Serious question

[asooomaa]

Hi everybody ( I'm Swiss, sorry about any mistake in English),
I want to explain, can I keep some domestic pigeons with my chickens without problems, I heared that this may cause diseases, is that right, please help, any help will be appreciated ,, thanx

 

[cgmccary]

I have an acquaintance who keeps a pigeon flypen & loft right in the middle of his chicken yard. His chickens seem healthy. I don't think his pigeons go anywhere-- they stay in the yard.

If you clean regularly, there shouldn't be any problems. If your pigeons are going to be racing pigeons or homing pigeons & are going to be flying from "other places" then there might be some very legitimate concern about them bringing some disease or parasites back to the chicken flock. This would be true as well for wild birds or introducing new chickens from "other places" to your flock.

 

[Mary Of Exeter]

It is fine, just make sure both groups of birds are healthy and quarantined before introducing them to each other. Also make sure there is plenty of room for the pigeons to get out of the chickens' way, as they can get quite grouchy towards the pigeons, depending on their breed's temperament. It's also advised that when you feed the chickens, feed them on the ground, but have something off the ground for the pigeons to eat/drink at (kind of like a wild bird feeder type), because again, fights can come up over too many birds going to the same feeder/drinker.

 

[truecolorsloft]

Quote:
What she said.

We have feeders and waters at several levels, since the chickens like to go to the higher feeders, and some of our pigeons insist on feeding on the floor. go figure.