diarrhea

[hank]

Well Guys, here's an update on "Hank" . It really must be a male! he is ornery! the last two days, when I change his water dish, he puffs up & WHACKS me with his wing! he holds his ground & is very sure of himself. I had already decided he should go free when able to fly well, & now I know he should! it is cute, really. I really thought about the last post, & decided him finding a mate, would be the best. I don't have a Pigeon house, and I will talk with the people where the wild Pigeons hang out & eat his horse grain, to make sure he is OK with them being there, That way he can settle in with that flock. How will I know when to release him? I would hate to have to run after him if he does not fly well. Would the others pick on him if he is not fully mature? he eats VERY well! so that does not concern me.
Thanks, Rohde

[dano7]

Looking really good - he winged slapped you because you were messing about in "his" territory. For sure it's a boy - only the boys are jackasses quite like that. Hens will wing slap you in very defensive situations such as when they are on eggs but they just want you to go away whereas the guys will sometimes really enjoy getting a piece of you. lol

This also shows he is progressing well. The release point should be when he eats seeds well and he is a strong flyer - in your case he will start doing acrobatics in his room. His primary feathers, the long ones in the wings should be almost as long as the tail feathers, and the tail feathers should be about 3 inches long - or just that he looks almost as big as an adult pigeon, just on the lean side. If you are not sure keep him until you are.

If you let him go at a pigeon site he will not likely know the way home if he needs a meal but if the wilders have a solid feeding program you could release him at meal time. If you release him at your home feeding session, he may not hook up with the locals immediately. Anyway, if he is healthy he should be good to go very soon. Good job.

[Trees Gray]

Hi Hank,


Oh, how cool, what a great sign!!!A boy, and a healthy one!!

Please find him a home if you can't keep him. He sounds like he is getting nice and comfy and cozy in your place. He may have bonded to you.

Dano knows much more then I do about releasing a young feral, he is an expert, so please follow his advice, if you can't keep him.

Treesa

[hank]

Yes, I wish I knew someone who would give him a good home. I don't know of anybody around here with pigeons(I only see the 1 flock of wild ones) but I will ask the Vet if they know of anyone. Wish one of you guys could take him, then he would be with someone who LOVES him! (he does NOT like ME, lol!) but like was said, that's a good sign, It just makes me laugh. since he is in a cage, I feel the sooner he is with someone with a proper loft or out in the wild, the better. Before, he seemed fragile, & needed all the TLC, but now I believe he needs more room. I will hold on to him for as long as needed, tho. It is AMAZING how everday he looks different! He is getting a bit of white on him & only has a few yellow bits of down on him.
Thanks! Rohde

[dano7]

Maybe he will get better social skills if your family gives him some time. If there is no home available, I would do what Treesa does with her new birds. Put him out in the cage (in a safe spot) especially when Quail boy and the doves play their set. At least he will get to know the lay of the land, he could get some sunshine, get used to the other birds and the feeding routine, and one day you could open the door and step away. Since he is feisty and wild born, I think he will really take off but maybe he will come back to his cage. He could be like your quail. Treesa, he would not have the flying routine given to him by the flock like your young birds; maybe you could refine this idea - it's really your field, lol.

[hank]

Well now I am a bit confused on what to do...that's easy for me to be tho
here's the thing.....I have "wally" the quail (3 yrs.) in a a VERY large a aquaium in the house, and he has always been happy (I tried to release him, but he came back, and was almost in my dogs mouth) so now he lives in the house, but in his aquaium, but he never wants out, so I just spoil him daily with treats and a "outside feel" hollow logs, etc. so he is easy.
The other birds, Quial & mourning doves outside are wild & I only leave feed for them. But there are not any Pigeons around my house. I wish there were, then I would release him here, but the only Pigeons I know of are in town (a couple of miles away) so that is where I was going to release him. I could take him outside & hang his cage for fresh air, but if I open the cage for him, he would not have any Pigeons here & if he did fly away & come back my cats would get him if he just "hung out" on the ground. The wild birds know to be on the look out, but would still get it, of course, if I did not get the cat in early enough in the morning ( I TRY to only let them out at dark) but the dark hours are getting shorter & with kids they do get out.
Am I making any sense? that is a good idea about hanging his cage outside with the door shut in the day, I used to do that with Wally, until the bees get bad. But could he learn anything from the birds if he is in a cage? how about this:
Put "Hank" outside in closed cage during nice days (today) and keep him until he looks fully mature (a couple of weeks?) then take him to town, and release him when I see the other Pigeons. Would that work?
Thanks! Rohde

[Trees Gray]

I am not sure about training and releasing feral pigeons. I only know how to train and release domestic homing pigeons.

I'm sure if you get him used to his surroundings, and let him practice his flying skills he will be ready for the great outdoors. But like Dano said, I would not know where to release him..at home, where he can return when he is hungry...or with the ferals...where he can hangout, but not be sure of where his meals are coming from.

Lets think about that one for the time being......

Treesa

[hank]

OK! glad I am not on my own with this! I have taken in other birds for a while, but never had to release them anywhere but my yard, because that is always where they come from. I called the Vet in town & they said they don't know of anybody who has them. They said they will let me know if something changes. I will just keep feeding him & laugh at him while he "whacks" me
Thanks for your help again~
Rohde

[dano7]

OK, we are on the same page even if unsure.

For now I hope you can put Hank outdoors in his (secure) cage a bunch - birds I have raised really know the difference when they are out or in and they are very frightened and excited when brought out. Hank needs to make this adjustment before the big day. Maybe a partial covering for a shade/sun option.

[hank]

Yep, I have a place to hang the cage during daytime that is in the shade, but I also feed the racoons, so I will bring him in before dusk. We don't want those critters messing with him!
Man, they do poop a lot! it's like having a mini Goose in the house
thanks, Rohde