pigeons prefer chicken coop over pigeon nesting boxes

[Idaho Redneck]

I few weeks ago, I was given a female pigeon and put her in my chicken run with a small chicken coop.

A few days after that, I bought two more pigeons to keep her company.

A few days after that, the female and an apparent male mated up. I am new to pigeons, but I assume that when two groom each other and chase away the third, they have mated up. Furthermore, they started taking turns sitting on the same spot in the chicken coop.

A few days after that, I finished building pigeon nesting boxes about 4.5 feet off the ground, and put them in the chicken run. However, even though I never found eggs under where the mated pair have been sitting, they never moved from their very vulnerable spot in the middle of the chicken coop. They fly into them to eat some bird seed I set out there, but rarely stick around for very long.

They first started sitting in the same spot about two weeks ago. To emphasize, one of them is ALWAYS sitting in that spot while the other is out and about in the chicken run; then they switch. But still, no eggs. It was verified this morning when a well-meaning person cleaned out the chicken coop without knowing about the nest, and didn't notice any. After that, the pigeons started sitting on some chicken eggs in the chicken nesting boxes.


What is happening? What is your advice? The pigeons would be much happier in the pigeon boxes. Is it just because they started nesting before the pigeon boxes were finished that they refuse to move - even when they've changed nesting sites within the chicken coop? How do I get them to move? Why are there no eggs yet even though they've been faithfully sitting in the same spot for two weeks?

 

[loftkeeper]

you have two males paired togather some birds will lay on the floor no matter what

 

[subhanalah]

Let them hatch a chicken egg?

 

[Hokum Coco]

you have two males paired together some birds will lay on the floor no matter what

Two females also happened to me. Chickens & Pigeons do not make good room mates. You can expect losses especially when the squabs hatch on forward. Chickens will cannibalize squabs.

 

[jak2002003]

You have a male pair.

You should NEVER allow pigeon to breed if housed with chicken!!!

Chicken WILL kill the pigeon squabs and eat them..... for sure. I learnt this the hard way.

I have a good idea for you situation.......

Take out the pigeon nest box you made.

Fix it up outside the coop.. or up against you house wall.. at head height.

Cover the front with wire mesh and put food, grit and water in there AND a nesting bowl.

Split up your male pair.

Use the best male and then the single bird (hopefully a female) and put them together in the nest box.. making sure they can't escape!!!

Keep them housed in there to pair up... and wait till they make a nest and are brooding the eggs.

Then you can open up the box and let them come and go as they like. Or you can allow them out when you are there.. then call them back with food and shut them back in (if you area has hawks).

You can keep the lone male in the pigeon coop no problem. And when your other pair have young you can pair on of them to him in the future.

Wishing you all the best with you pigeons... enjoy.. and DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO NEST IN THE CHICKEN COOP NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!

 

[Idaho Redneck]

...
I have a good idea for you situation.......

Take out the pigeon nest box you made.

Fix it up outside the coop.. or up against you house wall.. at head height.

Cover the front with wire mesh and put food, grit and water in there AND a nesting bowl.

Split up your male pair.

Use the best male and then the single bird (hopefully a female) and put them together in the nest box.. making sure they can't escape!!!

Keep them housed in there to pair up... and wait till they make a nest and are brooding the eggs.

Then you can open up the box and let them come and go as they like. Or you can allow them out when you are there.. then call them back with food and shut them back in (if you area has hawks).

You can keep the lone male in the pigeon coop no problem. And when your other pair have young you can pair on of them to him in the future.

Wishing you all the best with you pigeons... enjoy.. and DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO NEST IN THE CHICKEN COOP NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!

Thank you for all the advice! Is there a kinder way of enticing the pair to nest in the pigeon boxes rather than locking them in? I'm worried with the hot summer weather that I should allow them to fly around to the coolest spot. Also, since my understanding is that their body temperatures are really warm, they would have to move periodically once their cool spot warms up too much from their own body heat. At the same time, if they ever do lay an egg in their current nesting spot, like everybody has been saying and I wholeheartedly agree, it won't be pretty.

 

[jak2002003]

Thank you for all the advice! Is there a kinder way of enticing the pair to nest in the pigeon boxes rather than locking them in?
No. Its not unkind to lock them in either way. They won't mind. Just got to 'force' them to get settled into it and see it as they own territory. They don't know what's best for them.. be we do. They will be happier in the long run. It will be more stressful for them to let them nest and then get their eggs eaten by the hens. You are actually helping them out.
I'm worried with the hot summer weather that I should allow them to fly around to the coolest spot. Also, since my understanding is that their body temperatures are really warm, they would have to move periodically once their cool spot warms up too much from their own body heat. At the same time, if they ever do lay an egg in their current nesting spot.

Make sure you position the nesting box cage in the shade. Then there will be no problem. Early morning sun and late afternoon sun will be OK.

If you have the time you can build an enclosure around the nesting box to give them more room to fly about for the few weeks they are shut in.