UK pigeon owners

[CCUK]

Where are you considering housing those new arrivals?
Is there any drawback to keeping them (integrating them) into loft with the homers? And do you think the new ones are homer grade, or mixed mutts that may not have good homing skills?
One of my previous batches were pretty birds, and looked like homers, and were not rollers since I observed them flying with no acrobatics. Definitely were not High Flyers, LAZY AS 7734, and when scattered by a hawk, always a few (2 or 3) never returned. Never seen a hawk get one, but if it did, it would only be one.
I guess their homing skills were very weak.
Now I'm thinking that these may have been somehow inter-bred together with some white King Pigeons. Kings are not homing grade, but do come in really nice white feathering. (those I see around me are white)
Mine were not large though, so it is still a mystery.

Hey caveman. They are in the loft with the rest. All mine are vaccinated so they should be OK against any nasties. I'm thinking that the white one may have homer in it. It's size and demeanor are about right. It is incredibly flighty and gates me catching it when I put it in the settling cage and when it's in it it's very active. I'm not sure it will settle but I have a few tricks up my sleeve to try. I hope it does stay. I really love the colours. It reminds me of that urban camouflage! The Ash red I'm sure has no or very little homer blood in it. She is far too tame. I can pick her straight up and she doesn't struggle whatsoever when I hold her. I think that she will settle but I don't know if I will fly her with the rest as I don't want her getting lost. If I could pair her with one of my single males maybe i could get a red bar? I know someone who is selling some belgian racers so if it doesn't work out I'll buy some more. And squeak is on the nest but no eggs yet!

 

[CCUK]

And squeak is on the nest but no eggs yet!

Correction....squeak has layed one egg! hopefully another tomorrow!

 

[biophiliac]

Correction....squeak has layed one egg! hopefully another tomorrow!

Yay! More photo ops coming soon!

 

[CCUK]

Squeaks babies hatched Tuesday!

That's the good news. The bad news is what causes a pigeon to destroy and eat its own eggs? Both of ash's eggs have been busted open and the contents devoured. I'm thinking it was #66 as I saw him with broken shell stuck to his breast and egg around his beak. Normally I'd say it could be a calcium or mineral deficiency but they get a mixed mineral grit and 11 in 1 conditioner in the water. The feed is good quality with all the bits they need. If the eggs were bad or infertile then they would still sit on them then abandon them, right? I'm at a loss.

 

[backyard pigeons]

Squeaks babies hatched Tuesday!
View attachment 1828960
That's the good news. The bad news is what causes a pigeon to destroy and eat its own eggs? Both of ash's eggs have been busted open and the contents devoured. I'm thinking it was #66 as I saw him with broken shell stuck to his breast and egg around his beak. Normally I'd say it could be a calcium or mineral deficiency but they get a mixed mineral grit and 11 in 1 conditioner in the water. The feed is good quality with all the bits they need. If the eggs were bad or infertile then they would still sit on them then abandon them, right? I'm at a loss.

Yay for sqeaks babies!

Sorry about the other eggs though. Your right, if they were infertile they would eventually just give up. I wonder if they didn't think they could successfully raise babies if any of the cocks were messing with them?

 

[CCUK]

Yay for sqeaks babies!

Sorry about the other eggs though. Your right, if they were infertile they would eventually just give up. I wonder if they didn't think they could successfully raise babies if any of the cocks were messing with them?

I have no idea. #66 wasn't the best of parents. He did start spending time on the nest but could be a little aggressive toward Ash though. I'll leave the nest and she may lay another clutch.

 

[Hokum Coco]

What causes a pigeon to destroy and eat its own eggs?

I never yet had that occur with any of my pigeons yet (eating of eggs). That being said if its young birds breeding and its their first clutch its likely that they are inexperienced and clumsy. In other words they accidentally smash them. Another reason is the first clutch can have thin shells even if calcium is provided. And it could be a combination of the two.

A lot of mishaps happen with the first and even second clutch of eggs.

 

[CCUK]

I never yet had that occur with any of my pigeons yet (eating of eggs). That being said if its young birds breeding and its their first clutch its likely that they are inexperienced and clumsy. In other words they accidentally smash them. Another reason is the first clutch can have thin shells even if calcium is provided. And it could be a combination of the two.

A lot of mishaps happen with the first and even second clutch of eggs.

This was probably ash's first clutch. #66 has sat on eggs before but I always swapped them out as he paired with his sister. She was lost when the 5 went missing from the loft flight. I will let them sit if she lays again. Or I could switch them out and let another pair sit on them. I'll see what happens.

 

[cavemanrich]

Hard to keep track of all the pigies unless I would keep a spreadsheet.
Did not see any updates on the 3 missing commandos , and the confused hen from Lincoln. Did she make it back to here origins???
And,,,,,,,,,, did you get any stray ferals that want to live with you.
DW gave me the green lite to add these 2 almost pigeons to my flock. Will be here by weekend or so.

Spoiler: Fowl

My pigeon loft is still on hold at moment. I would want a loft like Bio has. Freestanding, and well ventilated. Don't want to deal with the pigeon dust inside garage.

 

[CCUK]

Hard to keep track of all the pigies unless I would keep a spreadsheet.
Did not see any updates on the 3 missing commandos , and the confused hen from Lincoln. Did she make it back to here origins???
And,,,,,,,,,, did you get any stray ferals that want to live with you.
DW gave me the green lite to add these 2 almost pigeons to my flock. Will be here by weekend or so.

Spoiler: Fowl

My pigeon loft is still on hold at moment. I would want a loft like Bio has. Freestanding, and well ventilated. Don't want to deal with the pigeon dust inside garage.

Hi caveman. I've seen nothing from the three missing birds so I'm assuming they are lost. I didn't receive any paperwork from the Lincoln pigeon and the guy never phoned me, so I never bothered chasing him up. I'm thinking that it may have gone back to him and he hadn't filled in the paperwork so he may have just kept it. Either way I don't think it will be a reliable bird now. It's gone missing too many times. I'm trying to keep the feral away from my loft and birds now. I'm concerned about nasties getting in. Mine are all vaccinated, apart from the babies, but it won't stop mites or lice getting in! My two squabs look like they're doing good.

I think that my wish for colour may happen, they seem to have white flights! I'm not to sure on the rest of them, when they're a bit older I'll see how much comes through on the rest of the feathers.
It will be a great thing if you can get your loft sorted again. The stand alone lofts should help clear alot of dust. Mine still gets fairly dandery especially behind the nest bowls!
Your pictures didn't show up I'm guessing you got more hens!