Pigeon Talk

[Fields Mountain Farm]

Just be aware, while all pigeons are susceptible to hawks, and there are ways to minimize exposure, it seems rollers are especially targets. For one, I think their rolling attracts predators (just a thought), and two, if they get chased away too far they are almost without a doubt lost, whereas homers will usually find their way back home after being scattered from a hawk.

This guy has a pretty good collection of materials about pigeons, but this part of his site (albeit maybe a bit dated) is a good resource for finding breeders when you're ready to make the move (select your state and look at the breeders near you): http://mumtazticloft.com/default.asp

I also think poking around local facebook groups, whether they be racers or performing breed fanciers, etc, can help. They are usually willing to help with getting new people birds to start a loft.

Thanks.. I was worried about hawks being a problem.. we have a few around..
Where my dh works is in the process of getting rid of the local pigeon population and he's going to try to trap some to bring home.. not sure it'll work but if it does they will be what I start with. Ive followed along on some of the other threads with the peeps on this one about how to go about letting them raise squabs and then releasing the parents and traing the offspring.. I hope I can do it..
If not... I'll be looking into purchasing some.. may have to rethink my choice of breeds tho..
I will deffinetly check out the link .. already keeping an eye on Craigslist.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

If any of you are curious how serious racing birds can get, this guy's loft's website sort of spells it out! Offspring from his winners go for thousands. Big race birds, with six digit purses. http://www.ganusfamilyloft.com/index.html

And these birds have served in both our world wars, some with distinction! It's funny, only in modern USA (past 70 years or so), and limited to the USA, are pigeons looked down upon. For the most part around the world, and for thousands of years, pigeons are one of the most revered animals by humans, right along side dogs and horses.

And even the Queen of England has her own loft, and holds a race every year, check this out:

Very interesting! I did know about the Queens loft..

Some of the top racing lofts have some serious money changing hands. One person sold a winning pigeon for over a million! That's how to make a hobby pay the bills!

Never happen here..

 

[WVduckchick]

I must say, from the OP, to you now wanting pigeons, this is exciting around here. The "pigeon" section of this forum is helpful, lots of talking about, but it is mostly between like 10 of us lol, although we are on here frequently and most peoples' questions get addressed.

But I am just enamored at how fast people get addicted to pigeons. It doesn't take much more than one interaction with them, seeing how incredibly intelligent they are, and also beautiful and hilarious as well. Reminds me of a funny story that recently happened to me:

The bird in my profile pic, he is special to me. I started my loft about 2 years ago. I got several batches of 4-6 squeaker aged pigeons (around 4-6 weeks old), I think in total it took me 18 pigeons to end up with 9 that homed well and stayed in my loft, and by that fall they were still too young to breed. Then, in late December last year I see some nesting behavior, a nest built, and eggs laid. Oh man, what to do, how will they incubate the eggs in this weather (it was a bizarre cold blast here in Michigan, daytime temps single digits F, night time temps well below zero F). Low and behold, I go out the loft on the first expected day they may hatch, and out comes a squab. Next day, the other egg hatched. Now my worries are much worse. It's ZERO degrees out here, how will they survive? Mom or dad leaves the nest bowl for longer than a minute or two and they freeze to death. One of the two did die. But one did not. From the time his egg was laid, brooded and through the time he was about 3 weeks old I don't think the temperature ever once exceeded 10 degrees F. He was the first bird born in my loft. I named him Frost. Spring came, and all my birds started mating up, but not Frost, he had no mate. I once found a few dead squabs, seemed to have been killed (it happens sometimes), and I had some evidence it was Frost. In an abundance of caution I had to separate him, and put him in a small bunny hutch. He was NOT happy. At that same time I was training a few young birds to home, on 2 mile tosses. Frost was at the training level of being able to do a 2 mile toss, so I took him along. He did not come home that evening. Sometimes they go missing for a day or two. My longest period of one missing and still coming back was 4 days. After Day 4 passed, it was a Friday, Frost was still not home. I started beating myself up over it, he was my favorite bird, and was in the process of being in a new temporary cage, but I chose to fly him, and I lost him. Then I get a phone call from a farmer 50 miles away. He said there's this pigeon that won't stop landing on him as he was picking his crops, and it had an ankle band with my phone number on it. I asked what the other ankle band's color and number was, and it was Frost! I asked him if I could come pick him up, and he asked me where I live, and COINCIDENTALLY the farmer says "no need to come get him, we'll actually be selling our crops at the farmers market right in your town TOMORROW MORNING." That farmer's market is only a few blocks from my house. Ok, I'll be there at 7am. I go there, and I reach in to grab Frost and he gives a momentary struggle, but the moment he saw my face every muscle in his body melted lol.

Then I got to thanking the farmers, and they asked me if I am Belgian (pigeon keeping is like the national pastime in Belgium), and I said no, why? The farmer's wife said she is Belgian, and was raised with pigeons, but hadn't really seen any domestics up close since she was a kid, and she said they really wanted to keep Frost because they loved him so much, especially their grand daughter, but they knew it was wrong to do so. So I gave them my number and said, you call me when you're ready to start a loft and I'll get you some babies!

It's funny how they appeal to people! Some people just fall in love with them. Heck, I got mine for the sole purpose of training my bird hunting dog, but fell in love with them instead, and won't even use them for that! They're now my main buddies.

Such a cool story! I'm glad Frost was returned, and I hope you get to help those folks out with some birds some day.

Wow! What a great story!
Im so glad you got Frost back!
I became interested while helping a girl here on byc with 2 abandoned eggs she found.. WV and Pyxis were involed with helping to. It was so exciting to see that little squab hatch and survive with her care and the help from peeps here.. Im now hooked.. as are WV and Pyxis ...

Actually, I got interested about 3 years ago when another member here, who also happened to have ducks, found an abandoned nest, and hatched the eggs. They were so hideous, I couldn't help but love them. I wish she was still around, but her home situation changed and she has since departed BYC. Then one day hubby went to a gun show, and a man there had pigeon eggs for sale. He almost bought some for me to hatch, but he did bring home a flyer from the guy. He wasn't opposed to having some, so I've kinda been looking and debating ever since. The little squab that we helped Laura hatch a few weeks ago was icing on the cake to push me to finally do it.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

Such a cool story! I'm glad Frost was returned, and I hope you get to help those folks out with some birds some day.



Actually, I got interested about 3 years ago when another member here, who also happened to have ducks, found an abandoned nest, and hatched the eggs. They were so hideous, I couldn't help but love them. I wish she was still around, but her home situation changed and she has since departed BYC. Then one day hubby went to a gun show, and a man there had pigeon eggs for sale. He almost bought some for me to hatch, but he did bring home a flyer from the guy. He wasn't opposed to having some, so I've kinda been looking and debating ever since. The little squab that we helped Laura hatch a few weeks ago was icing on the cake to push me to finally do it.

Now see.. I had no idea you were already hooked..

 

[LamarshFish]

Thanks.. I was worried about hawks being a problem.. we have a few around..
Where my dh works is in the process of getting rid of the local pigeon population and he's going to try to trap some to bring home.. not sure it'll work but if it does they will be what I start with. Ive followed along on some of the other threads with the peeps on this one about how to go about letting them raise squabs and then releasing the parents and traing the offspring.. I hope I can do it..
If not... I'll be looking into purchasing some.. may have to rethink my choice of breeds tho..
I will deffinetly check out the link .. already keeping an eye on Craigslist.

Ferals are one way to start a loft. Ferals are most likely to have mostly homer blood in them, although likely watered down. They say some ferals can't home at all, and some could home hundreds of miles, with most being able to home just fine within 20 miles or so. Ferals haven't been bred for homing instinct, so that's why the variance is there. Racers, since they fly their YBs hundreds of miles before breeding, only the best make it, and only the best of the best and fastest breed, so good lines are quickly formed just by racing for a few years. Not the case with ferals. But ferals are hardy, and likely benefit greatly from hybrid vigor (diverse genes).

Just keep in mind if you get a few ferals they may be with you for a while, and unless you get a multi section loft and can control when they breed and who they breed to, you may be stuck with feral genetics. Build a multi section loft and that potential problem is solved, just keep the male ferals with all your other males and no problem.

Strangely, I have noticed ferals are often more docile. I've noticed birds from strong racing lines are very often aloof, and sometimes even aggressive and mean. I think this is because very good racing traits are often also associated with aggressiveness.

As far as picking a breed, homers are arguably some of the hardiest and easiest to care for.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

Ferals are one way to start a loft. Ferals are most likely to have mostly homer blood in them, although likely watered down. They say some ferals can't home at all, and some could home hundreds of miles, with most being able to home just fine within 20 miles or so. Ferals haven't been bred for homing instinct, so that's why the variance is there. Racers, since they fly their YBs hundreds of miles before breeding, only the best make it, and only the best of the best and fastest breed, so good lines are quickly formed just by racing for a few years. Not the case with ferals. But ferals are hardy, and likely benefit greatly from hybrid vigor (diverse genes).

Just keep in mind if you get a few ferals they may be with you for a while, and unless you get a multi section loft and can control when they breed and who they breed to, you may be stuck with feral genetics. Build a multi section loft and that potential problem is solved, just keep the male ferals with all your other males and no problem.

 

[WVduckchick]

already keeping an eye on Craigslist.

You get to weed through all the "Pigeon Forge" posts in your area, huh?!!

 

[CCUK]

Very interesting! I did know about the Queens loft..

Never happen here..

Hard work and determination. Never say never!

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

You get to weed through all the "Pigeon Forge" posts in your area, huh?!!

Bout right tho...

Hard work and determination. Never say never!

Ugh.. I just dont know how far Im able or willing to go in that respect..

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

Dang it... I gotta get busy and get some chores finished.. its already 2 pm and I aint hit a lick at much of nothin except byc all day..

I'll catch y'all later..