Pigeon Talk

[backyard pigeons]

I here they make amazing pets!

yes they do! you should keep looking! If you do get some, we will help you all you need!

Keep your birds indoors if you are upset over hawks. You won't lose any.
Pheasants are native to China! They aren't even supposed to live in North America.

Its natural to be upset if you lose something you spend hours with very day. But it isn't natural for pigeons to not fly, and they need free flight, if they are a flying breed. It is inhumane if you ask me to not fly racing homers. If I decide to stop flying them because of hawks (other than during the fall and winter when I lose a bird every fly) I will sell every racing homer I own, and start up with a different breed. Probably old English frills. The looks of a racing homer the day after flying home 100 miles far outweighs one deprived of doing what is natural, free flight. But birds who fly every day (I have several groups of flying birds, YB, OB, don't want to lose, so they fly twice a week birds..., And unsettled, which I am working on settling them now) have nearly twice the muscle tone. They get sick less, and have raised healthier babies. Have you ever seen racing homers fly? It is a sight to behold. They all race out of the coop with excitement. They fly in beautiful patterns. The picture below is from yesterday. A five mile toss. Good practice for the little birdies.

Now, Don't fly Olive! she wasn't Bred for it. Besides, a whole house is a good sized loft.

As far as the pheasants, Good catch! It slipped my mind that they weren't native, due to the hunting seasons (which are generally in place for native birds) and that they have been in the U.S. Since 1881. Thankfully they are not harming native species like other birds are.

 

[cavemanrich]

I live in idaho and i don't see very many wild pigeons every. i saw the black pair on craigslist but they were 50 bucks and i didn't have the money at the time and it was very sad. I here they make amazing pets!

If you are still planning that big move, you might consider getting them at new home. Squeezing them into your Noah's Ark trip may be even more challenging.

 

[LittleFalcon]

If you are still planning that big move, you might consider getting them at new home. Squeezing them into your Noah's Ark trip may be even more challenging.

Lol hello again! Actually we found some pigeons on craigslist not long after i found this thread and we will be meeting them tomorrow at 6pm. I think they are called fan tailed pigeons?

 

[LittleFalcon]

we still have not found somewhere to live yet and are starting to think we will be here for a bit longer

 

[Pigeon28]

Would a layer pellet or an all flock pellet be better to use in a mix you own feed? Layer pellet is 16% and I believe the all flock is 20% protein.

 

[varidgerunner]

Have talked to people that had Birmingham rollers and got hit hard by Hawks that switched to flying oriental rollers that taught local Hawks that it was a waste of time to attempt to catch a pigeon. Some people use FOR to protect their homers and BR pigeons. The escampadissa pigeons were bred to catch Hawks by outflying them and leading them to traps.

I would like birds that had a variety of moves possibly at the expense of the deep thirty foot plus rolls. I don't desire to compete, only to observe, my own birds for my own enjoyment.

 

[biophiliac]

Have talked to people that had Birmingham rollers and got hit hard by Hawks that switched to flying oriental rollers that taught local Hawks that it was a waste of time to attempt to catch a pigeon. Some people use FOR to protect their homers and BR pigeons. The escampadissa pigeons were bred to catch Hawks by outflying them and leading them to traps.

I would like birds that had a variety of moves possibly at the expense of the deep thirty foot plus rolls. I don't desire to compete, only to observe, my own birds for my own enjoyment.

I had never heard of the Escampadisa breed of pigeons and got curious thanks to your post!
http://www.aviculture-europe.nl/nummers/17E05A06.pdf
After checking a couple of online sources it seems to me this is a very old breed, bred for distinctive and spectacular flight. The hawk trapping development is said to be more recent, capitalizing on the birds flight skills and a specially designed double trap entry to the loft. Very interesting!

 

[backyard pigeons]

Would a layer pellet or an all flock pellet be better to use in a mix you own feed? Layer pellet is 16% and I believe the all flock is 20% protein.

what percent of the feed is the pellets?

Have talked to people that had Birmingham rollers and got hit hard by Hawks that switched to flying oriental rollers that taught local Hawks that it was a waste of time to attempt to catch a pigeon. Some people use FOR to protect their homers and BR pigeons. The escampadissa pigeons were bred to catch Hawks by outflying them and leading them to traps.

I hope that is your case... Orientals aren't what they used to be, if you ask me. Hawks will get pigeons no matter what. They may not get them out of the air like they do with birminghams, but when they land on the roof, and start trapping, hawks will learn that that is the prime time to catch them.

Again, not discouraging you from the hobby, it is VERY rewarding! But, I want you to know before hand that hawks will become a part of it. We just need to do simple tricks such flying at different times of day, trap training VERY WELL, so there's no stalling, crow decoys throughout the day, and while birds are flying, etc.

 

[Pigeon28]

what percent of the feed is the pellets?

I hope that is your case... Orientals aren't what they used to be, if you ask me. Hawks will get pigeons no matter what. They may not get them out of the air like they do with birminghams, but when they land on the roof, and start trapping, hawks will learn that that is the prime time to catch them.

Again, not discouraging you from the hobby, it is VERY rewarding! But, I want you to know before hand that hawks will become a part of it. We just need to do simple tricks such flying at different times of day, trap training VERY WELL, so there's no stalling, crow decoys throughout the day, and while birds are flying, etc.

20%

 

[memphis]

Makes no sense. Pigeons are so interesting but no one seems to want to study them.