Feral Vs. ..........

[Shrek]

Okay I have to ask. I read all this about feral pigeons getting into your pigeons.......and kinda get the feeling most think ferals aren't as good as there pets. Well what makes a pigeon not feral? At one time weren't all pigeons feral? I'm seeing some gorgeous pigeons that are considered feral that actually just look like someones rollers and homers that left or got out.......so why are these bad? Or not as good?



Thanks.
Shrek

[learning]

Originally Posted by Shrek

Okay I have to ask. I read all this about feral pigeons getting into your pigeons.......and kinda get the feeling most think ferals aren't as good as there pets. Well what makes a pigeon not feral? At one time weren't all pigeons feral? I'm seeing some gorgeous pigeons that are considered feral that actually just look like someones rollers and homers that left or got out.......so why are these bad? Or not as good?



Thanks.
Shrek

I don't think anyone thinks they are "bad" persay. It is just what the animal has been bred to do. It is the same with horses. There are a whole lot of absolutely gorgeous wild horses out there, but you aren't going to see many of them winning the Kentucky Derby. There are certain desirable qualities and traits that have been intensified over the years through selective domestic breeding that make certain animals more apt to perform at a higher level than its "feral" counterparts that have had mother nature do the selecting.

Random selection ensures the highest degree of genetic survivability in the wild. Through natural selection or "survival of the fittest" if you were, you create a population with a wide genetic base. This is called hybrid vigor. If you want to intensify or heighten given desireable traits, be it speed, homing ability, or a particular look, you must practice selective breeding to bring this about.

This basically describes the difference between the two. Not better or worse just different desired outcomes.

Hope this helps without getting too analytical!

Dan

[Charis]

They aren't bad, in my opinion. I love them all the same.
I think it's really critical, that as a forum, we stop discriminating against the feral pigeons. They are just as deserving of life, honor and respect as the pure breeds.

[John_D]

Ferals, whether they be pigeons or some other birds or animals, are those which have at some time been considered as domesticated and have escaped, or been freed, and live in a wild state (but not necessarily their natural environment). If they manage to reproduce, then their descendants are also classed as 'feral'.

Feral pigeons live free and are descended from pigeons which were domesticated centuries back, plus the odd racers or performing pigeons who just went missing and joined the flocks. We have a couple of rescued pigeons who look like Rollers, and may have been the pairing of a lost Roller with a feral.

I guess fanciers, racing or fancy breeds, having got birds carefully bred over generations, don't much want ferals breeding with their birds and (as I have heard said) 'diluting' the gene pool or messing up the bloodline, or whatever..


There are also genuine wild pigeons (of the kind we're talking about) - never had anything to do with people - but they only live in a few places like islands off Scotland or Ireland.

Just depends where you are comiong from, really - to me, any pigeon is as 'good' as any other

John

[Shrek]

I ask because we caught some out of a guys barn. He was going to have them shot. Some look identical to my rollers. In fact some were prettier then my rollers. Then there were a couple that look like my homers that were very healthy and it got us thinking....

Thanks guys.

Shrek

[EgypSwiftLady]

My thinking is that I feel the same for all pigeons, I think they are beautiful creatures, ferals are wild there fore haven't had the vaccinations, worming or parasite controll that most of us provide for our flocks and could bring in a potenial problem. I would and will take in injured ferals if given the chance but they will be quarentined, all new animals go through a 30- 60 days quarentine with us.
Just my 2 cents.

[maryjane]

Yup, I'm sure some of the ones you caught are as beautiful if not more so than your "domesticated" ones. I have some stunning pigeons that were feral, and some of their babies are just lovely. Some feral flocks undoubtedly have "escapees" that joined them and they have those bloodlines going through them. I don't have any pigeons that are specifically used for something; i.e. rollers or homers or the like, so they are all the same to me.

[John_D]

Dan -

I have to say that your post, to me, provided excellent definitions and explanation of the differences

John

[solly]

I feed a feral flock and the majority are a mixture of brown ,white and like patchy ones.Ialso feed a very small group at the shops where i live and some of these are brown or black with white heads.Think these have all come from once pet/fancy pigeons.Alot of them have the long feathers covering their feet.

[jojo67]

Originally Posted by EgypSwiftLady

My thinking is that I feel the same for all pigeons, I think they are beautiful creatures, ferals are wild there fore haven't had the vaccinations, worming or parasite controll that most of us provide for our flocks and could bring in a potenial problem. I would and will take in injured ferals if given the chance but they will be quarentined, all new animals go through a 30- 60 days quarentine with us.
Just my 2 cents.

all very true, people would be more cauious about ferals and what their birds could pick up from them,
In our town a flock of ferals are steadily increasing, they are a wonderful site, when i amgoing to work i watch out for them,

[Charis]

Originally Posted by jojo67

all very true, people would be more cauious about ferals and what their birds could pick up from them,
In our town a flock of ferals are steadily increasing, they are a wonderful site, when i amgoing to work i watch out for them,

OH FOR PETE"S SAKE! Loft pigeons can have just as many illnesses/parasites as the ferals can.

[jojo67]

Originally Posted by Charis

OH FOR PETE"S SAKE! Loft pigeons can have just as many illnesses/parasites as the ferals can.

FOR PETES SAKE'' theirs no point increasing the chances, not when you follow a programme to keep your own healthy. who treads the feral pigeons

[Charis]

Originally Posted by jojo67

FOR PETES SAKE'' theirs no point increasing the chances, not when you follow a programme to keep your own healthy. who treads the feral pigeons

I know that most of us do treat our pigeons regularly but many folks that have pigeons don't understand the importance of doing so. Over and over again folks contact our forum because they have a sick pigeon or pigeons. Most often, they have no idea about pigeon illnesses or what to treat them with or how to tresat them. Somehow, thay have managed to obtain these birds without doing any research. Amazing to me.
Thank goodness for us!

[jojo67]

Originally Posted by Charis

I know that most of us do treat our pigeons regularly but many folks that have pigeons don't understand the importance of doing so. Over and over again folks contact our forum because they have a sick pigeon or pigeons. Most often, they have no idea about pigeon illnesses or what to treat them with or how to tresat them. Somehow, thay have managed to obtain these birds without doing any research. Amazing to me.
Thank goodness for us!

Very good charis, but i was only stating the cauious approach i would have to the feral pigeon, as am sure others on here would have, knowing the importance of trying to keep them healthy, if i got one into my loft, i would try and do my best by it,
Your point is well taken,

[Snowbird Sue]

Isn't his a learning forum in the first place? I thought all were welcome, weather they had a loft, or just found one fallen from the nest. Yes, it is nice to have a place to find answers when you have questions, but I would also be quite leary of a feral around my coop. I sure wouldn't want anything "new" coming into contact with my birds either. I do think they are pretty, but at a distance.