Dillemma-Fly free or not?

[irretractable]

Hi all,
Many of you have been so helpful as I've raised Pomba, and I have a dillemma that I'd appreciate any input into. I've hand-reared Pomba from the age of 7 days. Her parents abandoned him/her on my balcony when management decided to paint. When Pomba was about 3 weeks old, I started to place him/her out on my balcony for short periods, and she began to interact with a pair of babies 1 week younger than her (oddly, their parents didn't abandon them). At about 1 month, Pomba started to fly away for very brief periods. Now she leaves about mid-morning, comes back several times throughout the day, and returns in the late afternoon to stay. I see her flying with other pigeons in the complex.

I decided to "partially" release Pomba b/c I work very long days (up to 16 hours/day on the weekdays), and didn't want Pomba to be too lonely. I'm very nervous, however, and realize that she's at much greater risk for getting killed this way. Right now she comes and goes as she pleases (I leave my balcony door slightly cracked.) This makes me nervous too b/c I try to pigeon-proof my apartment, but I know it's possible to miss things. (and my carpet can only take so much pigeon poop! - though this is not a huge deal. )

I know I can never release her entirely (and wouldn't want to). When I'm home, she spends a good 2-3 hours with me snuggling before she decides to fly off. When I get ready for work in the morning, she rides around on my head. She's even tried to join my in the shower a couple times!!!

so . . .
1. Should I keep my balcony door closed when I'm gone so she's not in the house alone? And only have her in when I'm home?
2. Should I stop letting her fly free b/c it's so dangerous and get her a companion? (would she accept another pigeon at this point?)
3. Other ideas?????

Thank you,
Rachel

[Trees Gray]

Hi Rachel,

If she is your pet and is very tame, you should not let her outside by herself. There are many dangers out there and she may not be very predator savey since she was handraised by you.

We have seen alot of very sad and heartbreaking stories of pet pigeons being lost to predators, and I know if the owners had it to do over again they would never have allowed their birds to fly free.

Keep her contained in a large cage while you are gone and let her fly around free inside your home when you are home. You could also get her a friend if you think she is lonely. Also we have a member who has created wonderful bird wear, like diapers for in-home birds. They are made individually to fit each birds size. Puts back the quality time you spend with your free flying birds.

[maryjane]

Everything that Treesa said is exactly what I was going to say. Should be pretty easy to find a companion for her. And maybe you have a room that you could "bird-proof" so she can have the run of it while you're away. Pigeon diapers are wonderful and keep the house poop-free, too. I'd hate to have anything happen to her. I have had many house pigeons and aviary pigeons who came from being free-fliers, and I've yet to have one single bird who seems at all unhappy being kept a "prisoner" (not flying free). They all have settled in and enjoy the easy life, and I don't have to feel guilty for keeping them from flying outside. Instead, I rest assured that they are all safe and content.

[irretractable]

Any suggestions on getting the diaper on? I've tried a couple times, and she squirms the whole time. She doesn't fly away, but she'll fly from my head to my shoulder to my lap, etc. . .

She hates being in a cage - right now I have a small one b/c I only put her in it at night. I can get a bigger one or I can keep her in my bathroom while I'm gone. Will she get used to this eventually? About her being tame - She's tame to me only . . .she gets very uneasy when guests come over. I don't have other pets (except caged rats) so she hasn't gotten used to cats or dogs. And she flies around with a flock of other pigeons during the day. So I'm entirely sure how tame she/he actually is . . .

[irretractable]

Also, part of my problem is that I'm getting such mixed messages. When I talked to a local bird rehab group, they were very adament that I should do absolutely everything possible to allow the bird to fly free . . .that a wild animal is not meant to be caged (or apartmented, etc) . . .and that death is a risk worth taking for an animal's freedom. I don't necessarily agree with that (thus the reason for my post), but a certainly have a degree of guilt anytime I have her in her cage or closed into my bathroom . . .

[Jay3]

I can understand how you feel. I raised 6 babies at the same time, and had planned a soft release. Then a squirrel chewed through the enclosure, and some of them got out. I was frantic. I realised that they didn't know anything about hawks, or how to find food, or about eating junk food, etc. Well, they came back, but one took a couple of days, as I work and probably wasn't here at different times of the day, when he tried to get back in. I realised how much I cared about them, and am now in the process of building a loft and aviary. I'm torn too, because I kinda feel that they should be able to choose whether they want to stay or join the little flock outside. I'm adding a little door to let them out from, and get them back in from, but the longer I have them, I more I realise how difficult it will be to let them out. There are the two different schools of thought.
One is that they should be allowed to fly free,and that birds were given wings to fly. Which is true. And the other is that "what we have tamed, we are responsible for." Responsible to care for them and keep them safe. Which is also true. Being hand raised, they don't have a lot of the instincts that the free ferrals have. They haven't learned of the dangers out there. They don't really know how to survive. In a perfect world, you could let them fly free and enjoy the flock, then return safely to you each night. But this is far from a perfect world. So, I guess the decision is a personal one. Sometimes quality of life is more important then the length of it. So now, you have to decide how much quality he has with you, and how much with the flock. Does one outweigh the other? Foys has some great stuff called Poop Off. It removes pigeon poop from everything, including your carpets. And he would probably love a companion. They could keep each other company during your hours away. They are very social, and probably aren't happy if left alone all day. But it certainly wouldn't be hard to find a friend for him here. Many people would be more than happy to fill that order. Some people think it mean to own a dog if you work all day. They too are social and like company. I always have at least two for company. That way, they are not alone, and I don't feel so badly about being away during the day. Some people even set up a room for them. Like a giant aviary. If you have room, that's a great idea. Unfortunately, not everybody has the room. Give it some thought. Only you can make the right decision for you, according to your belief system. Let us know what you decide to do. Good luck. I'm still struggling with that one myself, so I'll be looking forward to reading peoples comments.

[jeepsterwannabe]

So how long has she been flying free during the day? It sounds to me that she has gotten the hang of it and might be OK. I raised a couple pigeons 15 years ago that lived very similar to the way you described. Come and go as they please, you know. they stuck around for probably 4 or 5 years, and that was in rural Georgia, many many hawks around.

[feralpigeon]

Take a look at this link from the Resource Section:

http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/f25/re...als-11919.html

It can get confusing but it's best to make the choice and follow through. If you are 'cuddling' w/the bird, it's not good to also let the bird out free flying w/a feral flock because you in essence are asking the bird to straddle both worlds of human dependance and feral flock life. The bird will not have the same survival skills that the rest of the flock will have and these are the kinds of cues that falcons and hawks pick up on.

The bird will become acclimated to life as a pet if this is your choice. Some folks use dog carriers such as the one in the following link because of the spaciousness:

http://www.dog.com/item/general-cage...ate-pet-crate/

You can get a companion bird for your pigeon or not, either way the bird will
adapt. It sounds as though the bird is pretty bonded to you which doesn't
make the pij a good candidate for release. BTW, pigeons are feral and not
wild which makes them pretty adaptable to living w/humans.

fp

[jeepsterwannabe]

Originally Posted by feralpigeon

You can get a companion bird for your pigeon or not, either way the bird will
adapt. It sounds as though the bird is pretty bonded to you which doesn't
make the pij a good candidate for release. BTW, pigeons are feral and not
wild which makes them pretty adaptable to living w/humans.fp

Agreed, They will enjoy life with you alone or with a friend.

[KIPPY]

When I talked to a local bird rehab group, they were very adament that I should do absolutely everything possible to allow the bird to fly free . . .that a wild animal is not meant to be caged

That entertaining. I have a couple ferals that won't leave that were not hand raised. I think each pigeon is different. I would go from the actions of your pigeon and your gut feeling and not the rehab group.

[Jay3]

Originally Posted by feralpigeon

Take a look at this link from the Resource Section:

http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/f25/re...als-11919.html

It can get confusing but it's best to make the choice and follow through. If you are 'cuddling' w/the bird, it's not good to also let the bird out free flying w/a feral flock because you in essence are asking the bird to straddle both worlds of human dependance and feral flock life. The bird will not have the same survival skills that the rest of the flock will have and these are the kinds of cues that falcons and hawks pick up on.

The bird will become acclimated to life as a pet if this is your choice. Some folks use dog carriers such as the one in the following link because of the spaciousness:

http://www.dog.com/item/general-cage...ate-pet-crate/

You can get a companion bird for your pigeon or not, either way the bird will
adapt. It sounds as though the bird is pretty bonded to you which doesn't
make the pij a good candidate for release. BTW, pigeons are feral and not
wild which makes them pretty adaptable to living w/humans.

fp

Thanks for the info feralpigeon. Helpful.

[irretractable]

Thank you all for the comments and suggestions . . .

Jeepsterwannabe - he/she flies free all day and tends to come home around 4pm.

About the companion idea . . .I don't have cats or dogs b/c I work too long at this point and can't keep them company. I have two rats so they can keep each other company. I didn't intend on having a pigeon, but I've been blessed by one!

So, there seem to be several ideas on getting a companion or not - I'd certainly feel less guilty leaving him alone for 16 hours at a time, but how well does a pigeon that's been raised by itself adapt to a newcomer? He has been flying with a flock so it's not like he's never seen another pigeon before . . .but he's never had one on his territory . . .

[jeepsterwannabe]

I am Sorry I wasnt clear, I meant to ask how long has she/he been flying free as in how many months, weeks, years, decades, millenium?

[irretractable]

Oh, I get it =) About 3-4 weeks at this point (but she's only really stayed gone for most of the day for about 2 weeks.) She's only 2 months old . . .

[lwerden]

Like you, I too, have a rescued pigeon that I have hand raised since he was about 1 week old.

Unfortunately my bird was injured and can never be released or be let out to fly on his own as he has only one eye. However that is not the only reason that I would never consider releasing him. If he had both eyes and was perfect in every way he could never survive on his own. He does not know that he is a wild bird. He has become attached to me and me to him. He has no fear of his worst preditor - MAN. There are alot of piegon haters out there. A bird that has been hand raised and has bonded with humans can not determine which human is friend or foe. He does not have the same survival skills that a wild bird raised by bird parents would have. In addition, if you bird is only 2 months old, although he is not a baby anymore, he is just a young adolecent and is far from full grown. He could run into so many problems out on his own at this age.

My only words of advice to you is don't let anyone GUILT YOU INTO THINKING IT IS CRUEL TO KEEP HIM AS A HOUSE PIEGON. There are many who believe you are depriving him of his needs and freedom to be wild. DON'T EVER BELIEVE THAT!!!

Love him and enjoy his company. He will have a wonderful long and happy life with you.

Thank you so much for saving this precious little creature.