Pigeon Talk

[cavemanrich]

People who use the dollar tree dog bowls as nesting bowls. Do you weigh them down?

Here is an IDEA to consider. I have done this. It can be applied to nesting bowl also.

The above is an Inexpensive bird bath. It is made of light hollow plastic. 2 advantages; is le$$ cash, and lasts a long time. Disadvantage; falls over very easily.
My solution; I filled the bottom pedestal portion with concrete cement. Now the birdbath is heavy, and does not blow over.

So now to this.

2 things can be done with this.
Turn upside down, and fill with concrete cement. Another option is a mixture of sand and Plaster of Paris for a quicker setting.
Now for the second part; Use as a weighted down bowl, or after cement cures, separate plastic from cement, and use cement as bowl. It will have texture of sand of cement.

For anyone consider going this route, I suggest the option of using Mortar Mix Over Concrete mix. The concrete mix has stones up to size of chestnuts in mix. Sometimes less than IDEAL to work with for small size items.

 

[backyard pigeons]

People who use the dollar tree dog bowls as nesting bowls. Do you weigh them down? Also what do you use for nesting material in them. They are so slick I feel like anything would get pushed right out. Sand paper to add some texture?

I just weigh them down with the bedding.

No no. Not just any bedding.


THE BEST BEDDING.

I have discovered this this year. Pelleted wood bedding, boy does it work for nest bowls. They don't kick it out like they do with straw\twigs, it is so absorbent, and when it does get wet, it puffs up into sawdust. It has a good weight, so the bowl doesn't slide. https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai...wjDroyJoprvAhUEpFkKHeuPCeEQ0Qx6BAgUEAE&adurl=

 

[Misfits Farm 92]

I just weigh them down with the bedding.

No no. Not just any bedding.


THE BEST BEDDING.

I have discovered this this year. Pelleted wood bedding, boy does it work for nest bowls. They don't kick it out like they do with straw\twigs, it is so absorbent, and when it does get wet, it puffs up into sawdust. It has a good weight, so the bowl doesn't slide. https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai...wjDroyJoprvAhUEpFkKHeuPCeEQ0Qx6BAgUEAE&adurl=

I actually have quite a bit of that bedding! I'll keep that in mind when I get my pigeons.

 

[Qwerty3159]

@backyard pigeons do you ever feed your birds pellets? I’ve been interested in the wood pellets but was afraid the birds might eat them lol since mine love pellets

 

[backyard pigeons]

@backyard pigeons do you ever feed your birds pellets? I’ve been interested in the wood pellets but was afraid the birds might eat them lol since mine love pellets

I am a firm believer in feeding 10% pellets in a pigeons diet, with an increase during breeding and molting season. A grain diet is not everything a pigeon eats its natural habitat, so in my opinion pellets make up for the lack of minerals and vitamins. So, yes, that was to long of an answer.... Haha.

I was scared at first they would gobble them down, but they didn't eat one. They know more than we think they do.

 

[sourland]

@backyard pigeons do you ever feed your birds pellets? I’ve been interested in the wood pellets but was afraid the birds might eat them lol since mine love pellets

My experience is the same as @backyard pigeons . For one season I used wood pellets as loft bedding, and the birds did not eat them.

 

[Qwerty3159]

And then there were three. I had a hawk attack and think I lost one of my young birds. Crazy how the birds can be out and flying for a half hour or more, and the hawk only attacks when I pop my head into the shed and out of view.

 

[biophiliac]

And then there were three. I had a hawk attack and think I lost one of my young birds. Crazy how the birds can be out and flying for a half hour or more, and the hawk only attacks when I pop my head into the shed and out of view.

Did you find a pile of feathers? If not maybe he just got chased off and could return.

 

[OhZark Biddies]

I thought I’d share some pics of my new 3ft x 10ft pigeon loft... it was made of repurposed and leftover materials.... the enclosed area is 4ft with 6ft of aviary

I haven’t put the hardware cloth in the bottom yet, so you’ll have to imagine it there attached to the top of the 2x4s, about 18-20 inches off the ground

the “pop door” is just in case this gets used for some other purpose in the future

This is the view inside... I had some old wooden shutters that I repurposed as a slatted nest wall

this is the view from the door on the right end that allows access to the nesting shelves... just imagine all of the tools and stuff are nesting pigeons

 

[Old-clucker-55]

Very nice set up! The birds are going to love it.