Controling Pigeon Reproduction

[Bob R]

One of my concerns about pigeons for a hobby is how do you control reproduction...I would like to have a maximum of about six pigeons....I understand nest egg use, but is it harmful to never let the hens eggs hatch???.

Also, If you find yourself with several times more pigeons than you want, how do you get rid of them????.. Is there normally a market for pigeons you don't want??? If there is no market, what do you do with them???

I know of a case recently of a guy with maybe 50 or 75 beautiful (I think) tumbler pigeons trying to sell them for a buck each....Apparently just to get rid of them.

Thanks

Bob

[Thunderbird]

Best thing to do, if you want pairs, is to use 'pot-eggs'. That is, wooden eggs painted white. Check around and see if anybody near you wants birds out of your stock 1st, though. Check with your local pet shop, too.
Chris

[pigeon george]

the fake eggs is probly the best since if you just remove them the hen will lay a replacement pair shortly but i would look for pigeon auctions at pet shops or check the web for local clubs even if you only want a few theres a lot of fun watching chicks grow and you may get a color you prefer and replace a older bird with him

[Birdmom4ever]

Our loft is nearly at capacity and I use wooden eggs all the time. I've spoken to my vet about it and she said it's the best thing to do and won't harm the pigeons at all. I always feel a little guilty taking their eggs, but I don't think it's that big a deal to them. The wooden eggs don't hatch, they leave the nest, I clean it up and they happily begin courting and nesting again.

Be careful to check even nests with wooden eggs, though. I grew lax in checking nests I knew had fake eggs and discovered a fertile egg in one of the nests. The parents later abandoned that nest to start over and I had to foster the egg to another pair. The chick hatched but unfortunately didn't make it, perhaps because the egg got cold when it was abandoned. Now I check every nest every day.

[Trees Gray]

I feel guilty about taking the eggs away too, and used to worry sbout the hens suffering psychologically from it. But then again, you have to, so the birds you own will have quality of life, and not be overcrowded or underfed. That would be abusive in itself.

I think we are being responsible when we take the eggs away. It is hard not having the "baby days" and I'm going to miss it this year, but I have a little room in case a really needy bird needs a home.
Treesa

[Birdmom4ever]

I feel like you do, Treesa. I don't want to fill my loft with babies and have no room if a special pigeon comes along and needs a home. I like to leave myself a little wiggle room. Anyway, if I didn't take eggs we'd have hundreds of pigeons by now and I couldn't possibly take proper care of them. We do what we must.