Breaking 2 yr old birds to a new dovecote?

Monkey · January 23, 2009

Hi people,

I posted a couple of yrs back when I unwittingly adopted 2 racing pigeons who had been abandoned by their owners as they'd taken up residency on my balcony:

http://forum.pigeonbasics.com/m-1162924209/s-all/

Well, I moved home over Xmas/New Year so had to do something about the birds (they'd settled in nicely - came in every day, ate off my lap and sat under my desk for a couple of hours, spent the rest of the day coming and going, nestbuilding for most of the summer etc).

So I bought a dovecote and offloaded them onto my parents 240 miles away (my new place is another flat so unfortunately was unsuitable). They were boxed up on Xmas eve and spent a couple of days in an aviary flight whilst we set the dovecote up (digging holes and mixing concrete to set a post on Boxing Day isn't much fun?!), then were released under a homing net on December 27th:

They took to their new home pretty well - spending all day in and out of the cote and on the feeding table, sleeping at night on a perch across the corner of the temporary fence (they never used to sleep on my balcony, preferring the rooftop above the flat) until 2 days ago when one of them seems to have found a way out and is now missing?

We were planning to release them both next weekend anyway but my questions are:

1. Should we release the other (we think it's a hen) in the hope that they'll find each other or keep her in to tempt him back?

2. Neither of their original owners (see previous thread - one was from County Durham, the other from Tunbridge Wells) bothered to come and get them after being notified they were strays 2 yrs ago. They are still ringed with their original numbers. Can we re-register them now, so that if he's found he can be returned to my parents?

3. Has the remaining one been kept in long enough to break it?

4. As far as we can work out, they were new birds in 2006 that were liberated from Beachy Head. That was only 5 miles away from our flat at the time so they didn't get far, would they be likely to find their way back to my old balcony more than 240 miles away from their new home?

Any other advice much appreciated.

white logan · January 23, 2009

when you take the netting off they will make easy targets for cats

Monkey · January 23, 2009

If you mean due to the fencing, that is only temporary to support the netting and give them a bit more room whilst they're in? It is due to come down with the net.

tippler · January 23, 2009

is there not a neighbour that you can ring at your old adres to see if pigeon is on balcony hes most probably there lets hope as hes not bean trained to fly ther good luck

Monkey · January 25, 2009

We've left a tel no with the neighbour who has the adjoining balcony so should hear if he turns up there. If anyone can shed light on ANY of my questions I'd REALLY appreciate it.

1. Should we release the other (we think it's a hen) in the hope that they'll find each other OR keep her in to tempt him back?

2. Neither of their original owners (see previous thread - one was from County Durham, the other from Tunbridge Wells) bothered to come and get them after being notified they were strays 2 yrs ago. They are still ringed with their original numbers. Can we re-register them now, so that if he's found he can be returned to my parents?

3. Has the remaining one been kept in long enough to break it?

4. As far as we can work out, they were new birds in 2006 that were liberated from Beachy Head. That was only 5 miles away from our flat at the time so they didn't get far, would they be likely to find their way back to my old balcony more than 240 miles away from their new home?

Thanks in advance.

kirky · January 25, 2009

it would be better to keep the hen in and see if the cock returns it can take them several days to find way back, it is very likley that it has made its way back to your old address, how long have thay been at your new home,

January 25, 2009

1. keep her back, if they are paired he may come back if hes still in the area.

2. Yes if you had permission from the owners, but you could notify the RPRA they are lost and if they get reported to contact you.

3. No

4. Yes

5. the Dovecote looks really nice, could get a pair of garden fantails in it

Monkey · January 27, 2009

Thanks, the advice is appreciated. I was starting to lose faith :'(

Kirky - he'd been penned in for 4 weeks in total - 3 days in an aviary flight in the garden whilst we set the dovecote up and then 3.5 weeks under the netting in the dovecote.

joshdonlan - thanks that is a great help

So how long should we keep the remaining one in for? Any other advice on what to do from here would be gratefully received. This is all new to me.

jimmy white · January 27, 2009

hi, i hope the cock has retuurned by this time, but if not , maybe better getting a new mate for the hen, wait till their sitting on eggs then maybe try them then [one at a time] once their nesting theiy home easier,, good luck to you, the dovescote really looks the part

b.massey · January 27, 2009

hi, i hope the cock has retuurned by this time, but if not , maybe better getting a new mate for the hen, wait till their sitting on eggs then maybe try them then [one at a time] once their nesting theiy home easier,, good luck to you, the dovescote really looks the part

My views match this. When sitting a pigeon is far more easier to home. Good luck