Pigeon Talk

[Bdg1104]

Finished painting the aviary today! It looks great. So glad this hobby is keeping me busy during the lockdown. Next up is landscaping! The pigeons were very interested in what I was doing the entire time. I had a bag of rags sitting in there and they were convinced it was full of peanuts and wouldn't leave it alone. My one squab is very near fledging. He spent all day today looking over the edge of the nesting box, working up some courage to jump down. Maybe he'll fledge tomorrow

 

[biophiliac]

Finished painting the aviary today! It looks great. So glad this hobby is keeping me busy during the lockdown. Next up is landscaping! The pigeons were very interested in what I was doing the entire time. I had a bag of rags sitting in there and they were convinced it was full of peanuts and wouldn't leave it alone. My one squab is very near fledging. He spent all day today looking over the edge of the nesting box, working up some courage to jump down. Maybe he'll fledge tomorrow

Real nice work! I'm trying to see past the glare on the wire - to the décor inside. There appears to be an attractive bird bath on top of . . what? BTW I've heard painting the wire black eliminates the glare and improves visibility.

 

[KiwiandPeachthePigeons]

So I think (keyword think) one of the eggs is hatching! It’s a little early, but idk. I checked on them just now and one has a spider web crack on it. It doesn’t look like a typical pip, but then again, I don’t know much about pigeon eggs. I guess we’ll see!

 

[Bdg1104]

Real nice work! I'm trying to see past the glare on the wire - to the décor inside. There appears to be an attractive bird bath on top of . . what? BTW I've heard painting the wire black eliminates the glare and improves visibility.

The birdbath is actually just a big plastic dish! I have matching ones for grit and food. Been thinking about getting a fancy feeding trough (I think that's the word?) And watering dish, as there can be some arguments between my cockbirds with the simple dish set-up for the food and water. All of the dishes are just set on simple tree stumps. I have a few perches and swings in the rafters but you can't see them well in the pic. There's also a shelf on top of some tree stumps that is just a 2x4 laid on top. its not the prettiest set up inside, and i'd really like to make some more shelves for them to dance around on, but I can't go out much to get supplies! Ideally I'd also like to go out and get a full length mirror to lay on its side. They have a small hand mirror that they absolutely love, but there's only room for one pigeon in the mirror, and my cockbirds will chase each other around to get the mirror spot lol. Thanks for the tip about the black paint! The coop/loft they are in is actually a repurposed chicken coop (needed a lot of modifications to be predator proof but that's a whole other story lol) and it came with black-painted wire and the visibility inside is definitely much better. I was wondering how I could make the silver hardware cloth on the aviary portion black to match the coop. I do have some black paint hanging around so maybe I'll just roll it onto the hardware cloth and see what happens. It would probably look even better!

 

[biophiliac]

So I think (keyword think) one of the eggs is hatching! It’s a little early, but idk. I checked on them just now and one has a spider web crack on it. It doesn’t look like a typical pip, but then again, I don’t know much about pigeon eggs. I guess we’ll see!

Do you have a hatchling this morning?

 

[KiwiandPeachthePigeons]

I’ll check when I go out

 

[memphis]

Take your camera!!

 

[KiwiandPeachthePigeons]

Take your camera!!

Too late! I just checked and no baby yet, still at the first pip. The egg is rocking like crazy though so the baby’s ok. I’ll take a picture next time I go out.

 

[biophiliac]

The birdbath is actually just a big plastic dish! I have matching ones for grit and food. Been thinking about getting a fancy feeding trough (I think that's the word?) And watering dish, as there can be some arguments between my cockbirds with the simple dish set-up for the food and water. All of the dishes are just set on simple tree stumps. I have a few perches and swings in the rafters but you can't see them well in the pic. There's also a shelf on top of some tree stumps that is just a 2x4 laid on top. its not the prettiest set up inside, and i'd really like to make some more shelves for them to dance around on, but I can't go out much to get supplies! Ideally I'd also like to go out and get a full length mirror to lay on its side. They have a small hand mirror that they absolutely love, but there's only room for one pigeon in the mirror, and my cockbirds will chase each other around to get the mirror spot lol. Thanks for the tip about the black paint! The coop/loft they are in is actually a repurposed chicken coop (needed a lot of modifications to be predator proof but that's a whole other story lol) and it came with black-painted wire and the visibility inside is definitely much better. I was wondering how I could make the silver hardware cloth on the aviary portion black to match the coop. I do have some black paint hanging around so maybe I'll just roll it onto the hardware cloth and see what happens. It would probably look even better!

Thanks for the mirror tip! I have read somewhere that pigeons are among the few species that are able to recognize themselves in a mirror, along with chimps, dolphins, and several others. I think I'll try to install a mirror somewhere in my avairy. I love tree stumps as decor items!
Below a pic of my waterer. Can be used for grit also.
I'm having trouble uploading pics or I'd show you my 24" wooden feeder from foys. I just ordered a second one,they're 12 bucks + ship from foys but easy to make since you have skills and time! Lots of designs shown on YT.

 

[KiwiandPeachthePigeons]

Egg update! It’s zipping! I got those pictures you guys begged for lol.

I was holding the egg to take the picture and I heard a crack. I thought I had somehow cracked it but no, a little beak dent was there!