Pigeon Talk

[CCUK]

Hello all. Hope everyone had a nice holiday.
I've been quite busy this week and hadn't got a chance to give the sad news that the other squab also passed on Christmas day. It was another cold night and while the parents had fed it that morning and were sitting on it while I checked at night it was dead with an empty crop the next morning. That particular pair raised all the other birds that I currently have so generally they've been pretty good parents but it seems the odds were stacked against this clutch.

Oh no. Sorry to hear that. I had hoped that it would stand a better chance on its own. It is a difficult time of year for them to raise youngsters, so hopefully come spring things will change for the better.

 

[memphis]

Sorry Qwerty....bummer...

Enjoyed the videos CCUK...and YES! You definitely need a bigger bathtub!

 

[sourland]

Hello all. Hope everyone had a nice holiday.
I've been quite busy this week and hadn't got a chance to give the sad news that the other squab also passed on Christmas day. It was another cold night and while the parents had fed it that morning and were sitting on it while I checked at night it was dead with an empty crop the next morning. That particular pair raised all the other birds that I currently have so generally they've been pretty good parents but it seems the odds were stacked against this clutch.

It's a tough time of year to raise young birds in our climate. This is why I always broke up pairs in August and reintroduced them on Feb. 14 (call me a romantic). Most birds would nest by late Feb. I would always take the first egg and bring it in the house to be introduced once the second egg was laid. Even with squabs hatching in March I sometimes lost some.

 

[WVduckchick]

All been out for a good fly today. Even Ash! She tried to keep up with them but gave up in the end and just flew around by herself. I put a bath out for them. I think I need a bigger tub!

Hello all. Hope everyone had a nice holiday.
I've been quite busy this week and hadn't got a chance to give the sad news that the other squab also passed on Christmas day. It was another cold night and while the parents had fed it that morning and were sitting on it while I checked at night it was dead with an empty crop the next morning. That particular pair raised all the other birds that I currently have so generally they've been pretty good parents but it seems the odds were stacked against this clutch.

So sorry to hear this.
Duff’s are due to hatch any day now. Although I candled the eggs on Christmas evening, and they didn’t really look far enough along. I thought one had quit, but last I checked, it looked ok. We’ve been warm for a couple days, but I know the cold will be back soon. Romance is in the air in my pen, seen a lot of mating and nesting behavior going on lately.

Has anyone ever seen twin pigeons hatch? Two from the same egg? I thought one of Duff’s eggs looked like 2 bodies inside. I don’t think so now, but it made me wonder.

 

[sourland]

Has anyone ever seen twin pigeons hatch? Two from the same egg? I thought one of Duff’s eggs looked like 2 bodies inside. I don’t think so now, but it made me wonder.

Interesting question. I've never been aware of a double yolk pigeon egg, but have no reason to believe that they might not happen.

 

[CCUK]

So sorry to hear this.
Duff’s are due to hatch any day now. Although I candled the eggs on Christmas evening, and they didn’t really look far enough along. I thought one had quit, but last I checked, it looked ok. We’ve been warm for a couple days, but I know the cold will be back soon. Romance is in the air in my pen, seen a lot of mating and nesting behavior going on lately.

Has anyone ever seen twin pigeons hatch? Two from the same egg? I thought one of Duff’s eggs looked like 2 bodies inside. I don’t think so now, but it made me wonder.

I heard somewhere about hatching two chicks from one egg before. I'm not sure if they actually hatched or not though. It would be interesting to see if it could happen and if both would be healthy. Mine have been collecting nest materials when they've been out and I've found odd random eggs in the loft. I removed all the nest bowls a month or so back. I'm not allowing any nesting just yet.

 

[ChickenTenderKesha]

So predicament. What I’m thought to believe is the pair from this summer are back in the horse shed. I was able to catch what I think might be the male as the other seemed a lot slender in frame but it snuck out while I caught the big fella. I’m going to put the cage this one is in now into a bigger cage to lure the mate in with as little stress as possible. They’ve been through enough traumatic experiences last time with my yelling profanities at the raccoon

I’m undecided on what to do with these two new pigeons though? I am unable to keep them as of right now, even though my heart would love to give them a great home with Thing 1 and 2. The loft in the coop isn’t complete yet and there’s no room in the crate my two are living in for more pigeons.

Pigeon #1 (see picture attached) does not have a band on either leg I felt or saw. I am unable to say currently if the second one has a band or not. Is there a good way to find new homes for these two pigeons? I don’t want them attracting more raccoons, or worse a hawk, with their presence. I love free ranging my chickens, having pigeons flying around attracting predators and potentially bringing back lice/mites/diseases when they go off is not what I want for my flock..

 

[CCUK]

So predicament. What I’m thought to believe is the pair from this summer are back in the horse shed. I was able to catch what I think might be the male as the other seemed a lot slender in frame but it snuck out while I caught the big fella. I’m going to put the cage this one is in now into a bigger cage to lure the mate in with as little stress as possible. They’ve been through enough traumatic experiences last time with my yelling profanities at the raccoon

I’m undecided on what to do with these two new pigeons though? I am unable to keep them as of right now, even though my heart would love to give them a great home with Thing 1 and 2. The loft in the coop isn’t complete yet and there’s no room in the crate my two are living in for more pigeons.

Pigeon #1 (see picture attached) does not have a band on either leg I felt or saw. I am unable to say currently if the second one has a band or not. Is there a good way to find new homes for these two pigeons? I don’t want them attracting more raccoons, or worse a hawk, with their presence. I love free ranging my chickens, having pigeons flying around attracting predators and potentially bringing back lice/mites/diseases when they go off is not what I want for my flock..

It is a bit of a predicament. The only way to keep these two out of the barn is to keep them in an avairy or loft. It would appear that they are both feral so it could be difficult to keep them and let them fly without returning to the barn. If you can catch the other maybe you could sell them as a breeding pair. I think craigslist is about your best option if you don't know anyone locally that keeps pigeons. Unfortunately people who buy feral pigeons from craigslist are not always as honourable as we would like. Could you cobble a makeshift loft together until you get the new loft built?

 

[ChickenTenderKesha]

It is a bit of a predicament. The only way to keep these two out of the barn is to keep them in an avairy or loft. It would appear that they are both feral so it could be difficult to keep them and let them fly without returning to the barn. If you can catch the other maybe you could sell them as a breeding pair. I think craigslist is about your best option if you don't know anyone locally that keeps pigeons. Unfortunately people who buy feral pigeons from craigslist are not always as honourable as we would like. Could you cobble a makeshift loft together until you get the new loft built?

No one in this house wants anymore birds.. 13 chickens and 2 pigeons is well over plenty enough birds for my parents I’m sure. When you say “honourable” what do you mean by that? I don’t know their intentions with the birds/how well they get treated or they could just let them free fly and they would return here?

 

[CCUK]

No one in this house wants anymore birds.. 13 chickens and 2 pigeons is well over plenty enough birds for my parents I’m sure. When you say “honourable” what do you mean by that? I don’t know their intentions with the birds/how well they get treated or they could just let them free fly and they would return here?

There is a market, especially over here, where people catch feral pigeons and sell them for very little money for people to use them for hawk training and dog training. I could never sell to someone who was going to do that. I'm not sure if they would return to you as I'm not sure how old they are and how much flying they have done prior to being caught. It's certainly a tricky situation for you. I'm not sure what to suggest.