Roller Pigeons

[cavemanrich]

I could understand the concerns of the pigeon keepers.
I do not go hunting, or train dogs, but some of the peeps do such. Their methods are somewhat different than those on video. They purchase bags of feral pigeons from farmers barns at $4 each. Then their action also involves getting the pigeon rather than using a skeet launcher. Everyone is free to do as they please, but you can understand the position of pigeon fanciers. I would not sell any of my pigeons to such.
The video is nice. If you did that with your pigeons, they should have no issues returning to your loft. Loud noises associated with , even though not aimed at them may scare pigeons away.

 

[Quacking Pigeon]

Nice birds

 

[happyfrenchman]

I used to have homers and I tried to get started up again with Rollers. I had about 25 of them, but the Cooper Hawks were unbelievably relentless and it seems the Rollers were not as well equipped as some to evade. I finally had to give it up as I was having to fend off hawk attacks every time I let the birds out and more. How do you cope with that situation if you do? Nice birds by the way. I really miss mine.

 

[LamarshFish]

I have just over 50 right now, will get up to 100ish by fall. I keep them in a traditional kitbox.

My portable kitbox contains only 8 birds, I can fly them where ever I go and they know home is the dog carrier. And no, roller pigeons have very poor homing instincts so they don't fly "home" because home is the dog carrier.

PS, I've raised all sorts of breeds over the years but sticking to just rollers right now

This is really interesting.

Do you have a bob door of some sort to trap the rollers that return to the dog carrier so they don't just keep going in and out?

Do you have a signal you give the rollers to come back, or do you sort of have to wait around until they decide they're done flying?

 

[Gspsaku]

Thanks so much for the reply, I was only concerned about the feeding on the rare :-( occasion l am off on vacation, the rest of the time or when training is planned ahead I would have no problem with daily feeding.

Once the birds are trained, you can leave the feed in. They will always return home. If you don't plan on anything more than 1/2 mile, other flying breeds will work just as well as homers.

This is really interesting.

Do you have a bob door of some sort to trap the rollers that return to the dog carrier so they don't just keep going in and out?

Do you have a signal you give the rollers to come back, or do you sort of have to wait around until they decide they're done flying?

If you watch the video carefully, you will see that right at the beginning, I have a little makeshift cap that closes the drop trap "hole" at the top of the dog carrier.

As for my signal, again, if you watch the video you will see me whistling. That's the thing with flying portable, the pigeons need to be really well trained otherwise they will fly for hours before they decide to land and I don't have time to sit at a parking lot waiting for them to land. When I whistle, they all land within 1 min and trap within another 2 at most. It's all in the initial training process

 

[Lpell]

Just wanted to introduce myself and let others know that if anyone has questions about raising pigeons, especially roller pigeons, I am available and will answer any and all questions when I can find the time.

Below is a video of my portable kitbox

Just wanted to introduce myself and let others know that if anyone has questions about raising pigeons, especially roller pigeons, I am available and will answer any and all questions when I can find the time.

Below is a video of my portable kitbox

Hello! We are interested in a pigeon as an indoor pet, and wondered if you though a roller pigeon would be a good choice?

 

[cavemanrich]

Hello! We are interested in a pigeon as an indoor pet, and wondered if you though a roller pigeon would be a good choice?

Gspsaku has not been active for about 2 and 1/2 years, so not likely to see your question.
Any pigeon can become a house pet. @Serin is one to keep an indoor pigeon pet very successfully. You can see many of his postings on thread
here is a link,
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/pigeon-talk.1276029/post-21007707

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and