How to protect pigeons from hawks

Bath time is about the ONLY time my birds don't fight!:

<http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~ef29/bath.jpg>

Actually, pigeons breeding during the winter is not a problem for them.
If you have ever
picked up a baby pigeon, (Of course you have!%^) it's amazing how much
heat they generate!
And they are fully feathered in less than 2 weeks, and this will
provide enough insulation for sub-zero temps.
The two brothers dominance has been established, so you should not see
any more fighting, unless Csapi tries to invade Potyis' turf again.
Glad to hear they made you smile!%^)
E-Man
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Thanks for the beautiful picture!
Csapi seem to have found his way and goes around with a group of
pigeons. It seems that all the pigeons just go from one yard to
another, looking for handouts.
 >> Stay informed about: How to protect pigeons from hawks 

On 22 Nov 2005 12:02:48 -0800, TurnagainArm DeleteThis @hotmail.com wrote:

>Thanks for the beautiful picture!
>Csapi seem to have found his way and goes around with a group of
>pigeons. It seems that all the pigeons just go from one yard to
>another, looking for handouts.
If I may jump into this thread, I would like to point out that
pigeons are creatures of habit. Ask anyone who specializes in
a sporting pigeons. If you will move the food bowl outside and
not put water it will force the birds to go look for water. In a week
or so they will be traveling for water. Then start cutting their feed
back, making them forage for food. The followers that you
are seeing were eating some where else before they found a new
source of food. Your little guys that you raised if you want them to
survive you need to wean them of you care. They will need to
learn to survive before the really cold weather arrives. By keeping
them dependant your care you are keeping them open for a bleak
life. That is if you don't want them to live in your garage. ??build a
small cage on the outside of the garage. Don't give them a lot of
quite spots to reside in if you don't want them hanging around and
looking for a place to propagate,
regards,
tonyf
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tonyf wrote:
> On 22 Nov 2005 12:02:48 -0800, TurnagainArm.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com wrote:
>
> >Thanks for the beautiful picture!
> >Csapi seem to have found his way and goes around with a group of
> >pigeons. It seems that all the pigeons just go from one yard to
> >another, looking for handouts.
> If I may jump into this thread, I would like to point out that
> pigeons are creatures of habit. Ask anyone who specializes in
> a sporting pigeons. If you will move the food bowl outside and
> not put water it will force the birds to go look for water. In a week
> or so they will be traveling for water. Then start cutting their feed
> back, making them forage for food. The followers that you
> are seeing were eating some where else before they found a new
> source of food. Your little guys that you raised if you want them to
> survive you need to wean them of you care. They will need to
> learn to survive before the really cold weather arrives. By keeping
> them dependant your care you are keeping them open for a bleak
> life. That is if you don't want them to live in your garage. ??build a
> small cage on the outside of the garage. Don't give them a lot of
> quite spots to reside in if you don't want them hanging around and
> looking for a place to propagate,
> regards,
> tonyf

Thanks for the advice. I started doing some of that. I love helping
them and take a gallon of seeds and throw it out here and there just to
give them a break. I will help these two and their mates until spring
and stop. My wife is losing patience with me and I am too old to get
another one:-)

Last year, we picked up one that got hit by a car under the RR Bridge
(underpass). It chest was torn open. We nursed it back to health and
it is still alive and comes around occasionally. Another one, was
attacked by a hawk last year and its feather was push through its wing
in the opposite direction into her chest. At first, we could not pull
it out but kept cutting off the end until we could pull it out. It also
went off and we could recognize her for a while because one wing was
hanging. No more. The pigeons we saved last year were young adults and
left as soon as they could. The babies are different but Csapi is
almost on his own.

I noticed that in the afternoon they go off much sooner in the winter
than in the summer. The sun is still out and all the pigeons are gone.
I know that they are dirty but they are also very beautiful. It is
wonderful to watch the fly.
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We are having some real cold weather and the ground is covered with
snow. Potyi and his lady are spending the nights in the garage but I
only had to throw out two eggs. The last two day, we have put out a lot
of seeds for the pigeons, crows, magpies, rabbits and a variety of
small birds. We will do this only until the snow melts off the ground.
Maybe two more days. I like the crows and magpies because they chase
away the hawks and do not bother the pigeons. Csapi brought his friends
to the feeder and now he has a hard time getting to the food but he is
still alive and making it in the pigeon world. I will lock out Potyi
and his lady in the spring but they can winter in the garage. The last
few days, the garage got real cold also. The pale of water is solid ice
in the morning. It is still better than the outside.
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