Feeding & Safety For Feral Pigeons

[Trees Gray]

SAFE FEEDING LOCATIONS

Providing safe feeding sites for feral pigeons has become an issue, as it can endanger them depending on the location, so I will encourage anyone who wants to help our ferals find a safe location.

Avoid private property such as apt. buildings, unless it is yours. Not everybody loves feral pigeons (I don't see why not) but it could end up a death sentence for the pigeons if the neighbors start complaining. Eventually the manager may call an extermination co. that will poison the flock as has happened many times. You may want to feed a pigeon to rescue it because it is sick or wounded, but only leave out enough seed to catch the bird. Don't leave out any extra seed as that will encourage more numbers to come. If you feed directly from inside your apt. and no one sees the pigeons coming and going, that is okay, but use your own discrimination. If they start to linger outside that could be a problem


If you live in the big city an obvious place to feed would be a large park where it is legal. If you can't find a park find a safe place anywhere away from traffic, buildings and people, unless it is already an established "pigeon friendly" feeding sight, and no one is complaining or trying to issue ordinances against them. DO NOT FEED in areas where cars are, like parking lots or near roads, or on a hill that sloaps down to a road. The seeds can roll out into the street where the pigeons will try to pick it up. Drivers will not swerve or stop to avoid hitting a pigeon, it is a FACT.

I recommend people to feed flocks that live in their own homes, far away from the city in rural areas. You can feed in your own yard if you do have immediate neighbors,that is up to you, but if you gather a lot of pigeons in your yard, and the pigeons start sitting on the neighbors houses, telephone poles, and then the complaints will start about the poop and then the noise . It may not be a problem if they only come to eat.

If you find a flock of pigeons already established in an area, but it is unsafe, do not feed. Snowbird has moved a feeding site, by slowly moving the site by 20 feet everyday until he has reached a more desirable location. (This may be next to near impossible in some cities)


http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showpo...73&postcount=8

I may be getting a little over cautious , but better safe then sorry.


Here are some suggestions from Snowbird who has several flocks of ferals:

My morning flock is on a baseball field at the local junior high-nice dirt and grass is a bonus. I leave the seed the night before and the birdies clean it early the next morning-before the humans come out.

My afternoon flock meets on an island on one of the busiest intersections in Berkeley, but it is in the center of the street not of interest to landowners. Fortunately they are street smart and know their limits, but sometimes when they are in groups of a 100 and get fidgety it can be dangerous. I don't recommend starting a feeding site at a location like this but this was an established site and the only place for these inner city birds to eat

Some places can be okay to feed, if you go very early, especially in the summer. If the flock is located on your feeding site, they will come on the clock and, as you are all aware,will feed in 10 minutes and leave. No feeding during the day.

If you find a good spot you may have a slow start but once a few come, others will come, especially in the spring when there are a lot of unattached, hungry young birds. They don't "spread the word" they just know what feeding looks like even by distant flying style.


Here is a link on how to keep the bully's from hogging all the food:

http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showthread.php?t=16609


Here is a link on one tragic feeding:

http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showthread.php?t=16625

Two pigeon facts:

Pigeons can and do scratch their heads during flight-flight...really.. not just when gliding. Many birds have to drop their shoulder to scratch the head, but as everyone has noted, pigeons just reach up under the wing. (Ah, such coordination..., some people can't even drive a car and scratch their heads at the same time. LOL)

When they all take off to avoid danger it has been said that they are so quick and sensitive that they really take the cue from the first bird to startle and it just appears that they move as one. While this is possible and may occur, I know they make a sound and all birds obey the red alert sound and fly..no questions. I can prove this without any doubt.

FEEDING AND NUTRITION

written by Snowbird

My ferals don't get many tricks because it is too expensive or impossible to administer. For example they go through 60 lbs. per week of the 15% protein mixture that the prestigious Bay Cities Combine racing clubs use. It is a real pigeon seed mix by traditional standards. I throw a handfull (per 4 lbs of feed) of Newman's Own organics Dog Food- for seniors-all year long. I use it because it is small enough for most pigeons to eat and the first four ingredients are organic barley, organic rice, organic milo, and organic oats. It also has organic flax seed and for shame) organic chicken, plus a really extensive vitamin package. (18% pro; 8% fat) I worry about deficiencies with ferals and this product should eliminate that. However, many birds will not eat this-even starving birds don't recognize it as food. A few go for it and it is cleaned up with the seed.

HAND REARING REHABS OR BABIES AT 4 TO 5 DAYS OF AGE:

The staple for hand feeding rehabs or babies who have made the transition to carbohydrates at about 4 to 5 days, is a product called The Ultimate Meal. This seems to be the perfect meal for pigeons because it is vegan. Not only is it organic, but the ingredients are selected from all over the world and prepared in the smartest way for freshness and cleanliness. It not only has peas, brocolli, quinoa, millet, brown rice, flax seed, and spirulina, it is right into the homeopathic with the finest quality horsetail herb, nettles, ginko, and milk thistle. I usally add some dog food to supplement the vitamin package and introduce a bit of animal protein but not much. I also add a pinch of the following (but not always): powderized Australian Pigeon Co. grit, probiotics like Total Flora and Primal Defense (homeostatic soil organisms), a drop of vitamin E, & a drop of fish oil.

The Ultimate Meal is the deal after 4 days old, dilute to suit your needs mixed in warm water. This product is expensive and only available at Whole Foods or from the company Ultimate Life.

Once a month I put on the seed a very light touch of either olive, salmon, or cod liver oil-you can barely tell it's there-and sprinkle this with Hagan's Prime or Nekton's and stir. Here in Berkeley they have ample gardens to get greens and dirt, but inner-city birds have a problem getting greens. The grit for my outside birds is mostly OK but inner-city birds probably die from this more than anything else-cadmium, mercury and lead from cars contaminates the grit and this is why hens have a shorter life span. And I have to say I haven't confirmed an outside bird over 2 years old yet. They only survive as a species because they breed like crazy and they can get by on anything.(sad)

I haven't been medicating them for canker-haven't seen any canker, PMV, or Pox. I use no preventive medication at this time. If a bird gets sick, I isolate him and run them on Baytril-6mg. -(as specified by Dr. Speer) twice a day for both my hens that had oviducts removed.

Siimply providing clean drinking water for outside birds is a plus, but is hard to do. If you can carry a gallon or two with the seed and pour it out for them, that is great. It is easy on home turf but at different feeding stations it is hard.


NOTE: If you are feeding a feral flock, please use a good pigeon mix or wild bird seed. Do not feed straight sunflower seeds, as young pigeons have a hard time digesting them. Sunflower seeds have been known to contribute to crop statis in youngsters, as well as complicate other problematic diseases, like canker, that our ferals encounter.
Treesa

[pdpbison]

Hi Tressa,


Nice...

Mine are fifteen feet outside my roll-up door...so, I do not have to go far.

Every day I scrub ( or again at mid day, ) an old two inch deep enamelled pan, and let the hose trickle into it after filling it. Water here in Las Vegas is not so easy to come by for them, certainly not in this part of town anyway.

Now and then I fill a bunch of pans and bowls and they all know it is 'Bath Day'.

The best ( mine grew legs ) for bathing, was one of those Lawn Waterers that went over back-and-forth in the big fan spray...they'd all lay with wings stretched over them, like little Boats on shore, and bathe that way...I need to get one of those again.

I go through about 50 lbs a week. Regular 'Wild Bird Seed' ( no Peas sadly...)

Still no 'good' Pigeon Mixes here that I know of...still looking...

Phil
Las Vegas

[Trees Gray]

Hi Phil,

I would love to see your birds, what a wonderful life you are providing them. If you have any preventive medicine or nutrtion you would like to share feel free.

Thank you for the time and care you provide our ferals.

Treesa

[pdpbison]

Hi Tressa,


Ohhhh...I feel remiss in deed, to confess that my attentions to the Feral Flock are merely to see to it thay have Seeds almost every day, and, usually, Water...and, in generaly, that I watch over them for any thing I can do to aid them in any woes or problems they may have.

I see to them as I can for their thread-hair-string feets or ills or injuries as I can. And, even as their members change somewhat all the time, they seem to know that if something truely is vexing them, they may walk inside or present themselves somehow for me to help them. Some do, and some don't, take advantage of this, but it seems to be something known among them... about which individuals may make whatever decisions they feel comfortable doing.

When I used to have my roll-up door open every day, it was more common that an injured or sick one would come in on their own and wait for me to find them.

But as for additional nutrition or special things for the Wild Ones...only if or when opne comes in or I bring someone 'in' to help them get well or recover...or, if orphan Babys of course, which do not tend usually to come from my ferals, but from people or me finding them here and there elsewhere.

Sometimes I do find a small Squab or Squeaker or one yet too young to fly well, who seems lost or is grounded from privation in the lot here, and I will allways raise them from there even if their parents might be near somewhere, since at Night, feral Cats hunt these by-ways, and a Squeaker or a 'ground Bird' will not tend to last a night if I did not bring them in to stay untill they are good fliers.

Really, now that you direct my attention to it, I think I will chase down whatever I can find here in town, to see about better 'Pigeon-Mixes' in Large bags, and, make up say a gallon-a-day or so a-day with some nice Oil and bulk Vitamines and powdered Greens ( or get them to learn to eat 'Kale' or something ! Which I have tried MANY times to do with no success..but all it takes is one to do it, then they all will try it...lol...) and feed them more nicely.

Thank you...

It IS good sometimes to 'preach to the Choir!'

You just converted me to realize my sins of omission, and, to ammend them...

P.S.

Some of the Colors of these ferals are so beautiful 'as' colors and combinations, I can see and feel the attraction to be a match-maker !

Lately, there is a nearly all white one but for their graduated Grey-to-Black Tail who for having joined this Flock, mey eventually bring their youngsters when they have them to bring. Too, a gorgeous large light violet sort of color hen who, with her Blue Bar mate have made many amathyst and very light-light Grey color variations of really beautiful youngsters. Some are in effect, all 'Black' sometimes but for hints of dark Brown like when you break 'licorice' on their Feather's ends...

There are few typical 'Homers' now too, large wattles, Blue-Bar Winged, and not much for a raised transition of foreheads...big bodied Birds, siblings I think...just the two...

...endless...


Phil
Las Vegas

[Garye]

About what you said about finding a safe place to feed ferals. I did this unknowningly. I was sitting in a different part of the parking lot where hardly any cars go and where I had never fed the pigeons before. All of a sudden, I saw Charlie Pigeon at my car door. The bird found me! I don't know how he did it but anyways, I fed him. It's really a very safe spot for him. The next day I parked in the new spot and now Charlie arrives with the others. I didn't even have to coax these pigeons over to the new spot. They (or Charlie) found me and now they greet me here. Pigeons are a lot smarter than people give them credit for.

I only give them enough so that they eat it all up within 10 minutes after I leave. Then they're on their own. (Mainly because I have to go to work then and can't see them again until late at night). So they get some food (but not too much) from me but they have to find food on their own for the rest of the day unless someone else comes along and feeds them. In which case, I have no control over that.

[Trees Gray]

Hi Garye,

The pigeons must feel comfortable around you, and you instinctively did the right thing!

Thank you for sharing and feeding our ferals in safety!

Treesa

[Yo Pauly]

Getting Rid of a Nuisance


"Oh, those pigeons are becoming a big nuisance to me; they're crapping all over my house."

That was what I heard the stranger tell my friend Pauly when I unexpectedly walked into their conversation, which took place up on Pauly's roof near his coop.

"Hey, Cook," Pauly said, turning in my direction as soon as he became aware of my presence, "I want you to meet Salvatore; he's Jeannie's brother-in-law."

I extended my arm and shook hands with the gray-haired, no-longer stranger. After our introduction, Salvatore stayed up the roof a few more minutes and then left. As soon as Pauly and I were alone, I said to my friend: "Pauly, that guy didn't look like no pigeon flyer to me; what was he doing up here?"

"Ahhh," Pauly said, shrugging and showing his palms, "the guy lives in Brooklyn. Has a house out in Bensonhurst. Every time he visits Jeannie downstairs, he comes up here and asks me how he can get rid of the pigeons that are all over his house. I told him a million times already to string up some banners on the rooftop."

"Has he done it?" I said.

"Naaa, he's talking about calling an exterminator or some pest control."

"They'll kill them all."

"He couldn't care less," Paul said.

"Have you told him not to do it?"

"Yeah, I even told him to stick a few American flags up there. At least, with the flags, he'll kill two birds with one stone: he'll look patriotic and scare away the pigeons," Pauly said, giggling.



My chance run-in with Salvatore up on Pauly's roof was the only time I would ever meet the man. About two months after our meeting, I went back to visit Pauly and his pigeons. I sat on a chair near the screen coop and waited for the old man to finish putting fresh water into the pigeon's drinking tin. After he was done with the water, Pauly opened the screen door and slowly stepped out of the coop, his cheerful self.

"Hey, remember that guy Salvatore you met?" He said excitedly.

"Yeah," I said.

"Well, he died last week."

"Died?" I said surprisingly.

"Yeah, died," Pauly said, louder. "Imagine that? All he ever talked about when he came up here was the pigeons crapping on his house. Now, he's gone, and the birds are still crapping. Ain't that a joke?"









Life's too short.

Hey, Trees Gray. Great stuff!!!!!

[Garye]

Yes, and I'm sure the pigeons are laughing too. Imagine him coming up to your friend and asking how to get rid of pigeons when he knows he keeps pigeons. What nerve!

Well anyways, I try to keep the pigeons at the parking lot where they'll be away from people's properties. I don't own them but hopefully they'll feel secure enough in the parking lot to not to want to travel much further.

All birds poop. I wonder if he had complaints about other birds pooping on his property.

[Lin Hansen]

Originally Posted by Yo Pauly

Life's too short.

Hey Yo Pauly,

Amen!

Linda

[Trees Gray]

Thank you for sharing "Getting Rid of a Nuisance" Pauly, ...it is done...

It speaks volumes!

& thank you....

Treesa

[Reti]

Thanks for the story.
Those little guys are safe for now.

Reti

[Yo Pauly]

Reti, those "little guys" must be great, great grand-parents by now. It's an old story. Always thought it to be funny; that's why I haven't forgotten it.

[Teresa]

Thanks for the story, Yo Pauly, it was a really good laugh. Perhaps I should retell it to some of my relatives, who object to pigeon poop. (Don't know why myself, they should just be grateful that cows don't fly...)
And Garye is quite right about pigeons being smarter than most people think. In all my life I've only been pooped on from high above twice, while my sister-in-law can't walk under a tree without getting a direct hit! Point proved.

Teresa

[Lin Hansen]

Hi Teresa,

Speaking of pigeons pooping, you should appreciate this picture. Your sister-in-law might not think it's so funny though...LOL

http://www.homestead.com/championpi.../PigeonPoop.jpg


Linda

[Trees Gray]

Originally Posted by Lin Hansen

Hi Teresa,

Speaking of pigeons pooping, you should appreciate this picture. Your sister-in-law might not think it's so funny though...LOL

http://www.homestead.com/championpi.../PigeonPoop.jpg


Linda

Linda,

The url has either moved or does not exist..... Darn, I was looking forward to seeing it. LOL


Treesa