Some questions. New to pigeons.

[Kaeri]

Hi,
I've been looking into getting either pigeons or ringneck doves. My family got chickens about 6 months ago and I've fallen in love with birds.

I have some questions.
Which would be better, pigeon or ringneck?
I like the idea of letting them fly around(under supervision). Keeping a bird in a cage seems too much like keeping a prisoner to me. Would I be able to fly ringnecks? Not racing them, just letting them out in the area for a few hours. They would be housed in an aviary outside.

How many should I get for them not to be lonely and still bond to me? Like, can I bond with the third wheel if I get three? lol

Thanks!

 

[Serin]

You can't let ringnecks out, they will not return and will be eaten by raptors. The only pigeons you can semi-safely let out are flying breeds like homers and you want more than just one or two if you do as they gain protection being in a flock.

If you are not willing to have the birds eaten or lost, keep them confined. Ornamental pigeon breeds and doves will do very well without ever flying loose.

One pigeon will bond to you and be very affectionate but such a pet should live in the house and not alone outside. I would not keep less than two birds, so they always have company when you are not out with them. While they will not bond as strongly they will be able to be tamed and socialized. The tamest pigeon breeds to my knowledge are kings, old German owls, and pygmy pouters and these birds are almost tame by nature. Homers and flying breeds are the most independent and least friendly by nature, and they will be less content in confinement.

If you do ringneck doves, only keep one pair. Males will fight to the death, and will kill their own grown sons as well. They are not flocking birds, whereas pigeons can be kept in large groups.

 

[backyard pigeons]

Hi,
I've been looking into getting either pigeons or ringneck doves. My family got chickens about 6 months ago and I've fallen in love with birds.

I have some questions.
Which would be better, pigeon or ringneck?
I like the idea of letting them fly around(under supervision). Keeping a bird in a cage seems too much like keeping a prisoner to me. Would I be able to fly ringnecks? Not racing them, just letting them out in the area for a few hours. They would be housed in an aviary outside.

How many should I get for them not to be lonely and still bond to me? Like, can I bond with the third wheel if I get three? lol

Thanks!

hello! Welcome to BYC! I'm so glad you joined! We need more pigeon and dove keepers here.

I personally like pigeons, though haven't had much experience with doves. It is up to you on which you like and better fits your needs.

You cannot fly ringnecks, due to the fact that doves roost in a different area each night in the wild, whereas pigeons stay at the same perch night after night. an aviary would provide enough exercise depending on the size for a pair of two of doves or pigeons! You could fly pigeons, but they can get lost, or caught by hawks sometimes. NEVER fly a bird you can't bear to lose.

I would recommend getting one or two mated pairs of either doves or pigeons to start out with. I wouldn't get a third, because they do like to have a mate. I would do even numbers.

I would highly recommend a walk in aviary so you can enjoy the birds much more. I also would recommend Portuguese tumblers. They are a small, friendly, colorful breed of pigeon. And you could fly them if your wanted. Here's what they look like.

You can't let ringnecks out, they will not return and will be eaten by raptors. The only pigeons you can semi-safely let out are flying breeds like homers and you want more than just one or two if you do as they gain protection being in a flock.

If you are not willing to have the birds eaten or lost, keep them confined. Ornamental pigeon breeds and doves will do very well without ever flying loose.

One pigeon will bond to you and be very affectionate but such a pet should live in the house and not alone outside. I would not keep less than two birds, so they always have company when you are not out with them. While they will not bond as strongly they will be able to be tamed and socialized. The tamest pigeon breeds to my knowledge are kings, old German owls, and pygmy pouters and these birds are almost tame by nature. Homers and flying breeds are the most independent and least friendly by nature, and they will be less content in confinement.

If you do ringneck doves, only keep one pair. Males will fight to the death, and will kill their own grown sons as well. They are not flocking birds, whereas pigeons can be kept in large groups.

One question, when you said "I would not keep less than too birds, so that when you aren't with them they have company" do you mean outside? Or both outside and inside?

 

[Serin]

One question, when you said "I would not keep less than too birds, so that when you aren't with them they have company" do you mean outside? Or both outside and inside?

Just outside, unless you live in the aviary with them! Indoors, they can do okay if they are part of the action and situated where they're always around someone.

I have one indoor pigeon but she lives inside with the family and while she is the only pigeon she is not the only bird we have, and she is never by herself.

 

[Kaeri]

You can't let ringnecks out, they will not return and will be eaten by raptors. The only pigeons you can semi-safely let out are flying breeds like homers and you want more than just one or two if you do as they gain protection being in a flock.

If you are not willing to have the birds eaten or lost, keep them confined. Ornamental pigeon breeds and doves will do very well without ever flying loose.

One pigeon will bond to you and be very affectionate but such a pet should live in the house and not alone outside. I would not keep less than two birds, so they always have company when you are not out with them. While they will not bond as strongly they will be able to be tamed and socialized. The tamest pigeon breeds to my knowledge are kings, old German owls, and pygmy pouters and these birds are almost tame by nature. Homers and flying breeds are the most independent and least friendly by nature, and they will be less content in confinement.

If you do ringneck doves, only keep one pair. Males will fight to the death, and will kill their own grown sons as well. They are not flocking birds, whereas pigeons can be kept in large groups.

This clears a lot up, thanks!
Would it be too stressful for the birds if I housed pigeons and doves in the same aviary but separated?

 

[Kaeri]

hello! Welcome to BYC! I'm so glad you joined! We need more pigeon and dove keepers here.

I personally like pigeons, though haven't had much experience with doves. It is up to you on which you like and better fits your needs.

You cannot fly ringnecks, due to the fact that doves roost in a different area each night in the wild, whereas pigeons stay at the same perch night after night. an aviary would provide enough exercise depending on the size for a pair of two of doves or pigeons! You could fly pigeons, but they can get lost, or caught by hawks sometimes. NEVER fly a bird you can't bear to lose.

I would recommend getting one or two mated pairs of either doves or pigeons to start out with. I wouldn't get a third, because they do like to have a mate. I would do even numbers.

I would highly recommend a walk in aviary so you can enjoy the birds much more. I also would recommend Portuguese tumblers. They are a small, friendly, colorful breed of pigeon. And you could fly them if your wanted. Here's what they look like.View attachment 1840171



One question, when you said "I would not keep less than too birds, so that when you aren't with them they have company" do you mean outside? Or both outside and inside?

Beautiful birds! How much sq/ft per bird, or how large of a walk in enclosure would you recommend for them to get decent exercise?

 

[backyard pigeons]

Beautiful birds! How much sq/ft per bird, or how large of a walk in enclosure would you recommend for them to get decent exercise?

You could separate the aviary, to have some of both. It would not be to stressful on them.

For say two pairs of pigeons, (by the way, they will breed fast!) I would do 4 ft ×8+ ft with 6 foot tall ceilings, unless you 're taller. this isn't needed, but if your not going to be flying them, it would be best. Do you have an fence, shed wall, or anything to build from? That would help.

How cold does it get where you live? You may need a wooden box, free of drafts to keep your birds warm. any other questions?

 

[backyard pigeons]

Oh, the general rule is with 5+ ft tall ceilings, 3-4 square ft per bird. But that's to small in my opinion. because you may have " enough" room for two pairs by the book, but that's just a 4×3 coop, and a pigeon can't fly in that! So you could prob have three pairs in the above size I gave.

 

[Serin]

An easy size aviary to build is an 8 foot cube as this is the size lumber comes in. It is large enough to allow some flight, we had one of those dimensions in our old garden for a bunch of budgies, finches and a dove and it was quite a nice size. Big enough to sit inside. With small birds we needed to install a small 4 x 4 x 8 "air lock" porch so we could shut one door before opening the door to go inside with the birds. Not sure it's needed with doves or pigeons as they are not as fast to slip past you but it would not hurt. The structure ideally should be half shaded and half open to light and rain. The enclosure should be constructed ideally of half inch hardware cloth to keep out all predators and this should be buried underground if you live where dogs, foxes or weasels might come around and dig to get in. We didn't have to do that in our fenced city yard. They will need a shed or similar attached to the flight aviary to shelter in at night and when it is cold.

 

[Kaeri]

An easy size aviary to build is an 8 foot cube as this is the size lumber comes in. It is large enough to allow some flight, we had one of those dimensions in our old garden for a bunch of budgies, finches and a dove and it was quite a nice size. Big enough to sit inside. With small birds we needed to install a small 4 x 4 x 8 "air lock" porch so we could shut one door before opening the door to go inside with the birds. Not sure it's needed with doves or pigeons as they are not as fast to slip past you but it would not hurt. The structure ideally should be half shaded and half open to light and rain. The enclosure should be constructed ideally of half inch hardware cloth to keep out all predators and this should be buried underground if you live where dogs, foxes or weasels might come around and dig to get in. We didn't have to do that in our fenced city yard. They will need a shed or similar attached to the flight aviary to shelter in at night and when it is cold.

This is the area I'm thinking about. It's about 7ft from the wall to the walkway. I'd clear out most of the plants. The roof is mainly vines so shade can be adjusted.

What kind of flooring do pigeons prefer(wood chips, dirt, cement, etc)?

I'm very lucky to have a father who's an architectural master. Here's what he built for the chickens, it'll probably be similar. Are there any modifications, other than an airlock, that would be different for pigeons?


Thank you for the info!