just starting my pigeons?

[JayBird]

I want to thank you all for your many post and great advise, and tips!
I've been reading up alot and learning from you all, as I prepare to begin a new journey raising a few pigeons with my children. I have been working on creating a loft inside my garage out back. It isn't anythiing fancy, but it will be safe and secure for our birds. It is about 4 -5 feet wide, 10-12 feet length, and 10 feet high. I have built launch Aviary from an existing window i removed, and toward the back a second one i call the "sun room" off the floor on the back side made from old wood storm windows, so they can exit into that one for their baths, and free travel. A friend of mine just sent me a picture of 3 white homing pigeons that he is giving us to get us started! I am so excited now, that we will have the kiind i wanted. I'm hoping to work with them on training for flying, and releasing once in a while for special occasions. I hope as i go along i can learn much more, and i'm sure i will be asking for advise! Thanks...JayBird (these are the 3 birds)

[Jiggs]

Hi

Are those young birds - I cant quite see - they look good though. Have they loft flown before, are two of them a pair?

I really hope you enjoy your new birds when they arrive!!!!

[JayBird]

I was told they are young birds, born in 2006.
No they have not been flown before, so i'm hoping I can train them right, with out loosing any. I'm sure if one is a pair, he just sent me a brief message saying these are the 3 he has for me.
The reason i made a "sun room Aviary toward the ground also, is because
I may get a few rollers that don't fly later on for the kids to take care of.
If you have any advise for me, i'm all ears!! Jay

They are only about 30 miles from me, so i hope to pick them up by the end of the week.
I have a few touch ups to finish on the loft first!

[Jiggs]

Its then possible to train them, I would keep them in the loft for a good while though, trap train plenty - a good few weeks and when you let them out you can soap their wings down so they cant fly and let them wander around on the ground for a week before letting them take to the sky!! - If they are this years birds and are not paired up yet it could take a while for you to get eggs.

Good luck

[george simon]

HI JAY BIRD, It may be to late but lower the ceiling to about 6 to 61/2 feet. This should keep the birds with in reaching distance,a 10 foot ceiling makes catching the birds very diffecult. GEORGE

[Lovebirds]

Originally Posted by george simon

HI JAY BIRD, It may be to late but lower the ceiling to about 6 to 61/2 feet. This should keep the birds with in reaching distance,a 10 foot ceiling makes catching the birds very diffecult. GEORGE

George, as I was scrolling, reading these posts, I was going to say the same thing to him. LOL That was the first thing that got my attention when reading his post. It's probably not to late. Nail up some 2 x 4's and attach some chicken wired. You DEFINITELY don't want a 10 ft ceiling, no matter what you have to do to lower it...........

[JayBird]

ok, i understand what ya mean, but I have nothing that high for them to sit or hang on. I sure hope they don't hang upside down from it! LOL I pretty much have anywhere they can sit, at a nice reachable length. I'm fairly tall, so i should be ok.
JayBird

[Jiggs]

Its not the sitting or hanging - its the flying from one side to another! Remember you will have to handle your birds frequently for checking and boxing etc! Before my ceiling was up I used to look like an idiot walking from one side to the other after one stuborn bird And once one starts flapping over your head wildly - the others soon join and you dont want all of them to get riled up.

What king of perches are you going to build?

[JayBird]

I see what your getting at! I'll have to take a 2nd look at my ceiling, and see how i can bring that down a little.
so far i have made 4, 16" square boxes for nesting, and i have mounted a few "V" style perches.
I am also planning on mounting a simple pole across somwhere inside too, for something else to sit on, once in a while.

I have another question to think about too....... My old garage is solid 12" brick, but is not insulated. Its not too hot in there i noticed in the summer, when i keep a window open for air flow, but i'm wondering how cold it gets in the winter??? What would be a good temperature to try to keep it at in there in the winter? I don't have actual electric power in there, but i have heat lamps if need be? When the doors are shut, it's sealed pretty well, so no snow or drafts should get in too much.
Jay

[SB_doves]

I wouldn't worrie about the cold that's why god gave them the feathers But what you don't want is a draft on them.

[SB_doves]

Oh also those young birds look great you should band them when you get them. Just incase they get lost.

[JayBird]

This is something i need advise on! How do i get bands? do i just buy some, and how are they labeled so if 1 would get lost, a person would know to contact me?? I'm not registered in any clubs or anything. Or do i have to register to some pigeon club to get bands?
Jay

Originally Posted by SB_doves

Oh also those young birds look great you should band them when you get them. Just incase they get lost.

[JayBird]

Like i said, it's nothing fancy to start out with, but it's safe and secure.
I have to finish my door way yet, and block off the ground Aviary before moving my new birds in. My other Aviary isn't the largest, but it will work for now, until i start getting more birds. I hope in time, i will be able to re do it bigger and better. Jay

[SB_doves]

Originally Posted by JayBird

This is something i need advise on! How do i get bands? do i just buy some, and how are they labeled so if 1 would get lost, a person would know to contact me?? I'm not registered in any clubs or anything. Or do i have to register to some pigeon club to get bands?
Jay

You can look here and see if you can find any snap on's.
http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com/ca...iglass%20Bands what really should happen is your friend should have used seemless bands at about 2 days old.