Newbie questions

[icodebot]

I'm just starting out. I'm in the process of building a coop. My first worry is, when I let my pigeons out for the first time, what are the odds that they will actually come back?

I just picture letting them out and never see them again.

Do I just need to leave them in the coop long enough, so that they know it's home? I have read about letting them out hungry etc, so you can call them back. I'm not too concerned about them coming back on demand. I'll be happy if they just come back.

Also I was wondering are ring neck doves trainable, and can they be kept with pigeons?

[YaSin11]

Hi Icodebot,
Welcome to PT. I'm a relative newbie, but HAD to reply, since "I'm not too concerned about them coming back on demand. I'll be happy if they just come back."...I feel you on this. What kinda pigeons you got? I had/have the exact same attitude, and lost many birds due to luck & lack of knowledge. Recently I lost a bird after almost 3 months [!!]...it's heart-breaking. 'Homers' have a greater chance of returning I guess...best to keep them confined for a while..some say weeks, some say months. Tell me about the types of birds you have.As for 'ring-neck doves' lots of experts here,some1 should reply soon. Goto my profile page and 'see all posts'...my 1st posts were about the same as yours. Hope it helps. Wishing you good luck, Peace

[spirit wings]

Originally Posted by icodebot

I'm just starting out. I'm in the process of building a coop. My first worry is, when I let my pigeons out for the first time, what are the odds that they will actually come back?

I just picture letting them out and never see them again.

Do I just need to leave them in the coop long enough, so that they know it's home? I have read about letting them out hungry etc, so you can call them back. I'm not too concerned about them coming back on demand. I'll be happy if they just come back.

Also I was wondering are ring neck doves trainable, and can they be kept with pigeons?

This depends on what kind of breed of pigeons you have. the performance breeds are the ones let out to loft fly, so if you have a fancy breed I would not let them out, as they can fall prey to a preditor like hawk alot quicker than the "athlete" pigeons, the fancies are there to look pretty not out fly a hawk. If you are talking of homers, they have to be young to settle to your loft, starting with 30 to 40 day old squeakers. If these are adult homers they will try to go where their last home was and you will lose them. Ring neck doves can not be kept with pigeons they will get hurt and they can not take the cold as well as pigeons do, they should be kept as a pet bird in the house or a loft of their own with a heat source for the winter months.

[icodebot]

I have a roller pigeon, I got it from a feed store that sells them. I don't know how old it is, but it has a band on its leg that says 7/2008, so I guess that's its age. It's been in a cage it's whole life.

I'm still building the coop, and I'd like to get what ever is easiest to train as a homer.

[spirit wings]

Originally Posted by icodebot

I have a roller pigeon, I got it from a feed store that sells them. I don't know how old it is, but it has a band on its leg that says 7/2008, so I guess that's its age. It's been in a cage it's whole life.

I'm still building the coop, and I'd like to get what ever is easiest to train as a homer.

homers are a breed of pigeon, those are the ones that can be taken away from the loft so they can come home. rollers are only let out to fly around the loft, they do not have good homing instincts, and I would not fly only one bird, they fall prey to hawks without a flock....safty in numbers is better for them, one bird can get singled out as that is how hawks hunt.

[icodebot]

I plan on getting on more. I just want birds I can let out to fly around the loft, and have them return.

[spirit wings]

Originally Posted by icodebot

I plan on getting on more. I just want birds I can let out to fly around the loft, and have them return.

well, it is a smart thing to do coming here first BEFORE you get your birds, If you get birds that are good flyers and settled to your new coop, you should not have any problems with them flying away...just make sure you build the coop big enough for how many you want and some, If there is cramped conditions in the loft they may go else where. good luck and ask alot of questions before the fact it can save alot of time and heartache.

[cracyracing]

help we have two babys. weve had them 10 days and they are doing very well with feeding and everything. they have all wing feathers and are running and flapping theirwings. when is it ok to take them out of the 80 to 90 degrees enviroment and put them in a regular birdcage. we have a umbrella cockatuo and we love birds. thank you for any advise

[spirit wings]

Originally Posted by cracyracing

help we have two babys. weve had them 10 days and they are doing very well with feeding and everything. they have all wing feathers and are running and flapping theirwings. when is it ok to take them out of the 80 to 90 degrees enviroment and put them in a regular birdcage. we have a umbrella cockatuo and we love birds. thank you for any advise

they can keep themselves warm when they are featherd out, but I would acclimate them if you are going to be keeping them outdoors.

[cracyracing]

thank you for the info we are going to keep them inside til they are grown
we are really enjoying them

[doveone52]

I just started keeping pigeons-2 performing rollers and 4 shakhsharli's and 2 Indian fans-this summer. Will the shakhsharli's be good flyers or are they more for looks? I also would like to let them out on occasion but have the same concerns as above poster. Any info would be helpful!