We have two homes...can I still own two Homing Pigeons?

[mcbekki]

I am thinking about purchasing two White homing Pigeons for a Hobby. I work at a High school in Illinois and have my summers off....which I spend at our summer home in Wisconsin. I have a great set up for the Pigeons at our summer home with a large dog run which I would turn into an Aviary and loft. However...the rest of the year I would have to move them back to Illinois. Is this possible...or do I need to find another hobby. We do return to our home in Wisconsin every week-end throughout the entire year when I am not living there....it is only an hour away. My thought is...I would only release the Pigeons and let them fly around outside of the coop in Wisconsin, during the summer months and vacation and on week-ends. When we are in Illinois they would be confined to a suitable size bird house (perhaps even indoors) but not let out of the cage. Any thoughts if this would work. I need to purchase the birds soon (squeakers) and they would start out in Illinois.

 

[jak2002003]

You could keep them.... but you could not let them out to fly.. or race them....

If you like white pigeons, whey not keep a pair of white ring neck doves? They are easy to take care of the don't need free flight outside the coop.

 

[mcbekki]

Could the white ring neck doves fly around the yard if they wanted to? Or do they strictly stay in the coop/avairy or cage? I really appreciate your reply...you have helped me make a wise decision. Bekki

 

[laughingdog]

White racing homers are a lot more hardy than white ringneck doves. Homers could be dual homed n stress less.

 

[jak2002003]

White racing homers are a lot more hardy than white ringneck doves. Homers could be dual homed n stress less.

Sorry, I don't understand what you mean..... what is dual homed n stress less?

To the OP...

Ring neck doves can not be let out of the aviary.. they will just fly away.. they don't have any homing instinct.

If you like the bigger pigeons there are some called Parlor Roller pigeons. They look the same as normal pigeons.. come in many colours.. but they can't actually fly.... so you can let them out of the coop and they will walk about the yard and do back flips. They are funny to watch. As they wont fly away you can take them to and from both you properties.. and let them out at both places.

Here is a link to a video of them its funny....

And here is a link to more serious info about them...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parlor_Roller

Also you could keep fancy show pigeons like giant kings. or Indian Fantails. They are happy to live all their lives in a big flight / coop. They Indian Fantails are very beautiful and friendly.

 

[Hokum Coco]

I am thinking about purchasing two White homing Pigeons for a Hobby. ..I would only release the Pigeons and let them fly around outside of the coop in Wisconsin, When we are in Illinois they would be confined to a suitable size bird house (perhaps even indoors NOT RECOMMENDED INDOORS HEALTH ISSUES TO HUMANS) but not let out of the cage. Any thoughts if this would work. I need to purchase the birds soon (squeakers) and they would start out in Illinois.

Good luck back yard buddy I think you have it well thought out.

Be especially aware of weasels they wiped my flock completely out this winter in one attack. They can gain access through a very small opening when prey is a reward.

Expect your homers to fly back to Wisconsin if they should some how escape Illinois

It is best to fly your birds hungry on their first training flights and tosses.
I fly early in the morning (release before 1000 hrs when training) and take away their feed around 1700hrs and do not allow them any breakfast.

Upon their arrival they only have enough feed for ½ the flock which inspires completion with in the loft to return first.

I should add that I have been exposed to pigeons for years as a child and now as a senior and never developed any health issues yet. That being said health professionals now advise dust mask when handling pigeons and cleaning their lofts especially. I have yet to take their advise. When it comes to cleaning their loft I plan to take heed from this moment on however.

For me personally once you have owned a homing pigeon that has flown home from over 600 miles away to its mate and home anything else in a dove or pigeon is just something to make you wish you had a Homer !!!

Check out this link for a peak at my pigeon set up:
http://globalnews.ca/news/1478351/carrier-pigeons-continue-to-connect-family/

 

[mcbekki]

That video was just beautiful...thank you for sharing it. Your granddaughter is so sweet. You are a very blessed man. So...I think I will have to continue my research. I would love to get the Rock Dove (Homing Pigeon)...but these are my thoughts: My summer vacation does not start until June 5th so the Homing Pigeons would have to start out in Illinois as youngins' in a small outdoor coop. However, going to Wisconsin on the week-ends in a larger coop and Avairy...the Avairy is a revamped dog run that is 20 ft. x 4 ft. wide and 6 ft. tall. with an attached dog house with opening and venting...slanted roof that lifts for cleaning. MY QUESTION: I would not be releasing or training the birds in Illinois...only in WISCONSIN, so, do the birds home back to the first place they are trained and released...or the first "coop" they are placed in (Illinois) even thought they were never let out.????? I am planning on putting a trap door on the coop in Wisconsin...just in case they escape in Illinois...they will be able to get back to the coop. We have neighbors and we are only an hour away. I just don't want them homing to Illinois.

 

[laughingdog]

Dual homed means they could be taught to fly back and fourth. feed at one n water at another, or feed n water at one n nest at another, or a nest at each (females lay again two weeks after last pair hatch, male mostly then caring for two week olds on).

 

[laughingdog]

ringnecks can be free flown, but are not nearly as great a fliers. Hookbills can also be taught to be free flown, just to throw that out there..

Parlor rollers can fly until three months old when/start to get grounded (careful as they may roll down at that time). grounded ones shouldn't be given more than twenty inches in hight of cage, and wire floors with block soft wood perches (i breed them), as they may try to fly ptherwise in cage and injure self, each other, n especially eggs n young when nesting starts at first. young do better being trained to fly as birmingham rollers do, as build muscle, control better of roll/prevents just crazily spazing at any and all stimuli,making a much calmer bird all around.

Hocum coco is very knowledged in homers and a valuable resource about them.
homers sometimes depending on strains can be retrained, but some home to were raised whether or not they've been released, some home to where they are trained n flown from, some home to where they nest, some home to were to trained that mate at wherever they are.

 

[Hokum Coco]

MY QUESTION: I would not be releasing or training the birds in Illinois...only in WISCONSIN, so, do the birds home back to the first place they are trained and released...or the first "coop" they are placed in (Illinois) even thought they were never let out.????? In a perfect world Wisconsin will be their home. That being said I bought a excellent Belgium blood line adult white homer (adult makes a big difference they sometimes have to held prisoner the rest of their lives) from a fancier about 100 miles away. I raised young with that Homer from January 23rd to May 20th (3 batches). According to the fancier who I trust he told me he was never flown outside the loft. Long story short he got out on me in May around suppertime and was back home the next morning for breakfast over 100 miles away.

If your homers start raising young in Illinois and call it home for what ever reason. It might be interesting to see what happens. Pigeons get to know their fancier (at least mine did they fly to me when I enter the loft for treats) so it maybe even something different then laughing dog said you might have dual homing birds that call either place home once they are transported there.

I have no experience in that situation. I do know you can get birds to home to two separate locations by feed in one and nesting in another (it is a drawn out process). This is a flght one homer made after it was sold to a buddy. I told him never to let him out 728 miles by car.

Check out the link: https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/251+...e131dd15ed!2m2!1d-75.6971931!2d45.4215296!3e0

Here is another Video a reporter did on me and our homers:
http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=480823&binId=1.1145729&playlistPageNum=1