Where to get pigeons / typical price

[Kusanar]

As some of you know, I have Felix, a feral pigeon with a messed up wing. I am still unsure as to what Felix's gender is, but will be getting DNA done sometime this winter so I know by spring.

I would like to get Felix a mate, and would like to get another pair as well so that if something happens to 1 bird, I don't have just 1 bird again. I looked at getting some fantails, as they don't require flying room, but the ones I found are like $60 each! Since I'm not interested in the "pretty" aspect or any showing, that's a little steep for a "sky rat" to be buddies with my rescued one.

I cannot allow them out of their cage due to being in the city and it being legal and encouraged to shoot the pigeons since they are a "pest" so I don't really want something that will constantly fret about wanting to fly and not having much room to do so.

My coup/loft I am planning will be 4x4x4 inside and have a fully enclosed aviary 6 feet long x 6 feet high x 4 feet wide that will be completely hardware cloth.

 

[Doc McCluckins]

I had pigeons in the summer but sold them to free up coop space. Mine were just common pigeons and they cost me about 8 dollars each when I bought them. They were not tame at all and very flighty. I was just at my first APA show that had pigeons entered and was AMAZED at all the different varieties of fancy pigeons. Of course I am sure they can be quite expensive but I would think that some of the more ornamental ones would be more docile and acclimate to captivity well as well as make a wonderful companion. Maybe someone with more pigeon experience will chime in. Good Luck

 

[Kusanar]

I had pigeons in the summer but sold them to free up coop space. Mine were just common pigeons and they cost me about 8 dollars each when I bought them. They were not tame at all and very flighty. I was just at my first APA show that had pigeons entered and was AMAZED at all the different varieties of fancy pigeons. Of course I am sure they can be quite expensive but I would think that some of the more ornamental ones would be more docile and acclimate to captivity well as well as make a wonderful companion. Maybe someone with more pigeon experience will chime in. Good Luck

Ok, that did help some. Like I said, mine was a feral and caught as an older squeaker, so he's not exactly tame either. He lives in the house currently but growls and wing chops every time I try to do anything in his cage....

 

[Doc McCluckins]

Ok, that did help some. Like I said, mine was a feral and caught as an older squeaker, so he's not exactly tame either. He lives in the house currently but growls and wing chops every time I try to do anything in his cage....

Then another of his kind may be the way to go. Although if I had the space and money I would totally get a fancy pigeon just because of how neat they were. I wasn't sure if the one you had was used to being handled and you might need a gentler bird. Mine were never friendly. I could catch them in their enclosure but they definitely were not a fan of handling. I took some pics of fancy pigeons at the show. I'll share them if I can. They were so cool.

 

[Kusanar]

Then another of his kind may be the way to go. Although if I had the space and money I would totally get a fancy pigeon just because of how neat they were. I wasn't sure if the one you had was used to being handled and you might need a gentler bird. Mine were never friendly. I could catch them in their enclosure but they definitely were not a fan of handling. I took some pics of fancy pigeons at the show. I'll share them if I can. They were so cool.

I can jess mine like a falcon and carry him around on my hand, but that's about the extend of him being tame, and getting the jesses on and off is a battle... lol

 

[Doc McCluckins]

Side view of one.

This one is looking strait at me. He can't see a thing lol.

 

[mbrobbins]

As some of you know, I have Felix, a feral pigeon with a messed up wing. I am still unsure as to what Felix's gender is, but will be getting DNA done sometime this winter so I know by spring.

I would like to get Felix a mate, and would like to get another pair as well so that if something happens to 1 bird, I don't have just 1 bird again. I looked at getting some fantails, as they don't require flying room, but the ones I found are like $60 each! Since I'm not interested in the "pretty" aspect or any showing, that's a little steep for a "sky rat" to be buddies with my rescued one.

I cannot allow them out of their cage due to being in the city and it being legal and encouraged to shoot the pigeons since they are a "pest" so I don't really want something that will constantly fret about wanting to fly and not having much room to do so.

My coup/loft I am planning will be 4x4x4 inside and have a fully enclosed aviary 6 feet long x 6 feet high x 4 feet wide that will be completely hardware cloth.

I had found a feral pigeon likewise, and decided since it was mostly white, I would buy a few white homing pigeons to go with him. He paired up with one of them and had some squabs. they were shipped to me for $15 each plus shipping.I wanted to start flying them for enjoyment. But my husband thought that because I was still recovering from a serious illness, that I shouldn't be around them because of the feather dander etc., so I sold them really cheap. I enjoyed just watching them fly, and wished I had raised them when I was younger..

 

[LamarshFish]

I think your best bet is to find a fancier near by and ask if they would sell or give you a few squeakers.

There is a website that lists breeders by state, but unfortunately it only lists one guy for Hawaii. You can give it a try: http://mumtazticloft.com/Pigeonbreeders.asp?Viewb=HI

Another option is to try to find a local racing pigeon or other pigeon group. Look online and on facebook for a webpage for a club, and then reach out to the members and tell them your situation and ask if they would sell you a few squeakers. When it comes to these types of people, I think you will find folks willing to sell squeakers for around $15 a piece. You might find people unwilling to sell them for less than $75, and maybe they're worth that to somebody, but you don't need that, just find a hobby flyer and ask for squeakers.

If you are not successful on that route, you can always try to trap or kidnap ferals. If you learn where they roost, you can literally grab them with a net and a flashlight at night, they will not move or fly away. Try bridges over roads. You should know where they are because they usually fly around their roosts a lot. I would recommend that you try to pick one that is around 4 weeks old, so the ones that look almost full grown, but still have those tiny, fuzzy yellow down feathers sticking out of their head and neck. They will likely be sitting in or around a nest with another squab, which is likely its nest mate.

If you do opt to capture ferals, I would recommend treating them for parasites and deworming them, and even consider running a broad spectrum anti biotic before putting them all together.

 

[laughingdog]

Antibiotics I found bad to use on young looking healthy squeakers, as harms natural immunities they possess, key to keeping their systems in balance. My ferals and feral fostered are healthiest pigeons have. That said ferals may need vinager bathe when get as parasites and toxins they get into can be terrible. If acting sick get "probios" probiotics or much better grade bird ones cheap online. Never pay more than ten dollars a pigeon.. one two to five dollars for most non good bloodline ferals tumblers rollers and racers even, when starting out especially (these are easiest and best friends for ferals and each other also). Twenty maybe for good proven racers or meat birds. Once you know what is what more making sport hobby of homer/racing, performance rollers/tumblers, or showing breeds, then maybe spend some money on good quality in what know looking for. That said a good breeder etc will have good young, and old retired birds to offer cheap to free, usually if you just hang out offering to help out or chat actually wanting to learn and converse about pigeons. Hunting groups and sites usually will have ferals homers rollers show etc culls and stolen or captured birds, for one to five dollars, for bait birds dog training and practice toss shooting (unfortunately), for no more than two dollars apiece and one dollar if buy bunch. Pigeon kill traps, shooting and poisoning are actually federally illegal, but not gov agencies actually sadly enforce doing their job unless you pull up paperwork and make them crack down on cities and that allow encourage and contract. Free flying pigeons are technically under protection of migratory bird act, racing pigeons are under several protections by presidential etc decrees signed into law, and banded pigeons are felony to shoot harass etc in any malicious way.. but no one follows or looks those laws up, caring about Nobile resilient pigeons (they are key indicators of societal structure in how well they are variously doing). What city etc about/around (no specifics if it's weird) do you live in? I enjoy trying to get local pigeon keepers in their cities involved in trying to educate ignorant officials, then helping feds get after them when they hum and saw saying they know laws blablabla. Also make sure it's legal to have pigeon coop on your property where your going to put it in size etc in relation to your and neighbors homes.. devil is in the details, as if the pigeons free fly the law protects them, but coops are subject to local ordinance code etc especially if it's considered permanent structure and or has utility going to at all (you can get slapped with major fines etc). Maybe ask local shelter about injured ferals etc (usually homers or possibly rollers otherwise), that you could do fostering to adopting out for (never tell them you have pigeons right off or would be released if did, until know more about them as usually most city works are just wanting paycheck and may not like anything that'll bring in fuzzy money, but getting you in trouble will get them money). Good luck and let us know how goes. P.S. best cheap feeds are usually cheapest natural chicken layer pellet and whole corn/up to six or more grain scratch, and wild bird seed (careful looking up as can contain toxins oddly to birds in how grown milled packaged etc).

 

[Kusanar]

Antibiotics I found bad to use on young looking healthy squeakers, as harms natural immunities they possess, key to keeping their systems in balance. My ferals and feral fostered are healthiest pigeons have. That said ferals may need vinager bathe when get as parasites and toxins they get into can be terrible. If acting sick get "probios" probiotics or much better grade bird ones cheap online. Never pay more than ten dollars a pigeon.. one two to five dollars for most non good bloodline ferals tumblers rollers and racers even, when starting out especially (these are easiest and best friends for ferals and each other also). Twenty maybe for good proven racers or meat birds. Once you know what is what more making sport hobby of homer/racing, performance rollers/tumblers, or showing breeds, then maybe spend some money on good quality in what know looking for. That said a good breeder etc will have good young, and old retired birds to offer cheap to free, usually if you just hang out offering to help out or chat actually wanting to learn and converse about pigeons. Hunting groups and sites usually will have ferals homers rollers show etc culls and stolen or captured birds, for one to five dollars, for bait birds dog training and practice toss shooting (unfortunately), for no more than two dollars apiece and one dollar if buy bunch. Pigeon kill traps, shooting and poisoning are actually federally illegal, but not gov agencies actually sadly enforce doing their job unless you pull up paperwork and make them crack down on cities and that allow encourage and contract. Free flying pigeons are technically under protection of migratory bird act, racing pigeons are under several protections by presidential etc decrees signed into law, and banded pigeons are felony to shoot harass etc in any malicious way.. but no one follows or looks those laws up, caring about Nobile resilient pigeons (they are key indicators of societal structure in how well they are variously doing). What city etc about/around (no specifics if it's weird) do you live in? I enjoy trying to get local pigeon keepers in their cities involved in trying to educate ignorant officials, then helping feds get after them when they hum and saw saying they know laws blablabla. Also make sure it's legal to have pigeon coop on your property where your going to put it in size etc in relation to your and neighbors homes.. devil is in the details, as if the pigeons free fly the law protects them, but coops are subject to local ordinance code etc especially if it's considered permanent structure and or has utility going to at all (you can get slapped with major fines etc). Maybe ask local shelter about injured ferals etc (usually homers or possibly rollers otherwise), that you could do fostering to adopting out for (never tell them you have pigeons right off or would be released if did, until know more about them as usually most city works are just wanting paycheck and may not like anything that'll bring in fuzzy money, but getting you in trouble will get them money). Good luck and let us know how goes. P.S. best cheap feeds are usually cheapest natural chicken layer pellet and whole corn/up to six or more grain scratch, and wild bird seed (careful looking up as can contain toxins oddly to birds in how grown milled packaged etc).

I'm in Roanoke VA. I'm allowed up to 10 chickens on my property, so I don't see why a penned pigeon (or 4 which is all I want) would be an issue. The loft I am planning will have a section that is enclosed and a section that is all wire but all raised and on wheels on one end so you can move it like a wheelbarrow. I also have land in Thaxton which is rural and I'm allowed to have anything I can legally own there, so if they get weird about the pigeons at my house, I can easily put the loft in the back of the truck and move them. As they will not be free flying, it won't be an issue to re-locate.

I may actually take Felix (the one I have now) out to the farm anyway since I will be there each evening anyway to care for the other animals.

As far as power goes, I will probably have some minor power in the loft, but it will be run off of a small solar panel and battery that are attached to the loft it's self so there shouldn't be any issues as it is not a "structure" in that it is not on or attached to the ground, and it is not hooked to the utilities.

Currently Felix is eating half an half cockatoo feed (what I bought him first as I needed something fast and there wasn't anything in there that would hurt him), and a dove mix from Petco. He LOVES green split peas as a treat and apparently weirdly for a pigeon, HATES peanuts...