Recall Training?

[June Chick]

You can absolutely get them to come when called. Any bird can learn. I have taught even pet finches to fly to my finger when I call their names. You will need to get a clicker as they sell for dog training and a good supply of a valued treat like peanuts or hemp seed. Begin handfeeding the pigeons and click the clicker each time a bird takes a seed. Slowly start having them walk over to you and click when they do then give them a treat. Start calling them now either by their names or with a general call or a whistle. Begin raising your hand so they must flutter up to you to get the treat then click and reward. Pigeons are very smart and will figure out what you want of them. In a few days or just a few sessions you should be able to get them flying to your hand when called. Click and treat when they do so. When they do it reliably in the enclosure you can also take them outside. I trained my finches to come when called this way - birds way flightier than and not as smart as pigeons - in about two weeks.

As far as disease concerns, homers have super immune systems. They have been bred to, since they fly free in the environment. Anything which would make them ill would make the ferals ill. The pigeons more vulnerable to catch something from ferals are fancy breeds raised for generations in cages without any immunity to pathogens.

This is exactly what I needed and wanted to know, thank you!!

 

[PigeonLady]

I say it won't work with ferals or homers. Go ahead and try though

 

[Serin]

It works with every bird.

 

[Old_Strain_Lover]

I feed the feral pigeons, and there is quite literally a sharp-shinned hawk that sits with them on the landline, I also have chickens and ducks and have had them for many years, not a single hawk taking any. I don’t see too much risk there.

I don’t want to free fly them, their aviary is large, but in case one ever accidentally gets loose, I want it to be trained to come to a specific call

Their aviary is 8’ 6” wide, 12’ long, and the wood reaches 6’ high, but the leak of the dome is 8’ 7” View attachment 1654571

So this is where they will live? There is no coop/loft attached to the aviary? I'm going to assume you live someplace warm, but even so I would suggest rethinking their housing situation. Pigeons do love to be outdoors in an aviary, but they also like having an enclosure to go into and escape the elements and hide from visible predators.... also get out of direct sunlight once in a while. I have a large aviary attached to my main loft and the birds will spend all day in it, but they never sleep out in it... not even in the summer.

 

[biophiliac]

So this is where they will live? There is no coop/loft attached to the aviary? I'm going to assume you live someplace warm, but even so I would suggest rethinking their housing situation. Pigeons do love to be outdoors in an aviary, but they also like having an enclosure to go into and escape the elements and hide from visible predators.... also get out of direct sunlight once in a while. I have a large aviary attached to my main loft and the birds will spend all day in it, but they never sleep out in it... not even in the summer.

I agree. I guess I just assumed OP would be building a loft structure inside the aviary? Mine have a large aviary but spend more time inside the loft. They want a place to go for cover when they see a hawk fly by too, even if it can't get to them.

 

[PigeonLady]

Serin, I'd discuss this more but I have to go outside and feed my unicorns.

 

[Serin]

Serin, I'd discuss this more but I have to go outside and feed my unicorns.

I have had my bird for just nine days and I have already trained her to recall.

I also have finches that come when I call their names, with enough reliability that I have let them fly in the garden and called them back.

If you treat an animal as if it's incapable of learning anything, it will never learn anything.

Pigeons are very intelligent and responsive to positive reinforcement.

 

[June Chick]

Yes, there will be a structure inside the aviary where birds can get away from sunlight and weather, I’d never stick animals in an enclosure with no protection/shade.