Questions on releasing our pigeons for the first time...

[NewPigeonOwner]

We bought 10 pigeons on June 16th 2020. One passed away sadly a couple weeks later. Then about two weeks later, a pair laid two eggs and we had two healthy squabs hatch July 21st. They will be 6 weeks old tomorrow and are flying and feeding themselves now. Their parents have now laid another set of eggs one week ago.

So, my questions are:

1. We have had these birds in our coop for a little over 2 1/2 months. We got them knowing we would eventually let them out to fly each day. My husband raised pigeons growing up so this is/was his goal. But now of course I am attached to several of them and am going to be devastated to lose any of them! But I do not have a separate cage (other than a cat carrier which won't work long term obviously) to keep my faves in. So...first...is 2 1/2 months, having raised one set of babies and currently sitting on a second set of eggs...long enough so that they will NOT return to their previous owner who lives approx 30 miles away???

2. Is it too soon to let 6 week old babies free fly outside the coop?

3. At this rate, there will always be eggs/babies in nests so will one or both parents not leave the coop so that they can sit on their eggs all day? My fear is the parents leave and don't come back because they return to previous owner or worse yet, get picked off by a hawk? We have TONS of predators out here in the country.

4. I also worry about animals somehow getting inside the coop through trap door if it's left open all day?

5. How do we release them? Do we just open the trap door and they just go?!?!

6. What time will they come back to the coop?!?!

7. They are afraid of us so I can't imagine them just coming back into the trap door when I am ready to close it for the evening?!?

8. I feed my pigeons every morning at 9:30. Do I just open the trap door after feeding them?

9. HELP. I don't think I have the heart for this! LOL

Sorry for what are certain to be COMPLETE newbie questions. I appreciate any and all comments!

 

[sourland]

First thing first - never fly birds that you can not afford to lose, because eventually you will lose birds. Hawk attacks/kills, overflies, sudden storms can all contribute to losses. What breed do you have ? Homers if settled at their previous loft should not be flown as they will return to their original homes if of any quality. I would suggest building a settling cage that includes the landing board, trap, and if possible the roof. Allow the birds to become accustomed to using this and entering the loft through the trap. Feed condition your birds with a whistle/sound/rattling can while feeding. Fly your birds hungry and call them in with the feed conditioning sound. Once all have entered the loft lock the trap so that predators can not enter the loft. I have had both Cooper's hawks and once a Great Horned owl enter my lofts due to negligence on my part. Good luck with flying your flock. Cooper's hawks put me out of business.

 

[backyard pigeons]

They will be 6 weeks old tomorrow and are flying and feeding themselves now. Their parents have now laid another set of eggs one week ago.

start training them! start by letting them see all around the coop, and go thru the trap door 20 or more times with a settling cage placed around the trap.

So...first...is 2 1/2 months, having raised one set of babies and currently sitting on a second set of eggs...long enough so that they will NOT return to their previous owner who lives approx 30 miles away???

What breed? are they homers?

2. Is it too soon to let 6 week old babies free fly outside the coop?

no! ideal agw to start, with supervision.

4. I also worry about animals somehow getting inside the coop through trap door if it's left open all day?

what type of trap door do you have? you shouldn't let them fly all day, as hawks will get them then. you should only fly them 2 hours max, i think.

. How do we release them? Do we just open the trap door and they just go?!?!

after lots of trap training, looking around the loft, and train them to a food call, yes. but,,, never ever push them out of the loft... they will go when they are ready.

. What time will they come back to the coop?!?!

ideally when you call them. you see,,, every time you feed them, whistle or do another food call. that lets them know that when flying and they hear it, they need to go inside.

8. I feed my pigeons every morning at 9:30. Do I just open the trap door after feeding them?

no, always fly birds hungry. this is motivation for them to come home when called. again, have a food call. i reccomend flying your birds from 10 am to 12, and then call them in and feed them all theyu can eat in ten minutes...

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

can you make them an aviary for during the day? much safer and they’ll still be able to fly

 

[backyard pigeons]

an aviary is a GREAT addition to any loft, especially when you are having problems with hawks. but even if its 10 by 10, that is no where near what they would get free flying. free flying they can go fast, high, out of sight, in trees, etc. in an aviary, they have no freedom.

don't get me wrong, aviary's are very important, but they cant replace free flying.

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

my pigeons use to “free range” like chickens lol. they would just wander around the yard while supervised and were happy to do that. they would fly around the yard if they wanted, but never attempted to leave. maybe you can try that.

there wings were clipped when we started letting them out, so maybe that’s helped get them used to it. we did not clip them, they were rescue birds that were clipped before they got to the shelter.

 

[backyard pigeons]

my pigeons use to “free range” like chickens lol. they would just wander around the yard while supervised and were happy to do that. they would fly around the yard if they wanted, but never attempted to leave. maybe you can try that.

there wings were clipped when we started letting them out, so maybe that’s helped get them used to it. we did not clip them, they were rescue birds that were clipped before they got to the shelter.

that sounds so fun! that's kind of what my OB's do. any photos?

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

that sounds so fun! that's kind of what my OB's do. any photos?

yes i’ll put up some photos in a moment. we rehomed them once they were healthy and tame enough (we took them so the rescue would have room to take in more pigeons that needed them)

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

that sounds so fun! that's kind of what my OB's do. any photos?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/DdnykRM5dJvw6aaP6

here’s a few. my favorite part of looking back at the picture is you can see how thin and scared they used to be, and how happy and friendly they were after months of care. the rescue got them from a place they were being abused and hoarded so i’m happy they are so happy now.

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

that sounds so fun! that's kind of what my OB's do. any photos?

i believe they are known as “fancy pigeons). i adopt and don’t buy animals so i don’t know too much about breeds lol (but i definitely support people who purchase from responsible breeders)