Carriers

[Kevbo]

I didn't see a thread for this, so I thought this would be the best place to start: Do people still use carrying pigeons to send messages back and forth? I am looking for someone who could either help me out in this area, or point me in the right direction for where to start.

Maybe I'm just a romantic, but I would really like to propose to my girlfriend by having a pigeon carrying the ring up to us. If anyone can get me some info on this (perhaps just to tell me if the idea is even doable or not) I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

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Kevbo
"Soar like an eagle" -Isaiah 40:31

[Trees Gray]

Hello and welcome to pigeons.com

I think that is a beautiful and romantic way to propose!

People still use homing pigeons and white pigeons for special bird release events like weddings and such.

Getting a pigeon to "home" takes time, but getting a pigeon to fly to your hand would mean you would have to be involved in the training. The bird would have to learn to trust you, or know you are going to have a snack of peanuts as a reward.

As far as the bird carrying the ring, that would have to be worked out by the owner, making sure it is completely safe and secured so the bird can't get hooked up on anything, and that it won't be dropped. How about just have the bird carry the proposal message?

I would start calling people in your area, that do white bird releases, or people who train pigeons for shows. Perhaps they can work something out to make this event possible for you, or direct you to someone who can.

Good luck with this, I think it is a great idea, if safety and security issues can be worked out for everyone!

I will see if I can get one of our white bird release members to post.

Treesa

[WhiteWingsCa]

It would be wonderful if we could train our birds to do that -- unfortunately, it is very difficult. Since the birds are 'homing' pigeons, the first thing they do when let loose it exactly that -- head for home.

You do have some options though. Some (most?) 'dove' release companies will work with you to do a 'proposal' release. One possibility is two birds, in a pretty decorated cage, --- once your intended says yes, you both open the cage and set the birds free -- two spirits, flying off together, starting a new period in life together (your engagement).

I have heard of people thinking it would be nice to train their birds to 'deliver' the rings during a ceremony. I've yet to hear of anyone doing it successfully though. AND, the general consensus was to use 'FAKE' rings, just in case at the last minute, the bird got ornery, and decided it didn't want to perform as trained. It would be awful to have a very expensive ring go flying away, tied to a bird. Worse still, if something happened, and the bird didn't make it home.

[Kevbo]

Thank you both for replying and helping me out. Do you know how I could get a hold of any white pigeon or homing pigeon places in my area? The Yellow Pages haven't been extremely helpful to me, but that's probably because I don't know where to look...

[Trees Gray]

Hi Kevbo,

Look in your yellow pages under Wedding Planners and /or Consultants. They should be able to give you phone numbers for wedding release pigeons, I'm sure.

Treesa

[Kevbo]

Thanks, Treesa!

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Kevbo
"Soar like an eagle" -Isaiah 40:31