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I've got all four birds in a brick shed whilst I've been treating them.  Two white racing pigeons and two fantails.  Would I be able to just return the fantails to the dovecote in the hope that they will stay around the garden and breed when they are ready? Then, keep the other two in the shed and let them out twice a day. They are not ranging because they stay with the fantails but, they are leading the fantails astray - onto neighbouring conservatories! (Getting complaints about the poops!)  I want to train these two. Will they just go back into the dovecote when I release them? Will I need to shut the fantails away when I let these two out?

A lot of questions! I'd appreciate any advice.

hi pecked hen,   the two fantails should settle back again to the dovecote as long as they are fed in there , and never give them any food in the shed, if they do go in the shed just put them back out asap and theyll soon get the message, but the white racing birds you have, i should let them out, when the fantails are closed in.pigeons seem to learn habits quick, so try to have the racers out maybe once a day for the time being, and try and let them out, when theyare ready for a feed, so that if they do go on the roof just call them in with the food. sometimes a bit trial and error, if you could find a way to chase them off the roof each time and never let them settle on the roof would help, but off course thats easier said than done  good luck to you anyway  i wish you luck jimmy

Thanks Jimmy. I think the fantails are holding the racers back, they have only been ranging about 50 yards if that!

did u have any luck with this?

Thanks for asking Gez.  Yes, to a certain extent. I had to wait till they finished moulting and then only took them about 100 yards in each direction to train. They went back and trapped in the loft. I did keep finding one of the fantails in the loft with them though, whilst the other sat on the roof!! I stopped trying to train them as, as it turned out they were a fantail/homer mix (so would never fly far)and had been free flying in a farmer's barn. They were not fed and used to fending for themselves - little wonder they had problems adjusting to pigeon mix and being handled. They have gone back now and I am starting over again.