Quick question.

Lance · November 14, 2006

I finished building my loft, and now it's time to get some birds. I've arranged to go to someone's loft and buy a few young birds from him this saturday.

My question is, what do i need to look out for in the birds? What are some tell tale signs that the bird is no good?

Is there a quick and easy way to tell gender?

and Is grit nessicary at all times?

jupiter_19630 · November 14, 2006

choose birds that are alert and taking an interest in whats going on.

Avoid anything that remains hunched up, or has watery eyes.

There is no real easy way to sex a pigeon once it leaves the nest. The cock birds are generally bigger than hens, but not always. Observation is the only sure way. The cock birds start acting laddish and puffing up their chest and picking the odd fight.

Grit is essential at all times. If you fail to provide it your birds will search for it in the nearest field.

Hope this helps

Lance · November 14, 2006

Alright thanks.

I was afraid of the determining sex, but ah well, i'm buying 6, odds are i'll get a pair .

Grit required... check.

Any recomendations on what should be in the grit?

Wiley · November 14, 2006

u can ask the fancier for him to chose for you and sex them accordingly so you have three pairs im sure he'll be happy to help. Grit wise i think ya cant get better then gem supplements matrix has all the mains in one tub mate

square_peg · November 14, 2006

BIT LATE IN THE SEASON FOR YOUNGSTERS FROM THE NEST YOU BUYING MATURE YOUNGSTERS?

ALL DOO'S NEED GRIT TO CHEW UP THEIR FOOD BASICLY BUT THEY WILL ALLWAYS FIND SOMETHING IN THE GARDEN YOU CANT GIVE THEM.ITS CALLED NATURE

Lance · November 14, 2006

BIT LATE IN THE SEASON FOR YOUNGSTERS FROM THE NEST YOU BUYING MATURE YOUNGSTERS?
ALL DOO'S NEED GRIT TO CHEW UP THEIR FOOD BASICLY BUT THEY WILL ALLWAYS FIND SOMETHING IN THE GARDEN YOU CANT GIVE THEM.ITS CALLED NATURE

Yeah i'm not buying very young birds. Just youngish.

That reminds me, how hard is it to relocate homing pigeons without them flying back to their previous owner? And what's the best way to do it?

Thanks all for the posts so far.

square_peg · November 15, 2006

YOUNGISH ! YOU MEAN LATEBREADS THEN SOME REALLY GOOD DOO'S COME FROM LATER BREAD PIGEONS. IF AND WHEN YOUR DOO'S ARE SEXUALLY MATURE ,LET THEM PAIR UP,MAKE SURE THEY CAN SEE OUT OF YOUR DOOKIT,IF YOU DONT HAVE AN AVAIRY,MAKE A WIRE BOX SO THEY CAN SIT OUT ,SEE THE SUN ,BATHE IN THE RAIN AND JUST HAVE A GOOD LOOK AROUND.TWO DAYS BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO LET THEM OUT HALF THEIR GRUB ,ONE OF THE BEST DAYS TO BREAK DOO'S IS WHEN ITS RAINING WITH VERY LITTLE WIND

birdman55678 · November 15, 2006

Lance where are you located. I would recommend not buying late hatchs, if they haven't had the first molt and trained out the first year then things get weird with them, usually not worth bringing home.

Its very easy to sex the pigeons.. The hens always lay the egg... LOL. Just kidding, one way you can tell with a mature pigeon is the eye of the cock birds will almost always be very round and hens seem to be sort of pinched or squinty on the sides. Hope this helps a little. Ed

birdman55678 · November 15, 2006

One thing I forgot to add, grit is fine except when medicating the birds. Most beginners also try to pick out colored birds of any kind, the different colors draw them like magnets. I would suggest with everything being equal to always take the Blue Bar or Blue check bird. Ed

jupiter_19630 · November 15, 2006

My loft is based on latebreds which i,m in the process of breaking in.

I intend to race them next year and as long as they are not pushed too far and too hard I cant see as there should be any problems.

I,ve got coloureds too. They will be treated exactly the same as the blues and chequers. If they are no good then I,ll have a few empty perches, though again I can see any problems as many good racers either are or come from coloured birds.