Wanting to get into pigeons(advice needed!)

[tacothechicken]

Hi guys! So recently I've been deciding what a good side hobby/extra cash activity that I may add to my collection and have been wanting to do pigeons! So we have a 1.5 surrounded by trees in our far pasture that I figured would be great for building a loft and flight area. I plan to use old pallets to great the loft structure as an 8x8' and use some 10 ft poles(left by previous owner) to set up a flight area. You'd enter the flight cage to reach the loft :/ but eh! Who cares lol. I'd have the traps on one side of loft, and perches boxes on the others. I also wasn't sure what breed would best fit? I know I want something showy and have been thinking tumblers or Owls, but would that be suitable for my set up? We luckily don't have a ton of hawks in our area due to ospray and eagles so a single coopers hawk should be the only Arial issue. All in all breed wise, I want something semi hardy, capable of handling hawks but also somewhat showy. (And ability to find home) so! What are you're suggestions?!!

 

[cavemanrich]

The Cooper hawk is probably the one most likely to get /catch your pigeons. It is a FAST bird. You have to deal with what ever is there BTW.
Build your loft secure to keep out other predators. I lost one of my flocks to a raccoon. Build you aviary to keep out aerial predators during the day. When you loft fly whatever breed you decide on, be prepared to loose some pigeons regardless.
Check out this thread. Hang out there as well. It has much good advice, and opinions. It is also frequented by a number of pigeon fanciers. It was started by a pigeon fancier that breathes pigeons. (as in every breath we take). Posts very much useful info there.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/pigeon-bulletin-board.1174207/
WISHING YOU BEST.....

 

[tacothechicken]

My auto correct hates me, please ignore the spelling mistakes! And here's a photo of the rough imagined layout

 

[cavemanrich]

I HEAR YOU ABOUT AUTO CORRECT. When I write in different languages, Google tries to correct me only to what it thinks should be English.
When you start building, post some pix of your progress. Ask questions at any stage you need some advice, or opinion.

 

[tacothechicken]

Haha yup! Oh I also wanted to know if I'd be good to have 2-3 ducks or bantams whith the birds? My flock currently are to omnivorious to be safe(they'd go for the chicks and chase the adults) but raised from babies alongside?

 

[biophiliac]

My auto correct hates me, please ignore the spelling mistakes! And here's a photo of the rough imagined layout

Looks good! 8x8 is a nice size.

Haha yup! Oh I also wanted to know if I'd be good to have 2-3 ducks or bantams whith the birds? My flock currently are to omnivorious to be safe(they'd go
for the chicks and chase the adults) but raised from babies alongside?

It's much better not to. High risk of pigeons being attacked by chickens, even bantams. Sorry ... :-(

If you expect this side hobby to bring in some cash, maybe you should think about white homers which you can rent out for weddings or ceremonial occasions. They are beautiful, home well and are better flyers to escape BOPs than the rollers(also a good choice but they don't home very far) or fancier breeds.
Update us on your progress if you can!

 

[tacothechicken]

@ biophiliac I kinda figured, it's why the loft is being set up in our far field(chicken coop in nearer field, but I'd don't doubt my current birds would go for some pigeon meat -_-) I was actually considering some white homers! But do you know if theres any difference in risk whith the bird being so noticable to predators or are they generally the same as long as theyve got the speed to escape? I know I'll lose some either way but is their any difference?

 

[tacothechicken]

Oh and ironically because I'm so indecisive my sister actually gave me inspiration! We have a old rabbit hutch that I can use for one or two fancy pairs and the loft will be for a homer/racer flock!

 

[cavemanrich]

Predator birds have good eyesight. White ,blue or red, still same as to predator." Food"
You may have heard the term, Eye of on Eagle. I think hawks have the best vision.

 

[Hokum Coco]

I want something semi hardy, capable of handling hawks but also somewhat showy.

Young homers or racers are your best bet when it comes to raising pigeons. They come in a variety of colours. It is a rule of thumb in most cases the showier the bird the less homing ability it will posses. There are always exceptions of course.

I do white dove releases this is a quick look at my set up.