flown from that direction. They will lose their sense of coming back from all directions quite quick.

That's interesting, I never thought of that as a possibility.

 

[WVduckchick]

Thank you all for the warm welcome and advice!

Welcome!

One thing I’ll add to what others have said... there are lots of super knowledgeable (and helpful beyond belief!) folks on this thread. We also have a wonderful way of sharing different ideas, and what works for some, doesn’t work for others. And everyone respects everyone else’s opinions more than I have seen anywhere on the internet! (Think of some FB groups that want you to do everything “their way”!)
I think some things are more general with chickens, ducks, etc. But pigeons are so unique with many more options. Figure out what you’d prefer to do, and ask! This group will be great at letting you know if anything is bad or harmful. The negative things to avoid are much easier than telling the things that should be done, because there are so many possibilities with pigeons!

I hope this makes sense.

 

[Qwerty3159]

I put the two together today as she seems healthy and was frankly not enjoying herself in the dog cage. The Male is being extremely aggressive to the new hen and he's not really driving her or spreading his tail just attacking her and biting any part of her he can reach when she goes near the nest box or in the aviary on the floor. At the same time he's doing the slow monotone coos in the nest bowl. I have him locked inside the loft for now but she keeps landing on the edge of the door anyway and sitting peacefully while he tries to get to her. Will it take time for him to accept her? I thought he'd be more polite like his father

 

[Qwerty3159]

His attitude towards her so far has been total indifference or total aggression.

 

[biophiliac]

His attitude towards her so far has been total indifference or total aggression.View attachment 2064279

Well, that's unexpected. They are all so different in their personalities though. LOL I've seen videos where the birds are paired up in a nest box and if the cock is too aggressive, a divider is put in to separate them until they bond.
It's easier to put a divider in a nest box than in your loft but maybe you can think of a way. I would think they'll pair up in a few days but I'd try to keep him from harrassing her too much.
Keep us posted?

 

[Old_Strain_Lover]

I appreciate that. Do you think I'd get any good birds out of that one from the original group I have left and the new hen I just bought? She's supposedly from good stock I think up to a few hundred miles. I don't need a race winner or a bird that can come back from hundreds of miles away, but I do want one that can find its way home if it gets chased off.

That's interesting, I never thought of that as a possibility.

Well, there's really only one way to find out. Mate them up, raise some babies and fly them. It's not super common, but sometimes some of the worst flyers have made some of the best breeders. You never know... give it a shot and you'll find out

 

[Qwerty3159]

Well, that's unexpected. They are all so different in their personalities though. LOL I've seen videos where the birds are paired up in a nest box and if the cock is too aggressive, a divider is put in to separate them until they bond.
It's easier to put a divider in a nest box than in your loft but maybe you can think of a way. I would think they'll pair up in a few days but I'd try to keep him from harrassing her too much.
Keep us posted?

I'll probably just rotate them throughout the day and have one in the loft and one in the aviary. She's inside now and he's been at the door cooing, I'm not sure if he's trying to court her or mad that she's in his loft and he's not.