The Best Pigeon Type?

[silky_3699]

So I have been looking at getting a few pigeons.

But what are the best for a first timer and quickly breed. and how many should I have? The cage/pen is about 3 m by 3 m and about 4 to 5 metres high (all approx). what sort of food should I feed them? Should they get treats like Chickens? Are there special feeders and waterers for pigeons? How many males to how many females?

I am sure you can provide some great information!
Thank You!

 

[Lofty Dreams]

Quote:
Shorry its all over.
With feeding Sunflower seeds and peanuts are treats to my pigeons. No chicken waters work fine althouhg it should be covered. Pigeons mate in pairs so equal #'s of both male and female unless you plan on building another pen for just males or just females.
The information below is for pigeons in gerneral, depending upon the breed adjustments might have to be made for fany breeds.

With the housing it should be like chickens, damp and pest free, well venalaited and space to spread their wings and sunlight. However pigeons should have perches the perches that you chickens use might be fine as long as the birds don't get to agressisve however box perches [ box shaped] or V- shaped perchs are suggested.

You can let pigeons that you have trained fly around I havn't had a problem with hawks. Although keepo an eye out and fly your rollers at different times, crows supposodly help and I have heard from some people that dark colored pigeons help as well.
They can be kept with small bantamn chickens although their may be some problems like the young squabs falling out of the nests and getting pecked.
They should be feed a well-balenced diet, I feed the Breeders mix before I used to feed them pellets. Acording to some corn should be added to the mix during the winter, black oil sunflowers are rich in protein and my Birmingham Rollers love them.


Also with chickens and pigeons they should be parisite free, with lice I give them a bath using human lice shampoo and some people worm their pigeons.
IF you are going to put a shallow bathing dish in the pigeons pen during the summer change it daily, and make sure no squabs fall in and drown.
Baby Pigeons are called squabs or squeakers [it depend if their going to get eatenin that case to some people their squabs] and should be feed by their parents, it is sometimes rather diffucult to hand raise the squabs because of the special nutrition they get when feed by their parents, Of all the 8 squabs I hand raised only one lived to breeding age. If you do decide to hand feed them if the parents were to die you could use Exact a formula ment for baby birds.

 

[rittert3]

I had feral, rollers, and mixes between them... they were really easy keepers but you can't feed pigeons cracked corn if you want them to breed (I didn't know this at the time so I got few that layed).

 

[silky_3699]

Thank You Lofty Dreams and rittert3 for that information

 

[jbourget]

they sell pigeon food that is pre mixed with all the goodies. I myself like white homers. or the arch angels and fantails

 

[rittert3]

That premixed pigeon feed is good, but can be hard to find locally and can be a touch pricey, still pretty good feed.

 

[GLBRWyans]

I have White Homers , Modenas and Satinettes .

Come join us on Pigeon Talk Forum . Same as this one .

I feed scratch grains that Tractor Supply sells , then I buy a pellet similar to a laying pellet , give them crushed oyster shell and put ACV in their water and use Primalac , it's like Pro Bios
but in my opinion much better as it is formulated for pigeons . Sometimes I put a smashed clove of garlic in their water , garlic has many beneficial properties for their health . Worm twice a year . They love popcorn , safflower and crushed peanuts as a treat and black sunflower seeds . Join Pigeon Talk if you haven't already .

 

[Willjg]

Hey there,

I have Lahores, Indian Fantails, and Racing Homers....but am hoping to expand my collection with a few other breeds, like Satinettes.

The Racing Homers are such great breeders tho, HOLY COW! I got one pair last January, and from that pair I now have 10 babies!

Take Care,
Bill.

 

[GLBRWyans]

Quote:
Bill ,

I have been looking high and low for some LaHores for months now . Reckon you might sell some this spring , got my hands full at the moment and want to build another loft for the Lahores ? PM if you want . Satinettes are a great breed very friendly and docile . I have two that I hand raised and they are pets not birds . I only have two pairs of Satinettes , and then the hand raised ones . Never thought I would see Lahores on chicken talk . lol Do you go to Pigeon Talk site also ? My handle over there is "Birds" . I live in Louisiana . Nice to meet you on here !

 

[GLBRWyans]

Quote:
Shorry its all over.
With feeding Sunflower seeds and peanuts are treats to my pigeons. No chicken waters work fine althouhg it should be covered. Pigeons mate in pairs so equal #'s of both male and female unless you plan on building another pen for just males or just females.
The information below is for pigeons in gerneral, depending upon the breed adjustments might have to be made for fany breeds.

With the housing it should be like chickens, damp and pest free, well venalaited and space to spread their wings and sunlight. However pigeons should have perches the perches that you chickens use might be fine as long as the birds don't get to agressisve however box perches [ box shaped] or V- shaped perchs are suggested.

You can let pigeons that you have trained fly around I havn't had a problem with hawks. Although keepo an eye out and fly your rollers at different times, crows supposodly help and I have heard from some people that dark colored pigeons help as well.
They can be kept with small bantamn chickens although their may be some problems like the young squabs falling out of the nests and getting pecked.
They should be feed a well-balenced diet, I feed the Breeders mix before I used to feed them pellets. Acording to some corn should be added to the mix during the winter, black oil sunflowers are rich in protein and my Birmingham Rollers love them.

Also with chickens and pigeons they should be parisite free, with lice I give them a bath using human lice shampoo and some people worm their pigeons.
IF you are going to put a shallow bathing dish in the pigeons pen during the summer change it daily, and make sure no squabs fall in and drown.
Baby Pigeons are called squabs or squeakers [it depend if their going to get eatenin that case to some people their squabs] and should be feed by their parents, it is sometimes rather diffucult to hand raise the squabs because of the special nutrition they get when feed by their parents, Of all the 8 squabs I hand raised only one lived to breeding age. If you do decide to hand feed them if the parents were to die you could use Exact a formula ment for baby birds.

There is a website that is called " Pigeon Talk " just like this one , good people , people that will help you give the right medicines for sick birds etc ..... come join it also , you will be glad you did . Best wishes !