Where to buy and how to care for pigeons?

[Duck Joe]

How do I train them to return home? Do they only return in the evening?

 

[cavemanrich]

How do I train them to return home? Do they only return in the evening?

A few things that do affect pigeon keeping. Also the type of pigeons that you want to get. There are about a dozen or more common pigeon breeds, that peeps raise, and then there are the rest 400 or so breeds that are just classified, but not commonly raised by fanciers.
So let me tackle your question.
Training to return home is done/started with new/young pigeons at about 4 weeks old. They are let out hungry, and they will only go into your backyard, not far away. An aviary with a pigeon trap in needed so that Junior will see parent, and decide to come home for food. They still are fed by parent dad, for maybe 2 more weeks. Once Junior knows the ins and outs of returning to aviary, he may take longer flights, and still return after short time. Always train them hungry. Once they are homeset well, you can release hungry, or fed, and they will return home. This referred to as loft flying. All pigeons that I know, are capable of loft flying. If you want pigeons to return from further distances, you need to raise HOMERS.
If you have some of the fancy breeds like rollers, high flyers, fantails, owls, archangels, etc, they will loft fly, but if they go too far from home, like a hawk chase, they may not find home, and get lost.
Most loft flying pigeons will fly around, and then return to their loft area, and if not hungry, will chill in the trees and rooftops. Not an all day adventure flying away from sight.
Many peeps here choose to loft fly their pigeons hungry, so after the whatever duration of flying time, they enter loft and eat. That is the suggested method of keeping pigeons. Keeps them safe from raptor attacks.
Ask anything else you need to find out.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[Duck Joe]

Their coop would be 5×2×2 is that big enough for them if they free fly?

 

[backyard pigeons]

Their coop would be 5×2×2 is that big enough for them if they free fly?

Their coop has to be at least three feet wide for them to be able to flap their wings, which is a must. Could you do a 4×3×3?

 

[Duck Joe]

Their coop has to be at least three feet wide for them to be able to flap their wings, which is a must. Could you do a 4×3×3?

Yes

 

[Duck Joe]

Would purina game bird chow be ok to feed them?

 

[backyard pigeons]

Would purina game bird chow be ok to feed them?

No. To much protein. They really need grain in my opinion. 12-15%protien. Just buy a pre mixed bag. It will last a long time with just two pigeons.
I hope this helps!