Hello,
I just joined this forum to learn as much as I can about pet pigeons. I work for animal control and we often pick up or get calls on pigeons. Sometimes we're able to contact rightful owners, sometime they're not banded and not claimed. I think we've had about eight of them plus a pair of ringnecks over the five years that I've been here and we were able to find appropriate homes for everybody.
We currently have a lone Helmet that we picked up several months ago. I posted him/her on Petfinder and a couple of other forums, but no takers. S/he's been living in a cage in our cat room, certainly not ideal but at least safe and cared for. I feel sorry for this bird. It bothers me to see it in a small cage everyday. A few days ago, I decided that I'd take him/her home to foster, at least.
He'll be living in part of my chicken coop. I've been doing much reading on the subject and I understand that it's a bit controversial. Others on my chicken forum have done this with success, so I'm going to give it a try. The pigeon will have its own insulated box, hung high in the chicken run, its own feeding platform, water, perches, etc. I know where my chickens have been, I keep them wormed and mite/lice free. In the fall they were all treated for coccidiosis as a precautionary measure after one pullet was looking and acting a bit under the weather. (Nothing came of it and her condition improved within a couple pf days). My birds are all very healthy and the pigeon has shown no signs of illness or parasites in the 7-8 months it has been here. Are there any precautions that I should take in this respect?
If all goes exceptionally well, I will likely keep the pigeon and find a companion for him/her. If it doesn't work out, I'll keep him in my home in a large flight cage and hopefully find him a permanent home!
Advice, input, comments, questions, concerns, etc are welcome! Thank you!
I just joined this forum to learn as much as I can about pet pigeons. I work for animal control and we often pick up or get calls on pigeons. Sometimes we're able to contact rightful owners, sometime they're not banded and not claimed. I think we've had about eight of them plus a pair of ringnecks over the five years that I've been here and we were able to find appropriate homes for everybody.
We currently have a lone Helmet that we picked up several months ago. I posted him/her on Petfinder and a couple of other forums, but no takers. S/he's been living in a cage in our cat room, certainly not ideal but at least safe and cared for. I feel sorry for this bird. It bothers me to see it in a small cage everyday. A few days ago, I decided that I'd take him/her home to foster, at least.
He'll be living in part of my chicken coop. I've been doing much reading on the subject and I understand that it's a bit controversial. Others on my chicken forum have done this with success, so I'm going to give it a try. The pigeon will have its own insulated box, hung high in the chicken run, its own feeding platform, water, perches, etc. I know where my chickens have been, I keep them wormed and mite/lice free. In the fall they were all treated for coccidiosis as a precautionary measure after one pullet was looking and acting a bit under the weather. (Nothing came of it and her condition improved within a couple pf days). My birds are all very healthy and the pigeon has shown no signs of illness or parasites in the 7-8 months it has been here. Are there any precautions that I should take in this respect?
If all goes exceptionally well, I will likely keep the pigeon and find a companion for him/her. If it doesn't work out, I'll keep him in my home in a large flight cage and hopefully find him a permanent home!
Advice, input, comments, questions, concerns, etc are welcome! Thank you!