Resting Places...not nests

[kippermom]

I am putting the finishing touches on a new dove/king pigeon aviary. There will be NO reproduction! (can't stop the sex!). I do not want nests or nest boxes, but would like to provide a comfortable place to sleep and snuggle....are 2x4 perches enough or do they need "cubbies" or wider stoops or do they need actual nests even though the eggs will all be dummies? Thoughts?

I want them happy...but not multiplying!

[LUCKYT]

LOL! They are Pigeons, how can they be happy, without breeding? I think they would become "insane" with just Dummy eggs, on a permanent basis.
Dave

[wolfwood]

Excellent thread, kippermom!!! We also are done with the reproduction and all eggs will be replaced with dummies!! I've had the same thoughts and actually wondered if we should remove our 2 rows of "cubbies" which our feathered friends have been perfectly happy to nest in. However, as others have said their birds have nested on the floor ... I would think that you will have eggs whether or not what you provide is technically called a "nest box" or a "loft floor".

[Lovebirds]

IMO, leave the cubbies. The birds are going to nest somewhere, cubbie or no cubbie. If they're going to do it, why not let them be HAPPY while they're doing it. I separate my sexes during the off season (non-breeding season) and (non-racing) season. I always have AT LEAST two nests in the corner of the hens loft in the floor with mated hens. Sometimes, I have one in each corner. If the birds are healthy and happy, they're going to do what pigeons do. You can't stop it. Just keep a good supply of dummy eggs and let them be pigeons.

[wolfwood]

Renee, a hen is gonna lay (hopefully) whether or not she's bred...isn't she? Isn't that part of her staying healthy?

btw, our cubbies are staying (!). In fact, we'll be building more so everyone can have a cushy box for relaxing in. We've got plenty of dummy eggs

[Lovebirds]

Originally Posted by wolfwood

Renee, a hen is gonna lay (hopefully) whether or not she's bred...isn't she? Isn't that part of her staying healthy?

btw, our cubbies are staying (!). In fact, we'll be building more so everyone can have a cushy box for relaxing in. We've got plenty of dummy eggs

Well, she won't lay without a mate of some kind, whether that be a cock, a hen or a human or a figment of her imagination............LOL
I mean, they don't lay eggs like chickens. Chickens are egg machines and just lay eggs because,...well, that's just what they do.
Chickens lay eggs because chickens lay eggs. Pigeons lay eggs because they're "in love".......

[wolfwood]

Originally Posted by Lovebirds

Well, she won't lay without a mate of some kind, whether that be a cock, a hen or a human or a figment of her imagination............LOL
I mean, they don't lay eggs like chickens. Chickens are egg machines and just lay eggs because,...well, that's just what they do.
Chickens lay eggs because chickens lay eggs. Pigeons lay eggs because they're "in love".......

Gotcha - thanks. I, obviously, didn't know that (but, thanks to you, I do now!!!)

We'll probably also be building a doored screen wall in the loft & aviary to separate the sexes. Then we'll know that any eggs to be discarded aren't fertile.

[frankie1159]

My pigeons lay weather they have nests or not! And they're not fooled by the dummy eggs either.

I think they would be alot happier with cubbies even if you had a loft full of just cockbirds ,with hens well unless your planning I seperating them like everyone else said they will be laying eggs somewhere so you might as well provide them a place to do it

[AZWhitefeather]

Originally Posted by LUCKYT

LOL! They are Pigeons, how can they be happy, without breeding?

I think they would become "insane" with just Dummy eggs, on a permanent basis.
Dave

Not mine!
We allowed Mikko and Pij'ette to raise one set of babies and thereafter it was wooden eggs.
That was 6 years ago.

They don't seem traumatized in the least that they aren't actually raising baby after baby.
They certainly don't appear to be insane.

Cindy

[AZWhitefeather]

Originally Posted by kippermom

I am putting the finishing touches on a new dove/king pigeon aviary. There will be NO reproduction! (can't stop the sex!). I do not want nests or nest boxes, but would like to provide a comfortable place to sleep and snuggle....are 2x4 perches enough or do they need "cubbies" or wider stoops or do they need actual nests even though the eggs will all be dummies? Thoughts?

* I want them happy...but not multiplying!

H Kippermom,
I bought small baskets at the 99 cents store for my guy's nest 'baskets'. They all love them.

I took this photo from Dolly and Dumpling's photo album. The empty basket in the lower right corner belongs to Mikko and Samantha.
At the tope of the photo, Pij'ette is sitting in her basket (where she spends most of her time) that she shares with Mikko (he's a busy guy )
I attach the baskets to the aviary wire with a couple zip ties (or whatever you call those things) so they don't move around, fill them with pine needles and we got an aviary full of happy pijjies.

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u...MalioDaugh.jpg

* I agree with you 100%.

Cindy

[kippermom]

I really like the basket idea...I will check at the dollar store...(it used to be the .99 cent store but what with inflation and all...) I do want them cozy and I understand they will mate and lay their eggs whether I give them something called a nest or not...might a well make them comfortable in the process...thanks all.

[UncleBuck]

I like the cubbies. My reason is that sometimes, when the pecking order is changing, the less dominant birds have a place to go and stay out of the way. Some of these birds can be brutal (Betcha never thought you'ld hear the term brutal when talking about pigeons.) and terrorize the other birds.
Also, with it being cold here in Missouri it gives them a place to fluff up and stay warm.

[AZWhitefeather]

Originally Posted by kippermom

I really like the basket idea...
* I will check at the dollar store...(it used to be the .99 cent store but what with inflation and all...

** I do want them cozy and I understand they will mate and lay their eggs whether I give them something called a nest or not...might a well make them comfortable in the process...thanks all.

* I should have clarified a bit. I actually go to the Dollar Tree. Believe it or not, everything is still a $ or under.

** Dolly and Dumpling prefer a 'feather' nest rather than the 'outdoorsie' pine needles.
Can't get much cozier than this.
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u...atherfetis.jpg

Originally Posted by UncleBuck

I like the cubbies.
* My reason is that sometimes, when the pecking order is changing, the less dominant birds have a place to go and stay out of the way.

Some of these birds can be brutal (Betcha never thought you'ld hear the term brutal when talking about pigeons.) and terrorize the other birds.
Also, with it being cold here in Missouri it gives them a place to fluff up and stay warm.

* I can see where the cubbies would be good for those who breed their birds.

All mine are rescued non releasables, that were just looking for a safe place to live.
There's no pressure about breeding or placing one with another to get a specific outcome.
Each has their own mate that they chose themselves.

Although they free fly within the aviary, they respect each other's personal area. Well, except for Dolly maybe. He loves to irritate the devil out of his Grandpa.

Cindy

[bluebirdsnfur]

Cindy your birds are VERY pretty and I like the basket idea too. How long do you leave the fake eggs in the nests?