Pigeon Talk

[cavemanrich]

Lol However I am restricting my flock size based on the loft size

You forgot to mention your pets across the street.. Any guesses on the number size of that flock??
My closest feral flock is about 2 miles away. I do provide birdseed for my songbirds year-round. Never had any pigeons visit.
Just snapped this pix now.

I keep a water bowl that is heated and provides liquid water to my feathered and furred friends. Tonight we are expecting snow, and mucho,,,,, about 6+inches according to weather predictors.

If I had ferals visiting my feeder, I would just place more feed to feed them all. ... Yes,,, the caveman would risk going to prison,,, but life is life. and caveman does not want anything to go hungry.
In Chicago proper, you get "Life Without Parole" if caught feeding ferals. I'm outside of city limits, so maybe I would only get a slap on the wrist.

 

[backyard pigeons]

Thanks for your generosity!

You betcha! Its the least I could do with how much you have helped!

I mean, the same could be said for every pet bird, no?

I suppose. But I related it to pigeons since that is what I have experience with.

I suppose it can be debated whether any bird should be kept inside at all, but if they are allowed free flying time indoors and even some controlled outside time, and kept at least as a pair or with lots of attention and stimulation, can it be said a pigeon would be less happy than any exotic bird?

why are we relating them to exotic birds? I'm cunfuzzled.

I dont know about exotic birds, as those aren't up my alley. But I would venture to guess that they would be less happy than a outdoor flock. as they don't get this:

The fancy pigeon breeds, though, I think could be adapted better to that role.

for sure. Especially the flightless ones... But often fancy breeds still yearn to fly, after all, its in their nature.

Fewer people live in the rural areas where pigeon culture thrives... and even in most cities I imagine the old style rooftop lofts would not be allowed anymore like they once were. In suburbs, many neighbors or HOAs would also probably not look kindly on free flying loft birds. It's a more difficult situation nowadays, I think, for people who like pigeons.

it sure is. According to city codes, I can't have any poultry. But all my neighbors go outside at about three o'clock to watch my birdies take to the air!

If I ever did get a complaint that led to me being forced to get rid of my pigeons and chickens, I would fight it like crazy. The city shouldn't be allowed to tell me I can't raise egg layers for my family. And pigeons aren't classified under poultry, HA!

according to weather predictors.

weather predictors? I think they are better called weather guessers.

If I had ferals visiting my feeder, I would just place more feed to feed them all. ... Yes,,, the caveman would risk going to prison,,, but life is life. and caveman does not want anything to go hungry.

you could go to jail for feeding pigeons? If this happens, don't worry, BYC would pack the court rooms!

 

[Old_Strain_Lover]

@Old_Strain_Lover how are you and your birds? BTW, I finally found the "_" on my keyboard, so I am now fully capable of calling upon a wise pigeon fancier.

I'm doing ok for the most part, thanks for asking! I'm just trying to get through my typical winter blues (I really hate winter haha). I wish I still had your enthusiasm!! Hope everything is going well on your end.

 

[backyard pigeons]

I'm just trying to get through my typical winter blues (I really hate winter haha). I wish I still had your enthusiasm!

I get it. I hate winter!! I have heaps more enthusiasm during 80 degree weather.

 

[Birbseeb]

Why are we relating them to exotic birds?

You asked why house pigeons are getting more popular, so meant to say that exotic birds are a lot harder to keep yet people still like them in their house, while pigeons are much easier to live with and care for (and there are many pretty breeds of them), so they would appeal to many bird-liking people.
Sorry if I explained my logic badly, I tend to ramble!

Why now, though? I think the internet brings a lot of things to people's view that they maybe hadn't considered before. At least, it did for me.

 

[sourland]

You asked why house pigeons are getting more popular, so meant to say that exotic birds are a lot harder to keep yet people still like them in their house, while pigeons are much easier to live with .

One thing to keep in mind is 'pigeon lung disease'. Pigeons through their dander, can cause severe allergic reactions and permanent lung damage in some people.

 

[Kusanar]

One thing to keep in mind is 'pigeon lung disease'. Pigeons through their dander, can cause severe allergic reactions and permanent lung damage in some people.

You should see my back bedroom where Felix lived for a year. 1 pigeon kept as dust free as possible... Everything in that room is now light grey. I'm working my way through it cleaning as I go and trying to de-dust things as I can but it's a lot... I can't imagine having more than 1 in the house...

 

[Birbseeb]

Air purifiers / HEPA filters are great for dander.
But then, at our house we're the sort of nerds that have one in every room. xD

There's an Insta account where a guy has like 15 in his apartment, and ngl I wonder how he keeps things looking so nice there.

...Actually I'll think I'll shoot him a dm right now and ask.

 

[Old_Strain_Lover]

I get it. I hate winter!! I have heaps more enthusiasm during 80 degree weather.

I'm half dead when it gets that hot. I'm a welder in a factory... kind of dread those hot humid days...

 

[WVduckchick]

@WVduckchick how are you and your birds? How many Sats do you have now?




@cavemanrich when, oh when, are you getting pigeons? Pigeon fanciers are a dying breed, I don't care if you raise ugly pigeons: View attachment 2501678

Or pretty pigeons: View attachment 2501682

YOU just NEED pigeons!



@biophiliac how is your flock? Do you still need some hens? I have about twice as many hens as males! You want any?

Hi there! Sorry, I haven't been on BYC very much lately. "life", as they say. I've been busy with work, and other projects, so my BYC time has been diminished. I still have my flock of Sats, I think I'm at 28 now, after I sold a quad a few months ago. Surprisingly, I haven't had any girls go broody lately. My last hatches were at the end of July! I'll get some new pics this evening.

Perhaps, but that is sure death to much of the pigeon fancy. A single house pigeon would eat a miniscule amount of food, so there goes fifty pound bags of pigeon feed and company's. Next would be Foys, Jedds, Vita King etc, as no one would buy supplies like nest bowls, perches, and meds from them. And then no one would be buying bands as there wouldn't be breeding happening. So no, House pigeons aren't the solution.

What I don't understand though, why are house pigeon getting more popular? Do people not realize these guys are FLOCK animals? Flocking is in their BLOOD. A human is no substitute for a pigeon .

How can one deprive a pigeon of doing what's natural? View attachment 2502247

DONT SAY THAAAT!

That would be the death of the hobby. Racing clubs are struggling, for many reasons. thankfully show clubs aren't as much, but the NPA is.

What people need to do to get word out is simple. try! There's lots of talk but no action. I wrote this to the "Racing Pigeon Digest" recently, to give ideas of getting youth involved.


First, I want to say thank you so much for all you do for the pigeon hobby. It doesn't go unnoticed.

"Youth are the only hope for the hobby, but are not interested in pigeons" is the common phrase thrown around today. Why do we say this? Where are we getting are information from?

Coming from a minor, youth are very interested in pigeons, once they learn about them. I had no knowledge or interest in pigeons until I read one small pamphlet on them, that changed my idea. I had no idea you could free fly them, and they came back. "What other bird can do this?" I asked myself. And was immediately ready to get pigeons. After several months of research, I got the go ahead from my parents, and here i am, 3 years later with 45 homers in my city backyard.

I gladly tell my piers about my pigeons, what I do with them, what they can accomplish, how many I have, and much more. I have yet to meet a youth who knew about homing pigeons. I also have yet to meet youth who had no interest. This gives me hope! The youth aren't getting involved, because they don't know that homing pigeons exist.

How do we teach the youth about homing pigeons? I can't think of a better place to start than tossing birds. Bring the birds to them. I have tossed my homers in front of 60 students at a school, and the moment the birds exited the cage there was instant excitement in the crowd; students and teachers alike. As the birds flew, they began asking questions. Common knowledge to me, but a new language to them. "How far can the fly" my blood can return home from 500 miles. "What do they eat" I feed a grain mixture, with 13% protein. "How do you band them" "What do you keep them in" "Are there any clubs that do this" "how do they know how to get home" (i couldn't answer this one) "how long do they live" etc. Why are the youth said to have no interest in homing pigeons when they had never heard of them before?

To do this, individual's and clubs alike should take initiative. Educate the youth, their parents, offer your name and phone number, and if the kids get the go ahead from their parents in a couple months, help them get started. Help them plan a small but well made loft, offer a few young birds (we all have a few to many) encourage flying them, and stay in touch. I am so thankful for the people who got me started in racers. Wow! They have helped so much with food, flying, breeding, getting birds, or when my 2020 bands are late! Thank you for everyone who has helped youth get started, it means a lot to all of us.

I am so tired of hearing "I'm enjoying the last few years of pigeon racing" "another nail in the coffin" "A dying hobby". Those that say these things obviously don't care enough about pigeon keeping to do anything about it, as those aren't the people that helped me get started.

I think its awesome to get youth involved in pigeons, its the best hobby. But they aren't the only hope. Adults are interested when I tell them about my pigeons to. Its never to late to start in the pigeon hobby.

So go toss some pigeons at the playground! Explain them to kids and their parents. Let them hold a bird, let them open the door. It won't be something they will forget about.

Did you get a reply from Racing Pigeon Digest? Impressive, I must say, I hope they shared your letter. You are definitely an inspiration to other "youngsters", and I applaud you for your efforts. Keep it up! Even if you only get a small number of enthusiasts to "join the pigeon world", hopefully they will pass along the love also.