Pigeon in my kitchen!

[jimmy white]

id get him a hen 1st before trying him out good stuff

 

i would endorse this david , but must say what a grand job you have done , you should be well proud of yourself , but a wee shed and a hen ,they will settle better and be far more contented,,,,,,,best of luck

[DJ]

keep us all posted david  i hope he stays with u but pigeons can be unpredictable at the best of times, im only a novice myself but am learning quickly   i have had more than my fair share of strays and most are still here with me from last year   well done for taking care of the pigeon and good luck

                                debbie

[invalidusername]

Thanks very much for the latest comments.  I am now decided that I really need a shed.  If I'm going to be totally honest, I really can't afford anything too big or sophisticated, but I really want to get something that pidge can spread his wings in - and more importantly, something he can get in and out of easily (by having a safe trap, etc).

 

I'm having to go slowly, because I'm a total novice, and at the moment I don't really want to go down the road of getting a hen, and ending up with dozens of pigeons.  I can't  cull any, and want to be responsible.

 

If I get a shed and work on it to make it nice, and if I'm able to get a young cock bird or two, would that be ok?  Can you have cocks birds together without a hen?  I don't want pidge to spend the rest of his life on his own and want him to be content after all of what's happened.  Does this make sense?

 

 

[pjc]

He would be happier with a hen, don't worry about a population explossion as when she lay's you can replace the eggs with dummy eggs which won't hatch.

The birds will sit contented but you won't have to worry about youngbirds until you feel ready.

 

Phil

[invalidusername]

He would be happier with a hen, don't worry about a population explossion as when she lay's you can replace the eggs with dummy eggs which won't hatch.

The birds will sit contented but you won't have to worry about youngbirds until you feel ready.

 

Phil

 

But, Phil - don't they wonder where the babies are?  Does it distress them when you remove the dummy eggs, or what?  Am I thinking too much about this?  Crikey!    

 

 

[pjc]

what will happen is they will sit until hatching time has passed and then leave the eggs thinking they were infertile or just didn't hatch. They will then go to nest again and she will lay another clutch and just keep doing the same.

It won't stress them out as they will be going through the natural routine without the rearing stage.

 

Phil

[Guest chrisss]

 

But, Phil - don't they wonder where the babies are?  Does it distress them when you remove the dummy eggs, or what?  Am I thinking too much about this?  Crikey!    

 

 

nothing to worry about, when the time comes the birds leave the dummies themselves and start to nest again[then you start all over again]like the other posts i would strongly advise a hen, you will have more chance of holding him if he has a hen and by preference eggs[dummy or not]

[invalidusername]

Phil - that's made me feel better.  Now..... I need to do some serious research on internal fittings for the shed.

 

Thought I'd post the latest before and after photos - to record his progress (for me as much as anything)  The 'after' shot is about three day ago, but before anyone says he's still looking thin - he's getting better by the day (as he's eating and eating)..  Here goes:

 

Before:

 

After:

[carlsberg]

he does look loads better when you see the pics best of luck with what ever you decide to do as regards getting him a mate

[invalidusername]

Well, he's taken over my kitchen - he might as well take over my garden as well  

 

Thanks to great people on this forum - if it has to be a hen to make him feel good - a hen he must have  

 

Right - order of play has to be shed, pidge, then a mate.  Sounds nice.

 

Hope I can ask for advice on the shed and then where to get another bird!!  Daunting for me, but not that bad with experts around    

[carlsberg]

what breed is he

[Guest chrisss]

Well, he's taken over my kitchen - he might as well take over my garden as well  

 

Thanks to great people on this forum - if it has to be a hen to make him feel good - a hen he must have  

 

Right - order of play has to be shed, pidge, then a mate.  Sounds nice.

 

Hope I can ask for advice on the shed and then where to get another bird!!  Daunting for me, but not that bad with experts around    

 

getting a hen will be no problem, not with the guys on this site [and no thats not taking anyone for granted]

[jimmy white]

david ,,look at him now ;D   hes asking for a hen ;D   [as above posts , you can shake the eggs or put dummies under them  , hell be far more contented and happy and sure to stay      just the last bit of a great job ,, a small shed and a hen    good luck

[pjc]

Looking much better David, you must be a natural fancier!  ;D

If you just look for a 6' x 4' garden shed with a window you could convert that or http://www.rvwoodcraft.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=38 would look smart in your garden.

 

Phil

[Merlin]

Well done David both pictures in this instance says it all, and are testimony to your care,devotion,regarding this bird,whatever you do Its  a very lucky bird it found you.

[Peckedhen]

What a transformation - he's looking great. He's even got those little tufty bits on his feathers that Wiley likes!! As for being thin, he doesn't look thin to me. What do you think guys?  Racing pigeons are better lean, they are greedy and will overeat given chance and favourite seeds!  

[invalidusername]

Well done David both pictures in this instance says it all, and are testimony to your care,devotion,regarding this bird,whatever you do Its  a very lucky bird it found you.

 

Many thanks, Merlin - and Peckedhen too.

 

Looking much better David, you must be a natural fancier!  ;D

If you just look for a 6' x 4' garden shed with a window you could convert that or http://www.rvwoodcraft.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=38 would look smart in your garden.

 

Phil

 

Phil, that one looks excellent, but it's beyond my price range unfortunately.  I've been looking around the garden centres and saw a nice 6x4 that I think I can make a loft with.  Shame it hasn't got a sllding door like the one in the link, but it does have three windows which I can remove and get a trap sorted. I'm going to have a final internet search, and order something this weekend.  Hopefully it'll all then come together   :)

 

 

[ozbrit]

ive just read this entire thread absolutely fantastic it's great too see how people can pull together in such away. well done all

[Lennut Tar]

ive just read this entire thread absolutely fantastic it's great too see how people can pull together in such away. well done all

 

Ozbrit !!!!!! It's a beauty isn't   ;) our little mate here  ;D ;D ;D has quite a large fan base, one would imagine. Worthy of a write up etc in one of the local pigeon magazines in my view. Because I consider it's that good.

Enjoy.

 

[ozbrit]

I agree its definately worthy of a write up in the pigeon press

[pjc]

Lennut, I think I sugested a write up in an earlier thread but I think a story like this would make excellent good publicity if it went into local or even national newspapers for the general public to see. If its just in the pigeon papers its not read by non fanciers.

 

David, if you get a garden shed there maybe somebody on here who has a spare sputnik to put inplace of a window to save building a flight. I have prob got some spare perches you can have and maybe even a couple of spare nest boxes.

 

Phil

[Lennut Tar]

Lennut, I think I sugested a write up in an earlier thread but I think a story like this would make excellent good publicity if it went into local or even national newspapers for the general public to see. If its just in the pigeon papers its not read by non fanciers.

 

David, if you get a garden shed there maybe somebody on here who has a spare sputnik to put inplace of a window to save building a flight. I have prob got some spare perches you can have and maybe even a couple of spare nest boxes.

 

Phil

 

PJC !!!!!!!   ;) Good point, & I wouldn't argue with that. "NOW" Who is going to put their hand up here to do it etc  ;D ;D ;D. Could I suggest now   :P my good mate Joe 61  : : :, because I reckon it would be a cracker of a story if he did it  :X :X :X.

Enjoy.

 

 

[invalidusername]

Quick update.  6x4 shed ordered (delivery 5-10 working days) :-)  Taking a couple of days off this week to make way for it!  I'm going to scour the forum for tips on adaptions 8)

[doo]

Great work David

[pjc]

David, can i be 1st to make a sugestion, build pillars of concrete blocks, put timbers accross and put the shed on top. This means you've got a good air flow underneath but more importantly the loft will be high enough to prevent mice and rats being able to live under the shed!

 

Lenut, if Joe or anybody else is able to do it then great!

Maybe David would like to write his own story and findings as it may have a better perspective coming from a total non fancier?

 

Phil