Pigeon in my kitchen!

[invalidusername]

I feel really embarassd to ask this question on here as it's so basic (if you'll excuse the pun). The shed arrived today, and I'm waiting for a good dry day to put it up.  I took two days off work to be there for the shed delivery and to fix my fence, and make sure the base is fine.  It's a long story!!

 

I'd really appreciate any advice you can give me.  I'll have the new and empty shed 6x4 shed for pidge in the next day or so.  The front of the shed has space for three windows (I certainly won't put windows in).  I know I need to make it airy with vents, etc.  But, could I ask a few questions?

 

1.  What should I put in the spaces where the windows go?

2.  Should I get a sputnik for the middle space? I've never even seen a sputnik in operation, but I'll work that out in time

3.  Inside:  What should I have in there? What should I put on the floor?  Do I need heating?  What sort of perches, and should I get nesting boxes?

 

Any ideas on the best place to buy all this from?

 

I told you they were stupid questions!  Sorry to be boring when you've probably known this for years.  For me, it's all new!

 

As always, grateful for any advice or tips.

 

PS:  Have definitely decided to get pidge a girlfriend.  I'll be asking where to but a bird from later.  I'm so embarassed I don't know any of this.

 

      

[pjc]

All sensible questions David. The web link I sent with lofts on, RVwoodcraft, you'll find sputniks on there.

I would put twinwall perspex in the other windows.

You would be advised to put air vents low down inthe front to give you a good air flow.

You can either use v perches inside of which I have some spares you are welcome to or box perches.

I wouldn't worry to much about nest boxes at this moment.

You will also need a feeder, drinker and some grit pots.

 

Phil

[pjc]

on the floor ply is the best covering and easy  to clean and you won't need heating.

If you are able to put ina power supply for lighting its useful for the winter months to feed and water the birds when you get home from work.

 

Phil

[invalidusername]

Phil - as ever.  Thanks.  I've PMd

[Lennut Tar]

Great work David

 

Exactly !!!!!!!!! David may be still learning here etc, but when our litlle mate ?????? is given a girl friend shortly "PMSL" he will know what to do, one would imagine "JMO".

Enjoy.

 

 

[pjc]

not had a pm David

[invalidusername]

not had a pm David

 

Sorrry, Phil - took me a while as the phone went!  Sent now  

 

[doo]

on the floor ply is the best covering and easy  to clean and you won't need heating.

If you are able to put ina power supply for lighting its useful for the winter months to feed and water the birds when you get home from work.

 

Phil

 

 

David, Marine ply is the best but also the most expensive.

 

I would opt for a sputnik you get different sizes the bigger the more light you get in.

 

Vents at the bottom front I would also suggest at least one at the top back.

 

If you catch the racing bug in the future you will look into ventilation a bit more but the above should meet your needs & keep you birds healthy & happy.

 

[REDCHEQHEN]

 

 

David, Marine ply is the best but also the most expensive.

 

I would opt for a sputnik you get different sizes the bigger the more light you get in.

 

Vents at the bottom front I would also suggest at least one at the top back.

 

If you catch the racing bug in the future you will look into ventilation a bit more but the above should meet your needs & keep you birds healthy & happy.

 

we have an aviary with a marine ply floor - and sections with chip board floors and ordinary ply - ordinary ply is rubbish - but the chip board floors have been fine and lasted four years without any problems - and atleast they don't splinter

[jimmy white]

I feel really embarassd to ask this question on here as it's so basic (if you'll excuse the pun). The shed arrived today, and I'm waiting for a good dry day to put it up.  I took two days off work to be there for the shed delivery and to fix my fence, and make sure the base is fine.  It's a long story!!

 

I'd really appreciate any advice you can give me.  I'll have the new and empty shed 6x4 shed for pidge in the next day or so.  The front of the shed has space for three windows (I certainly won't put windows in).  I know I need to make it airy with vents, etc.  But, could I ask a few questions?

 

1.  What should I put in the spaces where the windows go?

2.  Should I get a sputnik for the middle space? I've never even seen a sputnik in operation, but I'll work that out in time

3.  Inside:  What should I have in there? What should I put on the floor?  Do I need heating?  What sort of perches, and should I get nesting boxes?

 

Any ideas on the best place to buy all this from?

 

I told you they were stupid questions!  Sorry to be boring when you've probably known this for years.  For me, it's all new!

 

As always, grateful for any advice or tips.

 

PS:  Have definitely decided to get pidge a girlfriend.  I'll be asking where to but a bird from later.  I'm so embarassed I don't know any of this.

 

      

 

brilliant news david   hes gonna be one happy bird   ,, not stupid questions at all,, just make sure hut is off the ground ,, , i would get a sputnick for middle space , you could put two small hinged frosted glass widows in the side bits [open in summer closed in winter] doweling or netting on gaps where windows are , cut a space at the bottom front put a vent in [cheap plastic one fine ] there may be a gap at the back top , if not a little vent ,,,,,,,inside a couple of boxes 2ft and 2 ft at the side [the 4ft side and perches at the back , box perches are better [birds easier to catch] but" v" perches would do ,,sounds a lot but its not really , itll be a wee palace for them      good luck

[invalidusername]

Many thanks for the reply Jimmy - and everyone else.  Some internet shopping coming my way tomorrow, so by the time the shed is up, I can fit everything else - inside and out!!!  Once pidge is out in the shed, it'll be a turning point for him - and me

[jimmy white]

its been said b4, but this really would make a great true story, and, showing pigeon fanciers at there best

[invalidusername]

So - perches!  Presumably at roughly window height so that they can just flip over on to them once they get in?  I'm assuming that they shouldn't be too low down?  Should food and water be around sputnik height too?  

[jimmy white]

perches at the back,,,not to low , higher the better [birds usually go for the top perch first ]   you would be better with a "drinker "

ita a water dish with a top on that keeps the droppings from the water [still very cheap ] some one round about you would give you one most prob.  feed on the floor of an evening when you call them in [theyll get used to this ] but just enough as to leave no food lying, after theve eaten  [as this is a cause of desease ,dirty food , and would eventually cause mice probs , which again cause serious desease  [remember its the grain that causes the mice, not the pigeons  ]   good luck ,,,looks like your goimg to be a busy man ;D

[pjc]

David, if yu get box perches then fit them as tight to the roof as you can.

If you get a small drinker http://www.rvwoodcraft.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=33_68_76&products_id=181 this will stop the water being fouled and if you build a shelf about a foot from the ground it will stop the drinker getting feathers in it during the moult.

Similar with feeders a small hopper is ideal so you can control the feed and it can't be fouled.

A stand with a feeder built in is another option http://www.rvwoodcraft.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=33_35&products_id=331

At the moment i wouldn't worry about nest boxes especialy as you don't intend to breed. If you get a hen she will be happy to nest in a cardboard box on the floor in thre corner.

 

Phil

[invalidusername]

Oh my goodness!  The pressure is really on.  Shed arrived on Friday, and although it's up, I need to do a bit more banging before pidge can go in there.  There's the small issue of getting perches, a feeder and a sputnik.  I was trying to find out if I could get these from a local supplier in or around the Bristol area, but haven't been able to, so will order from the web tomorrow.

 

All this is happening whilst the pigeon is still indoors, and I know he's fully recovered and ready to go out because he was hooting, kicking and almost pecking me when I tried to get him down off the top shelf in my kitchen this morning.  He might even have to go into the shed before it's totally finished.  Can't believe how strong he is.  Bit of a change from when he was as light as a feather and could hardly walk!

 

[Peckedhen]

LOL - sounds like he's showing you who's the boss!! ;D

 

I don't think that he'll be bothered by you banging in the loft, my birds certainly weren't and some of them were on eggs!  

 

 

[invalidusername]

LOL - sounds like he's showing you who's the boss!! ;D

 

I don't think that he'll be bothered by you banging in the loft, my birds certainly weren't and some of them were on eggs!  

 

 

I literally had to put a tea towel over him this morning to put him back in the hutch!  The noise was something!

 

 

[jimmy white]

when you put him in the shed, david , keep him in [and get a mate for him ;D] till he get used to it , if you get a hen, wait till hes mated b4 putting him outside [just to be safe] then try and home the hen when shes sitting    hope all goes well

[invalidusername]

when you put him in the shed, david , keep him in [and get a mate for him ;D] till he get used to it , if you get a hen, wait till hes mated b4 putting him outside [just to be safe] then try and home the hen when shes sitting    hope all goes well

 

A young hen?

 

 

[Merlin]

Certainly Dave a yearling or older,dont think he is going to be choosy after being celibate for so long,what about writing the story for publication ,as regards whats taken place,with your own slant,initally being a non pigeon fancier,would make for interesting reading,regarding his past and your efforts in all this,once again well done on what you have done for this bird,you have at all times made his welfare most paramount.

[pjc]

David there is a corn store in Bristol (Country Wide) they may well stock drinkers, feeders etc as well.

If you can't find them ask Stewert as he will be getting his stuff from somewhere local.

 

Phil

[invalidusername]

Certainly Dave a yearling or older,dont think he is going to be choosy after being celibate for so long,what about writing the story for publication ,as regards whats taken place,with your own slant,initally being a non pigeon fancier,would make for interesting reading,regarding his past and your efforts in all this,once again well done on what you have done for this bird,you have at all times made his welfare most paramount.

 

I'm happy to write something - but probably safest to wait until he's outside and I know he's not going to fly off and not come home (otherwise it makes it a bit of an anti climax).  I'll be trying to source a young hen for him very soon.  Thanks for your kind comments.  

 

David there is a corn store in Bristol (Country Wide) they may well stock drinkers, feeders etc as well.

If you can't find them ask Stewert as he will be getting his stuff from somewhere local.

 

Phil

 

Thanks Phil.  I PMd Stuart yesterday, so once he visits the site again, hopefully he'll be able to point me in the right direction.

 

 

[invalidusername]

Quick update:  Last night was his first night in his new shed.  An improvement on the hutch :-)  Additional fixtures and fittings imminent:

 

 

[coey1]

he looks alot better now mate. well done