Well, we've taken the plunge... Our first pigeon

[Crazyland]

I went to a flock swap at a feedstore today. Been wanting to go for a while but never remembered. I got the chance to go alone and that was probably my first mistake.
Many beautiful birds but I didn't like the prices or I had to buy a rooster that I didn't want. Bought a rabbit as an "oh! It's so cute and fluffy" purchase.
I didn't plan on going into the feedstore but they had advertised as having a petting zoo inside.
Curiosity killed me here.
I went inside and as I was lookin over their stock I saw pigeons. Wasn't impressed with them but they planted a seed cause I knew the hubby one day wanted some. I got to the end of the cages and there was this one lonely pigeon. The rest had already been sold.
I kept staring at it. Wrestling with the "omg I would be so dead but wouldn't he love it!" goin round and round in my head.
I brought it home and hubby is happy in his own man of few words way. Lol

So fb peeps think it is an old German owl pigeon. But it has a colored tail that in the standard doesn't jive. Also it has feathered feet.
What are your guesses?
And sex of the pigeon? Hubby really wants to know this.
Yes it has a green tag on its leg. Will learn what that means shortly.

 

[gunnarwordon]

ah..... that old chestnut. This is how I got into the hobby, too! I went with fellow BYC member "chrisf" to the Northeastern Poultry "Congress" and found my first beautiful fantail.
My advice...
build a simple cage. I took an old armoire and replaced the doors with chicken wire. Then I put in a few sticks for perches and two bowls of food (one mounted, one on the ground) and two food (mounted, and grounded).
Let them out. They get dirty and unhealthy when left in the cage all day. Also, CHANGE THE NEWSPAPER EVERY DAY. I cannot stress that enough........

 

[Crazyland]

We are building an outdoor aviary for them.
Hubby is German and used to outdoor aviaries for birds. We had our wedding reception at a bird club there.

 

[gunnarwordon]

oh, isn't that cute. Is it a German Beauty pigeon? Those are very nice birds indeed. What are you feeding them? "Pigeon Feed" or a homeade "Trail Mix"? I do about 2 cups of peas, 4 cups of cracked corn, and then about 1.5 cups of our local feed stores "house blend" and a 1/2 cup of sunflower seeds for a snack. They say to feed them grit, but I haven't done that yet.

 

[Crazyland]

Don't really know 100% what it is.
We are feeding a mix right now: starter, wild bird, game bird, scratch, fresh veggies/beans. Monday I will be going to my feed store to see what they have for pigeon feed. Where I bought the bird, they wanted $33 for a small bag.

 

[gunnarwordon]

Don't buy "pigeon feed". It's obscenely overpriced. I like just cracked corn for most of my pigeons. They love it too. Cheap and easy.
They love Sunflower seeds. Get them some. Now. They will go crazy.

 

[gunnarwordon]

Doesn't look like a german owl to me. Maybe. But the feathered feet could just be selective breeding. How much was this one again, if i don't sound rude?

 

[Crazyland]

I paid $10 for him. All pigeons were $10. The other ones they had were homers. This was the last one that looked like this. The rest were sold earlier that morning. I was told one had a lot of feathers on his feet.
The newest guess I read was a satin-something-er-other. Still learning names.
I'm not interested in spending $160 on a breeding pair just to accidentally loose one to a hawk. So I'll stick to cheap birds I find here or there. Lol

 

[gunnarwordon]

I concur. I bought my first pigeon for 5 dollars. She is in my profile picture. She is a fantail. My other (West) was 7. We bought them at the Northeastern Poultry "Congress". I wouldn't spend more than 20 on a bird, and even that is pushing it......

 

[larrylofts]

the bird pictured is a classic old frill the new modern frill hhas a beak so short that it can not raise its young have to have feeders or fosters to raise them. the old classic is becomeing very popular the color and the gentle nature makes them very good birds for beginers go the the classic old frill .com see more birds and info