Is my pigeon lonely?

[judybee]

Is my pigeon lonely?

I rescued this little ferile guy around 20 days (s/he's about 70 days now).

She cooed and bobbed in front of a mirror the other day, but no idea if she's a boy or girl.

She loves /preens cuddles my hand, flies to my head, and coos when she hears me -- although is not crazy about me picking her up when she's not in her cage. Seems to like being stroked a lot

She loves to fly into the house and hang inside forever if a door or window is open. Otherwise, her cage is on the deck with an open door (except at night) and she has 18 chickens free ranging all around her.

Here are my questions:

-is she lonely? Are they flock animals, or is she ok for now on her own?

- she isn't very adventurous flying wise. I walk her to trees about the property, in the hope she'll mKe her way to a wild pigeon at the farm down the road, but she always flies right back to the cage.

- if I get her a companion pigeon, should I get one, or a couple/few?

- should they have the same coloring/be the same type/ be similar ages?

- does gender matter for companionship? (I assume it does for mating ).

Last question- I live in the northeast. Is she ok in her cage without supplemental heat, without a mate, if her cage is protected from wind/covered?

And another last question! Any suggestions on pigeon sellers in MA or NH

Helping me work:

Thanks!!
Judy

 

[cavemanrich]

Your pigeon is most likely not a feral . but a home raised pet. You mention that you try to introduce her to trees and she flies back to cage. Most likely not that lonely since she does not try and succeed escaping.. You first need to determine if it is a female. If you know someone that has pigeons, then it is easy. Bring in a known male pigeon... If the 2 start fighting, then you have a male... If they start smoooooching ,, then you indeed have a female. An experienced pigeon keeper will be able to determine gender by watching behavior. Generally females are slightly smaller then their equal males. Pigeons are cold hardy birds, you may keep on your deck, but do provide sufficient quantity of food so pigeon has calories to burn. Also provide water that is not frozen. Keep out of drafts for best . If extreme cold overnight, you may consider moving cage indoors or garage. Daytime in the outdoors with natural light is Ideal. Check Craigs' list for peeps selling pigeons in your area. I keep pigeons, racing homers, but only as pets and I don't race. I do let them free range fly. Pix are in my collection of photos.
Wishing you best... Ask all that you do not know..

 

[judybee]

Thanks Rich!
I found her in a parking lot around 19-20 days old, fallen from a high nest we couldn't get her back to, and worried she'd be run over by morning.. I think definitely ferile...
But super sweet now .

Can you keep multiple male pigeons together, if there are multiple females? Thx!
Judy

 

[cavemanrich]

OK now I get the picture. Feral does not mean wild and mean... It just means born in the outdoors and not in someones loft. You can keep multiple pigeons of same gender as currently I have 4 males. They don't fight like roosters would. It is more of establishing a pecking order. After a while they just sit in their spots and don't bother each other. Pigeons of same gender will actually pair up and be friends. ( similar to people in civil unions.) Usually will happen when there is an overwhelming number of one gender. Guess it is for friendship and protection.

It is good to have a partner for each of your pigeons. (ideal but never quite practical) They pair up and stay loyal to each other for life, or until one dies or is lost. Then they will find another mate. Pigeon keepers do separate their pigeons in an effort to breed certain ones together. They place them into cages and stay locked in. Eventually those pair up. (I don't have a time frame answer because I don't do such.) If you are planning to get multiple pigeons, then it will require getting large enough accommodations for them. (loft).


I unfortunately lost 2 adult and 1 baby squeaker 2 days ago. Raccoon got into my loft.. I accidental forgot to close the aviary for the night. My only female and a male were the 2 adult victims. Lil baby was only 2 weeks old and still unnamed.

sad sad sad........................ So now only 4 males left. I need to locate a few females, but am thinking to wait until spring. The new comers may home set , or split when they get a chance. I will try to have them pair up with the existing males and possibly have them make the loft their home. I don't want to mention on how many split on me. I have had my own pigeons born in my loft split on me. Some did return and are steady residents.. Others sought greener pastures I suppose. They are homing pigeons, so they will always yearn to return home. If I get young ones, then there is a better chance of home setting them.

Anything else you need to know, just ask.

 

[cavemanrich]

Sad update................................ raccoon returned last night and killed all remaining pigeons.. Broke into closed aviary.....

 

[Hokum Coco]

Sad update................................ raccoon returned last night and killed all remaining pigeons.. Broke into closed aviary.....

My back yard buddy not a pretty sight to great you in the morning. My condolences on your loss. I know what it is to loose birds to a raccoon. I completely forgot to shut up the loft one night and lost several of my homers as well last year. Then a few months later a weasel got in and killed every single on of my birds. I went over my loft with steel and now it is bottle tight against predators. (As long as I remember to shut the doors). I hope you do not get too discouraged and are able to rebuild your flock.

 

[cavemanrich]

Quote: I will get more in the spring time.. By then I will have the security issues solved . It takes more effort to home set a new batch of pigeons then when you already have yours home set and new ones are born and added. I will have to work at it just like I did with this great batch.. Mine have free range flight as long as I am home.. Many times they just didn't feel like leaving. Some went cruising, while some stayed behind. My grandchildren referred to them as " GRANDPAS EAGLES " They just looked SO beautiful flying in formation overhead like the "Blue Angels". This spring will be a Fresh Start. They have to be homers, and white. I do not want Birmingham rollers because I think they are Hawk Magnets. ( I could be wrong ) I also am considering Tippler Hi Flyers, but need to be all white. A little splash accent of color will be OK also.
Thanks Hokum Coco for your response.

 

[TerryQui]

If babies disappear it is usually a fatality because homers should come home. That being said, I have a homer here that lost it's way and someone found it. It stayed on her farm but she didn't want to care for it, so he or she lives here now. She can't get out of my aviary and I don't free fly mine yet. She is very happy here now.

 

[judybee]

Sad update................................  raccoon returned last night and killed all remaining pigeons..   Broke into closed aviary.....  

Oh my gosh! How sad!!! I'm so sorry for your loss . I lost 18 chickens about a month ago to a Jack Russell terrier - it's so hard.

Your response was super helpful!! Thanks so much, and I'll send good, raccoon free thoughts your way for the spring.

 

[caesargirl]

Hopefully nobody minds if I jump in here... @cavemanrich I'm truly sorry for your loss.
I am hoping you might know/help:I have two pigeons that I hatched and hand fed. Their parents were ferals, These two are "house pets". You talk of setting your birds. I assume this means they "set" home on their internal GPS map... How long does this process take? I would love to take mine outside, but, I am fearful of them leaving. (Especially since Maine is jumping into its chilly season!) I'm also using them to help foster a squab that I recently acquired. (Maybe a roller) Learning to peck seed and drink and such.
Anyway, setting my birds, do you have a process, or is it simply time and breed?