Recall Training?

[June Chick]

How do I recall train pigeons? I have a couple rollers, and a few homing pigeons (I do pigeon rescue, so I never know what I’ll get next). Any advice would be great, thanks!

I want to do it as safely as possible, not a lot of predators in my area, but I really don’t want any of them to just fly off.

 

[Keziah]

let them fly around a caged in area and every time they come back to you, give them a treat. This will make them learn that coming back to you is good.

 

[June Chick]

let them fly around a caged in area and every time they come back to you, give them a treat. This will make them learn that coming back to you is good.

They’ll be living in an outdoor aviary

 

[Keziah]

hmmm well i do not have piogens so i dont really know.. sry

 

[biophiliac]

How do I recall train pigeons? I have a couple rollers, and a few homing pigeons (I do pigeon rescue, so I never know what I’ll get next). Any advice would be great, thanks!

I want to do it as safely as possible, not a lot of predators in my area, but I really don’t want any of them to just fly off.

Homers born in your loft will naturally return. If they come from somewhere else they would likely try to return there if released. Sometimes they can be resettled to a new loft by keeping them captive for some months and letting them raise a few rounds of young. It may make a difference if they are stray racers or ferals that you have rescued. You first have to teach them to use the trap door by attaching a temporary settling cage, see video below. Always use a specific whistle, sound or call when you feed them and by letting them out when they are hungry you can use this to recall them. Only free fly birds you can afford to loose as there are no guarantees

This whole series of videos is very good.

 

[biophiliac]

Roller pigeons are easier to settle to a new home. Use the same method to teach them the trap door. Don't fly them with homers as the homers may range farther and if they get spooked by a hawk the rollers could get lost. Rollers are also more vulnerable to hawk attack. You may not have seen the hawks in your area until you fly your pigeons.

If you have a nice size outdoor aviary for your rescued birds, they could be very happy to remain inside safe from predators.

 

[June Chick]

Roller pigeons are easier to settle to a new home. Use the same method to teach them the trap door. Don't fly them with homers as the homers may range farther and if they get spooked by a hawk the rollers could get lost. Rollers are also more vulnerable to hawk attack. You may not have seen the hawks in your area until you fly your pigeons.

If you have a nice size outdoor aviary for your rescued birds, they could be very happy to remain inside safe from predators.

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”

 

[PigeonLady]

I've had homers for almost 20 years. The ferals are not homers, so they most likely are not going to return to your coop - probably would rather be free.
As for the homers - if you don't trap train them and fly them, I seriously doubt you will be able to get them to come to you with any kind of a call. They are not pets. One bird getting out by accident would tend to remain in the area though, and eventually would probably light on the coop somewhere, looking for a way in. I suggest you get yourself a fishing net with a long handle to deal with that situation. Good luck - and NICE aviary!

BTW - your ferals are liable to carry diseases that can affect your homers. Wouldn't keep them together.

 

[Serin]

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.

 

[biophiliac]

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.

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