The Homer's Back! What To Do?

[TehLizardKing]

Anyhoo, a few months back, we had a checkered blue homer visit our garden. After a long period of laying a line of corn into the evacuated sablepoot coop, I eventually got her in. I picked her up, and was carrying her into a holding cage to decide what to do next, when Gandalf the cockerel, obviously under the impression that the monstrous bird was attempting to kill me, promptly kicked it out of my hands, and I only saw her once after that.

Today, a bird that looks suspiciously familiar has alighted on top of the barns. It seems to be her (but I may be wrong), so I put out some chick crumb (out of corn, a trip to the feed store is in order) and a bowl of water. She didn't fly away when I got close, which is a development from before if it is her, but I don't want o scare her as I had learned from before you only really get one chance to catch the blighters!

What happened before was she sat on top of the barn for day, and next morning was scratching about with the poultry in the courtyard. I was wondering how to catch her, because I don't think she'll fall for the same method again. I'll contact the owner, and if he decides to neck her (she's got lost twice now) I may be the proud owner of a lovely new bird!

Thanks y'all!

 

[Hokum Coco]

The homer may make a lovely pet however she is weak on homing instinct.

It may be a late bloomer too.

You will only get within 15 to 20 feet of her now.

I would go with the same approach as last time with the twist of having the door close with a rope from a short distance away.

Good Luck!

TehLizardKing.

 

[TehLizardKing]

Thanks loads Hokum Coko!

I got her! I have no idea what happened, but yesterday she was just sat on the handrail of the deck, staring in through the window. I thought I better not sneak up behind her, so approached her from the front, with a handful of corn. I got within a foot of her, and she stood up and stretched her neck out towards me! I offered up the corn, and she flew down onto my arm, proceeding to scoff the corn. I carried her, still eating, over to my half completed half aviary half shed and set her down in a small parrot cage while I figured out what to do with this beautiful bird.

This morning, she looked a lot better, and honked noisily, although did not flap when I picked her up. I set her down on the table next to my temporary quail cage. I'll put her back in the cage at night, but I don't want her to be confined all day. The aviary should be finished by this Sunday, so she can go in there with my 'tiel and finches. Btw it is huge, so there shouldn't be any problems with that. Oh yeah, what do I feed her? is cracked corn + wheat ok?

She's a Blue check pied. I would go and take a pic, but I think I would be beaten to a pulp by the rain. She bears a striking resemblance to this bird:






thanks Hokum!

 

[Hokum Coco]

I feed my White Homers chicken egg layer pellets at the start of the breeding season.

When the squabs arrive I switch over to Meat builder it is higher in protein.

Their as many diets as there are pigeon fanciers practically.

That is what works for me I just have my birds for my own enjoyment and white dove releases in my community.

I do not race my birds competitively like some fanciers.

In a perfect world all my homers should be snow white according to their parents. However it is not a perfect world.

I would give her 3 weeks to a month before I would release her if it were me.

Homers are very unpredictable when it comes to changing lofts. I would guess this bird is a 2013 squab and just a late bloomer.

A clutch of eggs would ensure loyalty. Good luck in what ever you decide TehLizardKing.

Avoid getting homers that have been flown. They usually end up prisoner the rest of their lives.

If you get a mature bird I would have it raise at least 3 clutches of eggs before I would release him (take it from some body that knows).














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[TehLizardKing]

Thank you SO much Hokum. If I post a pic of the bird will you possibly be able to sex it for me? I just assumed it was a hen (don't know why) And if it is a girl, how do you suggest I go about getting her to sit? Do I wait for her to go 'broody' as it would be in a hen, then put some hatching eggs under her, or acquire a cock and let nature take it's course? Also, if 'she' is a cock, how do I get her to accept her new home? Do I just wait three months, then open the door, or is there another process?

Sorry for all the questions, and thanks for everything so far

.

 

[Hokum Coco]

Acquire a cock and let nature take it's course? Also, if 'she' is a cock, how do I get her to accept her new home? Do I just wait three months, then open the door, or is there another process?

Sorry for all the questions, and thanks for everything so far

.

The only way to sex pigeons in my estimation is ask another pigeon.

This is done by watching them interact with in a flock dynamic.

Even then mistakes are often made.

Male Pigeons are usually larger, brighter, and bolder than hens.

Also try a mirror if the pigeons coo's or pecks at the reflection it should be a male but if it does not it should be a female because they don't react to there own image.

I could give you a guess if you posted an image (that is all it would be). I am right 80% of the time.

Opening the door after 3 months may work for you. By the same token once she has regained her strength she may orientate herself and find a bearing back to her point of origin (I doubt it though). I think your odds would increase if you found a mate before releasing your bird.

I would bring your bird to a fancier and have him release the bird in his loft and watch for gender displays.

This is a link showing a male pigeon courting:

 

[TehLizardKing]

Soz, for some reason it won't let me post a pic. But I've discovered he is a boy, as he sits for sometimes 10 minutes at a time just cooing his head off and inflating his throat loads!

. (He also attempted to mate with a brick.)

There is one problem though. When he was in the small holding cage, he was close to my hand and so kind of forced himself to eat out of it. Unfortunately, now he's in the aviary, and he has to eat out of a feeder about half of his height, as opposed to my hand next to his face, he doesn't seem to be able to actually swallow any food. I've tried him with cracked corn, layers pellets and peanuts. He absolutely loves peanuts, but he can't eat them or the layers pellets unless it's out of my hand, which he now won't do! I'm not sure about the corn 'cos I haven't actually seen him try it yet. He picks food up fine, then mumbles it in his beak for a second, and drops it again! I hope it's not PMV, although if it was that he wouldn't be able to pick up food at all, right?

Anyway, if it's cos of an illness, i'll separate him from the other birds, but i'd like to know what it is anyway, so I can sort him out.

Thanks Hokum!

 

[laughingdog]

Ive had, and right now have a squeaker that did that exactly. maybe just picky, maybe don't like texture, maybe just not familiar with type or size of feed, maybe hasn't learned to eat right yet on own or used to/need need deeper feeder at first. current one was attacked by older birds crammed in pigeon peddler's crates till sale, and was too young to be away from parents care. had to use deep narrow little pudding cups for feeders again, put on straight layer or chick/gamebird and water fowl feed so know not bother after days, and start out hand feeding right from feeder so sees you manuvering feed pellets in fingers (your beak to it as it watches), then gently put your nail slightly between its beak to get to open just enough to put pellet in back of throat on the bird's right side. it'll taste and get hungry and after minutes each time then start picking at your hand and feeder. do this till see fourth cup of feed each day gone once or twice a dau for days to week.

 

[TehLizardKing]

Thanks Laughingdog, It's good to hear from someone who actually experienced the same problem for once

.

Guess i'll have him in the parrot cage again for a couple of hours, that's the only way i'll ever get him to eat out of my hand again. I'll have my work cut out

.
Today I was trying him with everything, couldn't live with myself if he starved. The only thing I found he would eat today was budgie millet! God, at least all birds love that. I'll go out and change his corn for some chick crumb in a mo, and hope he decides to actually eat a portion of food that is larger than a tablespoon serving!

I've had to separate the quail from him, and am now building a pen for them. He was a little...um...TOO friendly with them

. The finches decided to snuggle under his wing today, and Kawaii the cockatiel hasn't bitten him at all today. The introduction is going ok!