Unplanned nest casuing problem in the pigeon loft.

[jak2002003]

I was away for a week, and a friend was caring for my 5 pigeons.

When I came home one pair has laid eggs and has a nest on the floor of the coop (as I don't breed them they don't have nest boxes).

The problem is that now this pair have claimed all the floor of the coop as they territory and the other 3 birds have to stay up on the perches. They can't come down to drink or feed!!!!

At the moment I am putting the nesting pair out of the coop while I feed and water the others 2 X a day, then I let the pair back in to brood their eggs.

I decided I would like a few more pigeons so I won't destroy the nest, but I am due to go away again next week, and worried the other 3 birds won't get to eat or drink when I am away.. and the person looking after them does not let them out.

Any ideas how to deal with this?

Thanks.

 

[cavemanrich]

In your coop/loft set up another flat plane temporarily about half way up. I don't have a visual of your loft, so am using my imagination.
There place feed and water that the 3 remaining can access.
The pair can use the bottom portion for their feed and water. The other area for the rest.
Your caretaker will just have to place things in 2 separate locations. No need for rocket science to do that.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[jak2002003]

In your coop/loft set up another flat plane temporarily about half way up. I don't have a visual of your loft, so am using my imagination.
There place feed and water that the 3 remaining can access.
The pair can use the bottom portion for their feed and water. The other area for the rest.
Your caretaker will just have to place things in 2 separate locations. No need for rocket science to do that.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Good idea, thank you. I do have space for a ledge... but I am really bad at DIY and have no tools!!! I found an old bit of wood, but have to work out a way to attach it... because its got to be strong enough for a water container and feeder.

 

[biophiliac]

Good idea, thank you. I do have space for a ledge... but I am really bad at DIY and have no tools!!! I found an old bit of wood, but have to work out a way to attach it... because its got to be strong enough for a water container and feeder.

I too like @cavemanrich 's idea. One other possibility is to drop down a cage over their nesting space, turning it into a closed breeding box. Something like this?

Or you could fashion some thing smaller out of 1x1 wire fencing and zip-ties, only tool needed would be tin snips.

 

[backyard pigeons]

Well it's gonna get old quick having to move the birds. So I would try to do what biophiliac mentioned. Or cave man rich has a good idea.

Another idea is to totally move the birds, to your garage shed etc. It's risky, they may abandon it, but all of these are risky. Good luck!

 

[biophiliac]

Good idea, thank you. I do have space for a ledge... but I am really bad at DIY and have no tools!!! I found an old bit of wood, but have to work out a way to attach it... because its got to be strong enough for a water container and feeder.

To avoid tool use, think if you have something like a small table(preferably a junker, lol) that you could set in there as a 'flat plane'. No tools needed.

 

[biophiliac]

Well it's gonna get old quick having to move the birds. So I would try to do what biophiliac mentioned. Or cave man rich has a good idea.

Another idea is to totally move the birds, to your garage shed etc. It's risky, they may abandon it, but all of these are risky. Good luck!

I probably would have moved them if they were mine. Never yet had an abandonment, if you don't count Doo abandoned by his 2 mommies at 10days old. But I know how much OP wants more whites and even a small risk is hard to contemplate.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Portion off one side for the nesting couple with a piece of chicken wire. Enclose a area for them.
Or purchase hanging feed dishes made for hanging on the side of cages.
Or purchase a separate breeding brooding cage.
The bigger question is do you want babies??
If so you’ll need to get prepared.
Or you could always take the egg away. Don’t let them lay/brood until you’re ready and have them set up. If this is their first egg there will be more to come. Pictures of your setup would be helpful for us to give more pinpoint suggestions. Best wishes

 

[backyard pigeons]

I probably would have moved them if they were mine. Never yet had an abandonment, if you don't count Doo abandoned by his 2 mommies at 10days old. But I know how much OP wants more whites and even a small risk is hard to contemplate.

Very true.

 

[jak2002003]

Hello. Thank you everyone for the replies. Some great advice.

Thought about some things.....

The drop over cage is a good idea. But have to go and buy one and a big one will be expensive. Also the female is super protective of her nest.. and when any other pigeon lands anywhere on the floor she rushes off her eggs to beat them up lol. If I put the cage on top she would still see the other birds and leave the nest.. which might make the eggs chill or squabs get injured.

I Have wire mesh left over from my aviary.. but again the same problem as the drop over cage.

The ledge is great idea. I think I can cut it into a triangle and fix in the corner using wire to wind around the coop supports. Only problem is how to make holes in the wood to thread the wire through.

Old chair, table.... love this idea. Annoyingly I threw away some small shelves last week!!!!!

So tomorrow I am going to search for an old stool or small table to pop in the corner... if I can not get one I will make the self somehow. Still have a few days before I go away so have time. Will let you all know what I do in the end.