What do people do with feral pigeons?

[Kessel23]

There are several ads like this on Craigslist in my area that offer free removal of feral pigeons. I don't have any feral pigeons but I am wondering what the use for them is. Do they just use them for meat or target practice or what?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

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There are several ads like this on Craigslist in my area that offer free removal of feral pigeons. I don't have any feral pigeons but I am wondering what the use for them is. Do they just use them for meat or target practice or what?

Some people keep them as their own stock (My friend actually used to own most of the feral ones here. She let the ones she didn't like go every year since by then they were too old to eat

 

[backyard pigeons]

They are likely sold for dog training. The trainers that get dogs borded to them buy lots of pigeons. They will sell their pigeons for about $2 each to the trainer if they buy a whole bunch. They may also be kept as pets or eaten...

 

[Kessel23]

They are likely sold for dog training. The trainers that get dogs borded to them buy lots of pigeons. They will sell their pigeons for about $2 each to the trainer if they buy a whole bunch. They may also be kept as pets or eaten...

It must be that then because that guy has a whole load of crates on that trailer. My grandpa has some feral pigeons in his silo, do they have any use as pets? Can you fly them or do anything with them? I have some rollers, racing homers, and 2 breeds of fancy pigeons. Just got into them all a few months ago.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Feral ones, no. Besides pets and breeding for squab meat, no use

 

[backyard pigeons]

It must be that then because that guy has a whole load of crates on that trailer. My grandpa has some feral pigeons in his silo, do they have any use as pets? Can you fly them or do anything with them? I have some rollers, racing homers, and 2 breeds of fancy pigeons. Just got into them all a few months ago.

yes! you can free fly them if you catch them when young. You can breed them, and you could start a color project with them! Or try to breed something like, a smaller overall appearance. They could be a fun experiment.

Feral ones, no. Besides pets and breeding for squab meat, no use

what do you mean? They have endless opportunity!

 

[MarkJr]

I used to gather them up and sell to a dog trainer for 2.50 each. As many as I could get. I’d get paid by the farmer/rancher to thin them out. Typically 10 bucks a dozen.

I made pretty decent money at it during summer evenings and weekends all through high school. It was my’side hustle’ before it was actually a thing. I’d get 50-60 a weekend. Slow night would be 10-15

 

[Kessel23]

yes! you can free fly them if you catch them when young. You can breed them, and you could start a color project with them! Or try to breed something like, a smaller overall appearance. They could be a fun experiment.
what do you mean? They have endless opportunity!

I will have to check out his silo next time I visit. Is there much risk for bringing in disease or anything if I do take from a feral population? Other than mites, I am used to treating lots of new birds for those.

 

[MrFluffyandGirls]

If a paid trapper got them then probably bait for other traps or pig feed.

 

[biophiliac]

I will have to check out his silo next time I visit. Is there much risk for bringing in disease or anything if I do take from a feral population? Other than mites, I am used to treating lots of new birds for those.

As I have a shortage of hens, I have permitted bachelor cocks to bring home mates from a nearby feral flock. No disease problems whatsoever.