Beginner's Questions

sac460 wrote:

> I am thinking about getting started raising homing pigeons and had a
> few basic questions that I hoped someone might be able to answer.
>
> 1. I will be just starting and will only have a small loft, so am
> concerned about controlling breeding. Does the wooden egg trick really
> work? Is that the best way?
> 2. Does withholding nesting facilities and materials help slow down
> breeding?
> 3. If you keep the birds separated by gender, do you exercise them at
> different times? Are there two traps, one for each gender (into the
> separate locations in the loft?)
>
> Thanks for your help.

Hi If you intend to race you have a lot to learn, if you wish to keep
them as pet's you will need permission of your local council and they
may insist you join a local club and build a loft to thier spec, don't
use wooden eggs as they are to heavy, use plastic and yes they do work,
A pigeon like a race horse is 1 year old on the fist of January, even
if it hatched on the 25-12, it is best to seperate the sexes during
the winter. pair them up after the new year, and dont let out any new
birds untill they are feeding young.wishing you luck, spugie
 >> Stay informed about: Beginner's Questions 

sac460 wrote:

> I am thinking about getting started raising homing pigeons and had a
> few basic questions that I hoped someone might be able to answer.
>
> 1. I will be just starting and will only have a small loft, so am
> concerned about controlling breeding. Does the wooden egg trick really
> work? Is that the best way?
> 2. Does withholding nesting facilities and materials help slow down
> breeding?
> 3. If you keep the birds separated by gender, do you exercise them at
> different times? Are there two traps, one for each gender (into the
> separate locations in the loft?)
>
> Thanks for your help.

Hi If you intend to race you have a lot to learn, if you wish to keep
them as pet's you will need permission of your local council and they
may insist you join a local club and build a loft to thier spec, don't
use wooden eggs as they are to heavy, use plastic and yes they do work,
A pigeon like a race horse is 1 year old on the fist of January, even
if it hatched on the 25-12, it is best to seperate the sexes during
the winter. pair them up after the new year, and dont let out any new
birds untill they are feeding young.wishing you luck, spugie
 >> Stay informed about: Beginner's Questions 

> Hi If you intend to race you have a lot to learn, if you wish to
keep
> them as pet's you will need permission of your local council and they
> may insist you join a local club and build a loft to thier spec, don't
> use wooden eggs as they are to heavy, use plastic and yes they do work,
> A pigeon like a race horse is 1 year old on the fist of January, even
> if it hatched on the 25-12, it is best to seperate the sexes during
> the winter. pair them up after the new year, and dont let out any new
> birds untill they are feeding young.wishing you luck, spugie

Spugie, (hell of a name!%^)
your advice is about a month late, unless you just wanted to have it
posted here for others.........however, IMHO, I feel some of it is not
the best. Wooden eggs are NOT too heavy, and are closer to real egg
weight than plastic, and retain heat better than plastic, which is one
of the main reasons birds sit them. I have raised pigeons the majority
of my life, and have tried both plastic and wood. I'm 52. You? (You
can't be TOO old if you consider video games a cheaper, more fun way to
use your time.)

My other point may just be a matter of preference, but I believe that
is because I have never had a problem communicating with my neighbors.
I would never ask for permission to raise my birds unless your town has
a posted ordinance against them. And in some towns, the ordinance was
put on the books in the 1920's and 30's. What I have done is make sure
my neighbors were cool with it, so there was never a problem being
reported.
Not to mention, your loft should be immaculate in appearance, and
smell. The "deep litter" method is not an option. And your birds cannot
be sitting around on your neighbors roofs. When they are done flying,
they should trap in immediately. However, if there is no way around the
ordinance, and no happy medium can be reached with neighbors, by all
means, ask for permission. Otherwise, I wouldn't bring it to your
councils attention. If you have land and are not close to any
neighbors, I wouldn't ask anyone squat.%^)
IMO, the rest of your advice is sound.
(A pigeon like a race horse is 1 year old on the fist of January, even
> if it hatched on the 25-12, it is best to seperate the sexes during
> the winter. pair them up after the new year, and dont let out any new
> birds untill they are feeding young.wishing you luck, spugie)
E-Man
 >> Stay informed about: Beginner's Questions