Wasn't sure if this question belonged here or in Pet Pigeons, so I'm risking that I've gone to the right place ... <grin>
This summer I added a pair of Lavender Lahore pigeons to my loft. They bred succesfully and I now have two young birds. Unfortunately I lost the mother hen to a Coopers Hawk, along with two pink Rollers. But, back to the Lahore's ...
Does anyone know if and/or how much homing instinct the Lahore's may have? These Lahore's that I have don't seem to be all that much bigger than my blue bar Homers, and they fly regularly and quite well. The other day there must have been a hawk trying to raid my birds or my neighbor's birds (mostly rollers). My male and the two young birds disappeared for two days and I thought them lost. But yesterday morning I was pleasently surprised to see the three on the landing board and wanting in for breakfast. So that, along with other thoughts, peaked my interest in whether or not the Lavender Lahore's had any sort of homing instinct. I think they must have some, since they did return after two days of hiding from that hawk. But the question is just how strong is their homing instinct, if they have any at all?
I'm tempted, but learily so, to start working my way out from home and giving them a toss or three and seeing whether or not they'll find home. Maybe start at only a couple of hundred yards or so away and working my way out. The worry, though, is that I like these birds and am not sure that I want to deliberately risk one on a whim.
Dave up here in Green Bay, WI
This summer I added a pair of Lavender Lahore pigeons to my loft. They bred succesfully and I now have two young birds. Unfortunately I lost the mother hen to a Coopers Hawk, along with two pink Rollers. But, back to the Lahore's ...
Does anyone know if and/or how much homing instinct the Lahore's may have? These Lahore's that I have don't seem to be all that much bigger than my blue bar Homers, and they fly regularly and quite well. The other day there must have been a hawk trying to raid my birds or my neighbor's birds (mostly rollers). My male and the two young birds disappeared for two days and I thought them lost. But yesterday morning I was pleasently surprised to see the three on the landing board and wanting in for breakfast. So that, along with other thoughts, peaked my interest in whether or not the Lavender Lahore's had any sort of homing instinct. I think they must have some, since they did return after two days of hiding from that hawk. But the question is just how strong is their homing instinct, if they have any at all?
I'm tempted, but learily so, to start working my way out from home and giving them a toss or three and seeing whether or not they'll find home. Maybe start at only a couple of hundred yards or so away and working my way out. The worry, though, is that I like these birds and am not sure that I want to deliberately risk one on a whim.
Dave up here in Green Bay, WI