Has anyone been able to coax wild mourning doves or wild pigeons into nesting boxes

[punatiquemama]

I live in Hawaii, the State, the Island & the County. There are lots of wild doves here, and some pigeons, too.I just installed 6, 6"X6" nesting boxes on the outside of my chicken coop, and am wondering what my chances are of getting 'tenants"... lol, I was thinking of hanging a sign saying, Free Furnished Apartments.... think that'll work?

Any ideas would be happily read!

Mahalo

 

[Hokum Coco]

I live in Hawaii, the State, the Island & the County. There are lots of wild doves here, and some pigeons, too.I just installed 6, 6"X6" nesting boxes on the outside of my chicken coop, and am wondering what my chances are of getting 'tenants"... lol, I was thinking of hanging a sign saying, Free Furnished Apartments.... think that'll work?

Any ideas would be happily read!

Mahalo

First and foremost "Welcome to BYC."

Your sign will attract all the literate doves in your area however seeds around and in your nest box will attract the ones that failed reading and writing.

Something to keep in mind; Maybe "NOT ALL" your nearby neigbours will welcome your new project especially when it comes to nesting pigeons.

I am speaking from a pigeon fanciers prospective with a enclosed loft for all my white homing pigeons.

Here is one link that shows what mourning doves sometimes nest on. Just in case your nest box is not exactly what your local doves want.
Something possibly a bit larger would attract pigeons I am thinking with whole corn as bait (smaller birds can not swallow whole corn


http://www.50birds.com/birdhouse-plans/mourning-dove-nesting-platform.htm

 

[jak2002003]

Chances are low... as morning doves are territorial and not communal nesters.. so if you do get any it will only be one pair.

If feral pigeons start nesting there that is BAD NEWS.... because they will breed like crazy.. make so much mess and poop.. and also become a problem for neighbours.

DISEASES are a real concern.. spread by the wild pigeons to your chickens.

All wild birds can carry disease.. but to have feral pigeons breeding next to you pigeon coop is a really bad idea with a very high chance of diseases spreading to you flock.

I don't really understand why you want to try this.... but if you want pigeons you are better to actually go and buy some fancy pigeons or homing pigeons from a pigeon breeder... where the birds will be healthy and free of parasites and diseases.

If you want the smaller wild doves to breed on your property you could put up a few nesting BASKETS high up in shrubs or palm trees away from you chicken coop.

 

[punatiquemama]

Mahalo for your imput...
da punatique

 

[punatiquemama]

Mahalo... love your sense of humor & the info! going to that page now!
~Aloha,
da Punatiquemama

 

[laughingdog]

I had mourning doves come in and nest in pigeon cages, one young mourning dove showed up and was being fed through bars of dog cage by parent pigeons.

 

[Akiko]

Hi Punatiquemama, I live Big Island Hawaii. Did you get the tenants in your Dove apartment? I want to do that, if you get tenants, but in my yard and my area is in the forest, so many trees, so doves rather have in the tree. I like to know the result. Mahalo. Akiko