Thinking of keeping homing pigeons

[GinaTheDuck]

The title says it all! I'm thinking of staring keeping homing pigeons, I've wanted to since I was little and figured I'd find out some info on how much space they would need, what the loft would need to be like, how much time they would require/day and how much it would cost to care for them. If you guys have any info to share with a newbie that would be super appreciated! And I would love to see photos of your pigeons and what your experiences keeping them are like!

 

[backyard pigeons]

Awesome! We LOVE new fanciers! (that's what pigeon people are called). You should get some, your not regret It!

how much space they would need

it depends. are you going to be flying them? I would recommend for a starter lkft, to do a 4×8 ft ine. That could house up to 16-20 birds of you are dedicated to scraping perches. If you are really jumping in, I would do two 4×8 lofts, one for breeding pigeons, and one for flying pigeons. But two lofts aren't a must. I used one tiny loft for a year!

what the loft would need to be like

the bigger the better! you will not regret the extra space. It will need lots of South facing ventilation. Do around a 6 inch strip of hardware cloth on the bottom, and about a 6 inch strip on top. this makes good airflow, without drafts and I like to make removable Windows risk that they get slot more ventilation during the summer. Inside the loft, you will need perches, and nesting boxes. There are several types of perches, my favorites are box perches and V perches. They can both be easily made. If you are breeding birds your I'll need nesting boxes. A 16inch by 2 ft one is perfect. They can make their own nest with straw, or you can give them a bowl. This can be an old dog bowl, just to keep the eggs in the nest.

how much time they would require/day and how much it would cost to care for them.

it depends. How many birds are you thinking? I have 40 birds, and am out there three hours a day, but that's because they are so much fun! The fourty I have would only need an hour a day tops, to keep them alive and healthy. You need to scrape the perches a clean if droppings once a day, as well as change water twice a day.

And I would love to see photos of your pigeons and what your experiences keeping them are like!

you asked the right person! I have never heard anyone say that they regret getting pigeons, so just go for it! My experience is great, the community is always ready to get someone new in the hobby. Here are some pics of my lofts and birds. ask any more questions you need to!

 

[backyard pigeons]

Forgot to answer how much they cost to take care of... With fourty birds, it cost about 40 dollars a month to feed them, but that's because I mix my own feed. And I buy a thing of straw about once every two months, so that's ten dollars. They grit last forever, but it can be pricey. Fifty pounds for about twenty dollars. and then there are meds, supplements, bands etc. All in all, I spend about 60 a month... that's alot, but again I have about 40 birds. I don't cut corners, but I make my own stuff to save money. I don't buy feeders, I make them. I don't buy perches, training cages etc, I make them. so, I try to keep it cheap, but it is a expensive hobby. The biggest money saver is...taking apart pallets for coops! I built several doing that.

 

[GinaTheDuck]

I totally forgot to post the final loft! They seem pretty happy with it since the check x almond pair immediately claimed a nestbox and the white pair started mating within 10 minutes of being put in there lmao. Do you guys think I will get babies from them soon? I'm putting in nesting bowls today

 

[cavemanrich]

I was thinking of starting real small

That is the route to take. If things do not work like you thought, then small is much easier to decommission.
I suggest to start out with about 4 pigeons. The loft does not need to be very big. Build an aviary so pigeons can exercise in.
Not sure of how your home, and backyard are. I have used a screen-house as an aviary in the past. That is not predator proof of course, but you can build yourself a small loft the can be predator proof. Make sure that pigeons are locked up for the night. That is when most of the predator concerns exist.
Find your pigeons from someone local,,,,, or at least reasonable travel distance. When you do go to pick them up,,, ask some more questions from that pigeon keeper. Look over that persons loft, and aviary,, to get ideas what works in your area.
When you do get lets say 4 pigeons, It is fine to house them in a large dog crate for a short time, until you do have more permanent housing finished.
This is the kind I have in mind. The larger ,,,,the better. Keep inside protected area, like garage over night. You can place outdoors in shade during daytime.

Obviously cage minus FIDO.

I have many more ideas, but would rather answer more specific questions, than just rattle away enough to write a short book.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[GinaTheDuck]

Thank you! I sent a couple messages to people selling homers on craigslist near where I live so hopefully I'll hear back soon! What size loft would you recommend for just 2 pairs? And how many pigeons do you think it'll be able to accommodate total? And do you know anything about how you start training them? I know I'll have to wait until they have babies and just train the babies, but beyond that do I just show them the way back in the loft and after a few days of learning the area release them a mile or two away and go out from there?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Don't let the ones you buy get loose. Ones born on your area will be okay since that is 'home'.

We had a 4Her a few years ago that got a pair and the judge let one loose since it's a homing pigeon and will go home. Except their home wasn't the 4Her's

 

[GinaTheDuck]

How do you prevent them from breeding? And I just picked a couple pairs up! My boyfriend and I are starting on building the loft, this is all so exciting!

 

[GinaTheDuck]

Oops I'm so sorry I missed your earlier message saying to replace eggs! I got these guys from a very nice fellow on craigslist not too far from where I live. I also got a checkered male to pair with the almond and a pure white one to put with the mostly white one. Thank you for the link to the fake eggs, I'll be ordering some of those soon. Do you have any advice for getting them to pair up lol? I was thinking maybe putting one pair into the new loft and keeping one in the current cage (it's 64sq ft so its not exactly cramped temporary quarters just not what I'd prefer to have them in) for a couple weeks so they can get um "cozy" with each other. Would that work well?

 

[GinaTheDuck]

I think one pair are pretty young, I know they hatched this year, the other pair I believe are at least a couple years old, he said they have been good breeders for him.