Temporary feeding arrangement for Dimity?

[dodo]

Hi all,

For those who might not remember, Dimity is a white and caramel coloured pigeon who joined my local feral flock about 4 months ago. I feed the ferals in my backyard at 8.00 am each morning (about 30 of them). Every afternoon (any time between 3.30 PM and 6.30 PM), Dimity arrives at my back laundry door for dinner. I give her this in a two chambered bowl that I leave in the laundry (feed + grit, although I don't necessarily consider the grit is essential 100% of the time because she lives in the wild). She actually used to come all the way into the kitchen, but I wasn't sure pigeons and kitchens at dinner time were a great mix!

Dimity has established this daily routine without fail. Not a single day has gone by where she fails to turn up at my back door. This is all fine, because I work at home and don't really go on any long trips away from home these days, owning to a chronic pain problem I have had for the last 7 years.

The problem is that some time this year (date unknown), my mother needs to go to hospital, and she has asked me if I would live at her house to look after her 5 cats whilst she was in hospital. Of course I agreed to this, but I am very worried about what might happen to Dimity.

Unfortunately, Mum' house is a 2.5 hour round trip away from my own house, and her cats feeding times clash with Dimity's. Even if there was no timing clash, I wouldn't be able to drive the round trip each day because of my own health problems.

My excellent neighbours are in a position to leave out the breakfast for the ferals, but no one in the neighbourhood is around in the afternoons to attend to Dimity's dinner. And to be honest, I think it would be too much to ask a non pigeon-lover to attend to the needs of a feral pigeon every single evening - without fail - after a hard slog at work. I tried an experiment yesterday where I "ignored" her until early evening but she became extremely desperate to get into my house. So I caved in of course. Apart from that, I can't vouch for the 100% reliability of my neighbours, so I really wish to find a solution that involves them as little as possible.

I was thinking about getting some sort of simple "self-feeding" system for Dimity that I could leave right outside the laundry door whilst I was gone - if such things exist. If it was something that could be easily filled each morning by my neighbours, and has some sort of transparent food container so Dimity could tell there was food in there, that might solve the trick.

Do such things exist? Are there a variety of types, sizes and mechanisms so that I can decide which is the most suitable? The other thing I thought is that I could wean Dimity onto the self feeder by giving her the self feeder rather than the bowl every 3rd day or so. Then perhaps every second day. So by the time I am away, she definitely knows where to get the food.

I definitely don't want to capture her and take her with me. She is exceptionally shy enough as it is and barely trusts me even now after this daily routine that has lasted 4 months. If I trapped her, I doubt she would ever come back after after being released again, not to mention the sheer panic she would go through in being captured and caged. So the only option I feel I can live with is some sort of self-feeding arrangement whereby my neighbour can re-stock it each morning.

[This message has been edited by dodo (edited March 27, 2004).]

[Trees Gray]

I have seen the self feeders at the pigeon supply places, but they are huge and made for a flock.

You should check the avian pet stores for a feeder with a clear jar that screws onto a plastic feeding system. Make sure it is strong and heavy enough that it won't fall over. They should have a small size, for one or two birds.

Is there a chance the feral flock might find Dimity's feeder, or do you have a special place that only Dimity knows about.Since you will not be there, is it safe from predators?
Will she accept the seed outside of your kitchen?

Yes, I would definitely start getting her used to the new feeding system once you find it and start feeding her from the same location the feeder will be at when you are not there. This will give her a chance to adapt to the new arrangements while you are still there to help.

Treesa

[dodo]

Thanks for the reply, Treesa. I think there is a specialty bird shop a few suburbs away that I will check out.

To answer your other questions, yes, there would be a fair chance some birds in the feral flock might find the feeder as well. However the only other birds I have noticed coming right to my back door are the young ferals who were born since the flock started visiting my house, or "retired" racers who have joined the feral flock as regulars (there are two of these).

But I'm not sure this would automatically mean my back door would become an area that hosts daily feeding frenzies. Still I would need to plan for the contigency that perhaps up to 4 or 5 birds may use it whilst I am away. I don't plan on being away more than a about 4 days at a time. So if Mum was in hospital for 2 weeks, I probably make 3 - 4 return visits to my house during that time to check things out.

Unfortunately there isn't really an area that I can find which the other ferals wouldn't be able to find as well. As for where Dimity accepts the seed, she could accept it in the kitchen, laundry or just outsdie the laundry door on the doormat. I've tried all three places and she has no problem with any of them.

She always lands on a pine post that is about 6 feet directly outside the laundry door. But because she never makes a noise, sometimes I miss the exact time at which she appears of an afternoon. If she has been waiting more than about 15 minutes, she is then usually to be found pressed right against the laundry door and tries to open it with her feet and beak.

btw, she is toilet trained. At first she used to poop all over my laundry. Each time she did this she watched me laboriously clean it up. Perhaps she felt bad about this, because now, she always poops just before she enters my house. Who said pigeons aren't considerate in this respect??!!

[dano7]

http://www.siegelpigeons.com/catalog-loft-drinkers.html
http://www.siegelpigeons.com/catalog-loft-scoops.html

Here are some ideas on feeders. Definitely rehearse this one as reccomended previously. Pigeons, especially a shy one, are very sensitive to the smallest changes and your pij will have to be comfortable with them if you are gone more than one or two days. The other issue can also be a show stopper. If you could leave the first door open for her that would go a long way to keeping the feeding "exclusive". If she could be trained to find a spot off the floor it would be nice as well. The fact that no other bird has crashed the party so far gives you hope if you can delicately negotiate the set up and training. Good luck and keep in touch.

[Lin Hansen]

Hello

Everyone has been offering such good ideas and resources for supplies that I am sure everything will work out well.

However, if you do have problems acclimating Dimity to a self feeding system...as a last resort, is it at all possible to bring your Mom's cats to your house to stay for the duration? All you would need for the trip would be some pet carriers (probably two large ones would do the trick, two or three cats in each one if they get along.) I know more about cats, than I do about pigeons (lol), and while most cats don't love travelling by car,(they will meow and complain aplenty) I had cats for many years and sometimes had to take them on vacations when I could not get someone to look after them...it's not that big a thing. When the cats arrive at a new place, all they do is walk around checking the whole place out. You show them where their food and litter box is and they settle right down.

I am sure it would be easier to care for your mother's cats in her own home, but like I said, as a last resort if all else fails, bringing the cats to you might be an option. You would be able to care for the cats and still know everything is well with Dimity, (because you know you will be worried about Dimity the entire time you are away.)

Well, good luck with your dilemma, I am sure with the good advice from others on this site, you will come up with a good solution.

Linda

[maryco]

Hello,

I believe there is a special feeder for cats and dogs that you can time, you fill it up with food and put the time on that you want it to open, it will open the flap and the animal will be able to eat the food.

I have just seen more sophisticated ones on the news that work by the internet, it's mostly for dogs so I'm not sure it will work for bird seed.
The owner can see the dog at home via a webcam that is built into the feeder, then with a click of the mouse at the office you can release one snack or kibble and the dog will be able to eat it. The pet will sit there most of the day waiting for something to come out..

I'm not sure if this one will work for you but I think the first feeder that I suggested is more common and available at petsmart.com

Aha!! I just found the link: http://www.petsmart.com/global/produ...mUID=108048729 9886

Hope that helps abit..

Mary




[This message has been edited by maryco (edited March 28, 2004).]

[Trees Gray]

Dimity is indeed a smart bird and I think will have no problem making the adjustment.

I'd like to see her open the laundry door with her beak and feet, I bet she could do it if she was a lot bigger!LOL!...and she is poop trained?.. doesn't surprise me one bit! Pigeons are smart!

Treesa

[dodo]

Thanks very much for everyone's replies. They have been very supportive and helpful!

Lin, of course mentioned a very logical solution, and that was to bring the cats down here. Well, that was something I suggested, but Mum doesn't like the idea (not that she thinks I wouldn't do a good job down here).

The alternative was that she board the cats. That would be the ideal solution if it weren't for the cost.

But you are right, whatever happens, I would be worrying about Dimity the whole time. At this stage, I feel that I am resolved to go through the pain of the 2.5 hour drive every day, or at worst every second day. I just keep getting this terrible feeling about Dimity turning up in the afternoon and me not being there. The daily ritual Dimity follows is well and truly set in stone and I can't bear to do anything that might result in it being changed.

I'm going to look at what feeders are around locally this week. If I can find a really good one, I might aim for using it every second day from about 2 weeks before I go. I'm sure I can manage the round trip every second day. That would mean Dimity would have her normal routine every second day and use the feeder every other day.

When I try to look at this situation objectively, it really seems a little bizarre. Here I am trying to juggle all sorts of logistics, 120 kilometre round trips and lots of sleepless nights to make sure this one "feral" pigeon gets her dinner! Just goes to show the effect they have on us.


Jonathan

[Lin Hansen]

Hi Jonathan,

I just thought of something else....does Mom have a trusted friend that could feed her cats every third day or so? That way you would not have to make the trip too often...if you have health problems, it is not a good idea for you to aggravate them making such a long drive every day...if you wind up hurting yourself, EVERYONE will be up the creek -- you, Dimity, cats and Mom!
Which leads to another thought....maybe it is a good idea for you to try and set up a self feeding system for Dimity no matter what you decide to do. It would be a good idea to at least experiment and see if it works...this way, if you are ever in a situation where you were not able to be at home for a few days, (illness, emergency, etc.) at least you and Dimity would be prepared. Also, if your mother is not too opposed to boarding the cats, here is another idea. I know it can be expensive, but compared to the time, difficulty, pain and worry you are going to have to endure making that drive or leaving Dimity, the cost might be worth it. Maybe you and Mom can start a savings plan now, 5 or 10 dollars a week each, and by the time she has to go to the hospital, together you might have enough money to cover the bill.

These are just some ideas I am throwing out...and no, you are not bizarre, you are caring. You are worried about and trying to do your best for your Mother and her cats and Dimity, and you are ready to put your own health on the line to do so. Just remember you will be no help to anyone if you injure yourself.

A little compromise may be in order on your mother's part....Please don't hurt yourself trying to take care of everyone.

Good luck,

Linda