I Need Help With A Decision

[Jay3]

Hi guys. Some of you probably remember me. I had the 6 baby pigeons to raise after an old porch had been torn down, along with the nests. I had planned on doing a soft release eventually, as we have a small ferral flock that visits my yard daily. Well, yesterday I came home and went in to feed the 2 younger ones. They were born about April 25. They are about a month behind the other 4. I keep them all outside together now, in the area under my 8X10 foot deck that I enclosed. But the regular pigeon feed that the others eat is still a bit large for them, so I give them extra feedings of the safflower and other smaller seeds a couple of times a day. When I went in to feed them, I did a head count and found that Katie was missing. I freaked! I searched every nook and cranny, but to no avail. As I walked around outside, I noticed that a (must have been a squirrel) hole had been chewed through the heavy plastic chicken wire-like fencing that I had used to enclose the area. The ferrals were up on the roof, and there, in the middle of them was my Katie. I went up on the deck to get close to the roof, and try to coax her to me with food. She came close, but just out of reach. I was frantic, as I had to go back out to an evening patient, and knew it would be getting dark before I returned. She would try to get into the enclosure, but couldn't remember where the hole was where she had gotten out. Any way, I left for work, and my husband eventually caught her, clinging to the plastic fencing and trying to get in. God, was I relieved! He just went out to buy some wire fencing to enclose the area. Can't go through that again! All this had me wondering how I was going to be able to release my babies. I thought they would be better off free, but now, am not so sure. I don't have a loft, just the enclosure under the deck. It is 8X10 and about 8 feet high. What would I need to be able to keep them. This is New England, Massachusetts, and it gets cold in the winter time with snow. I would like to be able to let them out to excercise, but would like to have them come back to safety afterwards. Can this be done, or would they just automatically want to join the little flock outside?
Also, how old are pigeons when they start acting like couples? Two of mine that were not getting along a few weeks ago, are now roosting together all the time, and today they were cooing and snuggling and climbing all over each other. These are the two I thought were males. Rocky and Barron. Surely they are still too young to be wanting to mate. They would only be about three months old.
I would welcome ideas on how to fix something up to be able to keep them. Or should I just release them, and make sure that roosting places were available, in case they kept returning. I would, of course, always keep food available too. I would worry about them out there though. Funny, how in the whole group of mixed pigeons, I knew Katie right away. They mostly all look fairly similar. Why are they so addicting? Anyway, I would really welcome everyones ideas. I just want to do what is best for them. It probably sounds silly to worry so much about 6 little ferral pigeons that I had absolutely no intention of keeping to begin with. I just couldn't leave little babies out there to die. Now I've fallen in love.

[Charis]

Oh...I understand. If it's safe around your house, I'd let them make up their own mind and add a trap to your enclosure so they can come and go. Some of them may end up living with the feral flock while others may not or find a mate and bring the mate back.If they decide, it takes the burden of making the decision from you and you have allowed them to take their life back.
Just don't let them become overwhelmed with babies. I would always recommend replacing the eggs with wooden ones.
It could be, that your calling is to do just what you have none with these and raise orphaned baby pigeons. There is a great need. Just something to think about.

[Feather]

Just look at the face on that bird. No wonder you fell in love. The angels gave you the cutest they had and it worked. You are about as silly as the rest of us.

I would like to add to Charis's post about allowing to many babies. They have homing instincts. So if you sell them or give some away they may return to your house when given a little freedom. You and your pigeons will be a lot happier if you swap their eggs.

[Jay3]

Originally Posted by Charis

Oh...I understand. If it's safe around your house, I'd let them make up their own mind and add a trap to your enclosure so they can come and go. Some of them may end up living with the feral flock while others may not or find a mate and bring the mate back.If they decide, it takes the burden of making the decision from you and you have allowed them to take their life back.
Just don't let them become overwhelmed with babies. I would always recommend replacing the eggs with wooden ones.
It could be, that your calling is to do just what you have none with these and raise orphaned baby pigeons. There is a great need. Just something to think about.

That's pretty good advice, and I would like to give them the choice whether to stay or leave. It is pretty safe around my yard. All fenced in. But we do get an occasional coopers hawk. I'll have to watch for her.I spoke with a guy today, who is going to build a little wooden enclosure on one side of the deck. I can put up roosts and boxes. It'll be kind of like a little loft. That way, whoever is here will be safe and snug. And I'll build in a way in and out for them. And thank you for the advice about the wooden eggs. I shall get some. We put up the wire mesh today, and the whole time I was nailing it on, Luigi and Pinz were sitting on my shoulder, and nibbling on my ear. I have a feeling they might be here to stay. I certainly hope so. They have no fear of me at all. They were the two younger ones. I'm all they have ever known as far as a Mom. They probably would get into trouble out in the wild.
You mentioned there was a need for people to raise orphaned pigeons. Where do they find these pigeons? I'll don't imagine many people want to spend that much time in feeding and caring for them. But I really didn't mind. I have a lot of patience with animals of any kind. Thanks again for your help.

[Charis]

Jay, Moxie will be a great resource for you as will this forum.
I think your decision with your birds is a good one. After all, they do belong to themselves and not us. They do deserve to determine their own fate by following their instinct.

[Jay3]

Originally Posted by Charis

Jay, Moxie will be a great resource for you as will this forum.
I think your decision with your birds is a good one. After all, they do belong to themselves and not us. They do deserve to determine their own fate by following their instinct.

I couldn't agree with you more about their right to choose. I also feel that if they have become so dependent on me, that they don't want to leave, then I am responsible for them. I didn't know all this when I rescued them, but I have learned so much since then. If some of them leave, I will be happy that they are living a normal life. But I'll worry about them. I'm sure I'll see them now and then, if the food out there gets scarce. Food water and shelter will always be available. I want to thank you for all the times you have helped me through this. I would gladly do it all again. It has been very rewarding. When I see them flying, I'll feel so good that I had a small part in it. Thanks.

[Charis]

You know Jay, you could band them so that you would always recognize them.

[Jay3]

I don't know anything about banding. Is it hard? Is there information that tells you how to do it?

[Charis]

You can buy snap on bands from the pigeon suppy places. They can be removed. Somehow, I have this notion that if a banded feral is found injured, it might not be thought to be feral and perhaps given a bit more respect.

[Jay3]

THANKS! GREAT IDEA! I'll look into it tomorrow............................along with the wooden eggs. I'm feeling pretty good right now. Things are working out quite well. You know something? You're always thinking.