How long to confine a bird after moving location?

[tep_aus]

Hi all,

 

We have one pigeon, and were just given one by a friend because we would like to attempt to breed some birds.

 

Can anyone tell me how long I need to keep the new pigeon locked up for to stop her returning home?

 

Many thanks in advance.

 

[Guest]

I think it depends on how long she was at the old loft. Last year I settled 12 pigeons that had raced to my old loft which was about 1-2 miles away and it took me a while to get them to come back to the new loft. The best thing to do is allow her to pair up and go down on eggs and in the meantime allow her to see the outside via an aviary or some for of mesh trap on the front of the loft. Then when she has eggs soak her wings in washing up liquid so she cant fly and let her walk about outside for a few days and she should come back to you if she is kean on her eggs. Good luck with it.

[tep_aus]

Many thanks for your prompt reply.

 

I'm not stressing about getting her to breed straight away, we just wanted a companion for the male we currently have.  We looked after him when he was found injured and he has stayed about the place ever since.

[Guest]

I would settle her as quick as possible, or you may have trouble settling her if you leave it too long. If you dont want the eggs to hatch out, you can get some pot eggs from a pet shop that they will sit while you settle her.

[snowy]

agree with spelbin

let her get settled with her new mate & put a nest bowl in with them, as this will give her more instinct to stay where her mate  & eggs are.

good luck

[Guest]

Tep,

 

Would you like her to fly again? but i would put her in the stock. to breeding many youngsters to race off that hen.  

 

Your breeding season is in the middle August if you're from Australia or may i wrong if youre from Austria ?      

[jimmy white]

put an aviary or cage on the front of the loft so she can see the suroundings ,then when shes sitting , she should be ok ,,,good luck

[tep_aus]

Hi,

 

Yes, I am in Australia.

 

Our male pigeon hasn't showed any signs of pairing up with her yet, I mean the puffing of the chest and the noise etc.  I'll feel very stupid if our new "hen" bird turns out to be a cock!

 

 

[snowy]

no need to feel stupid,

you cant really tell just by looking,

its the way they react to each other, if you know someone who has a cock, put one of them with it on its own for a short while,  you can usually tell that way, if they fight etc,

then put the same cock with the other one, to see how they react,

its your summer now isnt it?

got a brother over in adelaide

[Guest]

Snowy.

 

Some fanciers can tell that a cock pigeon if that got white on the feets? Don't know if it's true or not. any body knows about this ?

[snowy]

yes speight ive heard of that before, my late uncle could tell cock or hen by looking at head shape, feet & build,

i suppose its down to experience

thanks ;D