When do homing pigeons begin to build nests? (Wisconsin)

[autumnpengu]

Hi! I am brand new to the hobby of pigeon keeping and I have a bunch of homing pigeons (ok 16 homing pigeons) and we seem to be having a super January thaw up here in northern Wisconsin. About when do birds actually start to build their nests and lay eggs? The cockbirds are displaying like crazy right now and cooing up a storm. So curious when theyll start to build nests and that.

 

[br0nc0]

Well, it all depends on the temperature and the pigeons you have. I have a friend who owns racing stock homing pigeons and they never stop laying eggs. I have the standard variety and they will probably begin laying in about a month, since we have a pretty harsh winter right now. I didn't put in the nests yet though, they would probably start laying sooner, but i want them to wait until it's warmer.

 

[autumnpengu]

Well, it all depends on the temperature and the pigeons you have. I have a friend who owns racing stock homing pigeons and they never stop laying eggs. I have the standard variety and they will probably begin laying in about a month, since we have a pretty harsh winter right now. I didn't put in the nests yet though, they would probably start laying sooner, but i want them to wait until it's warmer.

Im kind of hoping they wait a little bit just in case it does get really cold again. Were having temps in the 40s though right now and its weird.

 

[br0nc0]

well if they do lay eggs and you don't want them to hatch just switch them with fake eggs so they sit on them instead of throwing them away (because you'll have new eggs in no time).. it can buy you a month and then it should be warm enough

 

[GoldenFlight]

My Rollers have been laying like crazy all winter.

 

[laughingdog]

Mine do best in winter, even when lived off lake in WI. Just keep general loft open enough to get rid of humidity and dust, but closed enough to keep dry and draft free, with water changed daily and fresh given twice or more daily if freezing.
Whole corn with grit in grain n seed etc mixes supposedly held heat n fatten in cold, just gives mine wet messy poops. Course fed mine cheapest dog food could get mixed in with grain scratch and wild bird seed with lil grit, up north, now use chicken layer with grains and seeds, so I'm not normal. A good box to house one or two nests for each hen to have two nests will keep eggs and babies extra warm when freezing temps.
Heating loft bad as if heat goes off your birds die or get stressed sick (aside from most heaters and lights dangerous from dust feathers feces etc no matter how good setup, and have started major fires every year).