UK pigeon owners

[kwhites634]

Yeah I'm native! I moved around alot. Mostly Europe. Never been over ' the pond'! I nearly got a driving job in Canada. It was some years back now. I regret not doing it but we'd just bought our first house and my wife was pregnant.

In any event, you appear to have been bitten hard, and as far as I know there's no cure. Enjoy your new friend, and welcome to the party.

 

[biophiliac]

I know nothing about pigeons, so forgive me for saying she looks like a common rafter/phone line sitting barn pigeon. What differentiates the two, other than breeding?

It is only the breeding, and the 'bracelet' of course. lol The same basic genetics exist in both. The ferals in America are descended from captives since Rock Doves are not a native species The Racing Homers have just been bred to develop certain traits more fully and reliably, ie speed and the desire and ability to return quickly for racing purposes. There are a lot of stray racers contributing to the feral gene pool and theoretically you could capture and band a nestling and it would be eligible to race. Comparable to racing a wild captured mustang against a thoroughbred horse.

 

[CCUK]

In any event, you appear to have been bitten hard, and as far as I know there's no cure. Enjoy your new friend, and welcome to the party.

Thanks! I just love being around my feathered friends! I'd never have thought about pigeons though but it's a real buzz when they come back! There is so much to learn about them and the different types. I quite like the roller pigeons but I'll take one thing at a time. Like getting a loft!

 

[kwhites634]

It is only the breeding, and the 'bracelet' of course. lol The same basic genetics exist in both. The ferals in America are descended from captives since Rock Doves are not a native species The Racing Homers have just been bred to develop certain traits more fully and reliably, ie speed and the desire and ability to return quickly for racing purposes. There are a lot of stray racers contributing to the feral gene pool and theoretically you could capture and band a nestling and it would be eligible to race. Comparable to racing a wild captured mustang against a thoroughbred horse.

It is only the breeding, and the 'bracelet' of course. lol The same basic genetics exist in both. The ferals in America are descended from captives since Rock Doves are not a native species The Racing Homers have just been bred to develop certain traits more fully and reliably, ie speed and the desire and ability to return quickly for racing purposes. There are a lot of stray racers contributing to the feral gene pool and theoretically you could capture and band a nestling and it would be eligible to race. Comparable to racing a wild captured mustang against a thoroughbred horse.

Must be a long process for someone starting from scratch, rather than going to someone who's already done the 'leg work'. Now, every time I see a pigeon anywhere I'll wonder if it's just on layover to it's home loft, & whether it'll get there without someone/something ending it all.

 

[kwhites634]

Thanks! I just love being around my feathered friends! I'd never have thought about pigeons though but it's a real buzz when they come back! There is so much to learn about them and the different types. I quite like the roller pigeons but I'll take one thing at a time. Like getting a loft!

Save yourself a lot of time & work; build it about 5 times larger than you figure you'll ever need.

 

[CCUK]

Must be a long process for someone starting from scratch, rather than going to someone who's already done the 'leg work'. Now, every time I see a pigeon anywhere I'll wonder if it's just on layover to it's home loft, & whether it'll get there without someone/something ending it all.

I've since found out that the biggest threat to pigeons here is peregrine falcons and red tail hawks. It does worry me now though if people are out on a pigeon shoot. You can't really distinguish the difference at a couple of hundred yards.

 

[CCUK]

Save yourself a lot of time & work; build it about 5 times larger than you figure you'll ever need.

Yeah
Its all I've done with the chickens since I got them! All its done is grown! I'm going to try and be a little bit more reserved with the pigeons though. Until I'm fully under the spell!

 

[biophiliac]

Yeah
Its all I've done with the chickens since I got them! All its done is grown! I'm going to try and be a little bit more reserved with the pigeons though. Until I'm fully under the spell!

In that case order some fake eggs to implement birth control or you will be over-run. I have 6 plastic pigeon eggs on hand for when enough is enough!

 

[kwhites634]

When I was raising & training bird dogs, we'd live trap barn pigeons to work young dogs on. Farmers are happy to be rid of them w/o having holes shot in their barn roofs, and dogs aren't likely to catch one just catapulted from a release trap.

 

[CCUK]

In that case order some fake eggs to implement birth control or you will be over-run. I have 6 plastic pigeon eggs on hand for when enough is enough!

I'll probably have less problems or worry with pigeons than I do with chickens!!