Would love to keep Pigeons, and have some questions! :-)

[StarSpun]

Hi all!

So I'm a crazy chicken lady who wants to also become a crazy pigeon lady
I've always loved pigeons, and now that hubby and I are settled down a bit, we'd love to keep them and perhaps even start a dove release business!

So, we have a house in Niagara Falls, Canada for the summers and a house in Merritt Island, Fl for the winters. Care takers are at both spots for when we are at the other home, and all our chickens are taken care of, so the pigeons wouldn't be a problem

Here are my questions:

1. Housing in Canada....what is the best option? I have an add on room on the north side of my house that we will be keeping our silkies in. (It's a mudroom more or less) I've seen mixed feelings about keeping chickens and pigeons together, but I'd think my silkie hens would be ok and not too aggressive. I'll have an automatic door for everyone to exit from into a small run and could make a separate door for the pigeons for the daytime that can be locked up at night. I could also have a door higher up in the run that the silkies couldn't get out of, but the pigeons could when I wanted them to fly free.
If it's not a good idea for them to be housed together, I could probably just do a separate enclosure outside for the pigeons. The thing is, the front mudroom of the house would be warm in the winter, so that would be a reason for housing them together. It may be possible to separate an area inside, although it may be tricky due to the shape and size....

2. Males and females....I want to breed them, and I hear they mate for life. I've seen videos and posts that talk about/show the males and females in separate pens. Why is this? Wouldn't that be mean not letting them pair up?

3. Housing them in florida....I have standard chickens there, so I wouldn't be putting them all in the same area. I have a setup with my chickens where their coops are in a bigger andvery predator proofed run with an automatic door. This way, in the winters when it is chilly, they sleep in the coops but in the hotter summers, they sleep on top of them or on the perches I've placed in different areas of the run. Would a smaller similar setup work for the pigeons or do they need to have a fully enclosed coop with good ventilation?

4. Are pigeons more so creatures of habit? For example, if I let them out free range everyday, but then on days where am travelling, they are just allowed in the run. Would this be a bad thing?

I think that's it for now. Thanks so much in advance

 

[cavemanrich]

I keep both chickens and pigeons, but currently do not have any pigeons. Will get some soon. Last batch got eaten by predator (cat). Previous batch got eaten by hawks, as some also ran away, Previous to that batch, which was my dream come true flock was eaten when a raccoon got into loft. I am ready to fortify my loft so it does not happen.
In loft, pigeons lived year round. During winter I also housed my pet chickens there. They were able to be together with no problems of aggression. I did separate them inside, for other reasons. Pigeons need different feed than chickens. If together, the chickens would gobble up pigeon seeds first, quicker than treats and scratch. Pigeons can live on chicken feed, but they tend to not want to eat it. I don't think your pigeons would thrive. When you get baby pigeons hatched, the parents do nurse them. I fear that chickens seeing those pink little things in a nest could simply devour them. They don't feather out for at least 2 weeks.
You mention that you would like to free fly them. In order to do that it takes some training. Not done correctly , and they do not return. The other very important part of free flying are HAWKS. Hawks are everywhere, so danger always present. I can explain more on ways to free fly pigeons if you need to find out more about it.
The pigeons that you first acquire will be your breeding stock. You will pretty much need to keep them prisoners, (term used by pigeon fanciers). If given a chance, they will return home. There are stories of such returns 10 years later. Your new young pigeons that are properly homeset, will keep returning to your loft.
If you get young pigeons that have never been flown as your breeding stock, here are some advantages and disadvantages.
1. Hard to tell gender on young pigeons, until they are older and you can watch behavior.
2. Its a 50/50 coin toss if they will homeset since they were hatched in different loft. I can also tell you homesetting tricks to use if you should need to find out.

The bottom line is.............. it gets time intensive to have a good flock. You being absent from each home for half year can present some challenges.
Ask any questions that come to mind. I WILL BE GLAD TO HELP YOU WITH ANSWERS.

A pix of my past BEAUTIES..

Week old.

3 weeks

In their secure aviary.

WISHING YOU BEST

 

[Hokum Coco]

1)chickens and pigeons together, NO! Chickens dominate pigeons they will eat their eggs and young squabs. They will also kill and cannibalize any weak or injured bird.
2)males and females in separate pens. Most fanciers combine a preferred hen and cock in an enclosed area until they have paired before releasing them into the loft.
3) would a smaller similar setup work for the pigeons That would be the idea situation. Pigeons can stand temperatures of -40º with extra rations of whole corn in a sperate feeder out of the wind and rain.
4) on days where am travelling, they are just allowed in the run You would be better off letting them free fly verses the company of chickens.

Here is an interview done on my grand daughter and yours truly should give you some insight.

 

[cavemanrich]

It's been a while since we communicated. You can say I'm trying to keep up with the Ron's.
Did this on 9-11 with grandkids. Note flag at Half Mast.

This was my last batch that cat got. 1 male and 2 females.

I felt just like you at 1:40 in your video.

 

[LamarshFish]

I've seen videos and posts that talk about/show the males and females in separate pens. Why is this? Wouldn't that be mean not letting them pair up?

Folks that want to selectively breed them, whether it be for racing, performing or fancy birds, do this. If you don't care about that, like me, let them be, and they will select their own mate, just beware that every once in a while a gay paring happens and you will get no eggs (two cocks paired) or 4 unfertilized eggs (two hens paired).

Pigeons are a blast. Much smarter and more interesting than chickens, in my personal opinion. You're in for a treat.