What happens next?

Peckedhen · February 24, 2006

Does anyone know what happens when young pigeons emerge from a dovecote? I have two three week old garden fantails. Will they be able to fly up and get back in themselves? What age do they normally leave the nest?

snowy · February 24, 2006

hi

just keep a close eye on them make sure if they cant get back up, that the cats dont get em

February 24, 2006

Sue, they will take to the air when they feel confident themselves, don't push them.

Peckedhen · February 24, 2006

Thanks - no, I've no intention of pushing them - I just wanted to know if they will be self sufficient when they do come out.

THE FIFER · February 24, 2006

MUST GET THEM OUT AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE SO THEY WILL KNOW WHERE TO COME BACK TOO MORE SO WITH DOVE COTES, I HAVE A FRIEND WHO IS TRYING TO SETTLE FANTAILS TO ONE, HE HAS ERECTED A LARGE GARDEN NET OVER THE DOVE COTE GIVING THE BIRDS PLENTY ROOM TO GET ABOUT AND RETURN TO THE COTE.

Peckedhen · February 25, 2006

:-/ I certainly did this when I bought my first pair (the parents) but surely I won't need the net when they are born in there? Don't they stay with their parents? They never fly more than 100 yards - I don't know if they can go further or not. I'll put some phone number rings on today, just in case.

THE FIFER · February 25, 2006

NO U JUST NEED THE NET IF THEY ARE ON THE WING,OR OLD BIRDS. IF BORN IN THE COTE SHOULD BE OK

Peckedhen · February 25, 2006

OK thanks. I took a risk today and moved them into a different pop hole -out of the wind . It took the parents a while but they did find them and are feeding them in their new home!

March 2, 2006

If their fully feathered they should be OK in the wind, I wouldnt move them about like that, or you will confuse the parents!! PS Hope all goes well settling them, I know its a nervous time, but can be quite satisfying when they fly out of site and then come back. They may venture further than the parents as they will be kean to explore!! You will be surprised at how clever they are, I bred a pair of YBs for someone in our club, and his loft was about 1/3 mile away, the first time he let them out, they came straight back to my loft and went straight back to the nest where they were raised.

Peckedhen · March 2, 2006

Thanks Shelbin.

They've no feathers under their wings yet - last night I was so concerned about them in the wind and cold that I put them in a box and brought them into the garage - no heating in there but at least out of the wind and -6 here. I was up as soon as it got light and the parents came straight to the babies when they saw me putting them back.

Yours flew a third of a mile back home? I didn't know that fantails could fly that far - mine only manage about twenty yards!!

ribble · March 2, 2006

sbelbin

did the young do any good for your club mate?they sound clever to me.heard of it happening on the pens.not as far as it did with yours though.

March 3, 2006

Peckedhen, I meant a racing bird, not a fantail, but I think your young will venture a bit further than the parents, just to explore your area, I know my fantail that I use as a dropper used to go off with the racing birds when it was a young bird, but doesnt venture any further than the house roof now (mind he is 7 year old). Its a good feeling watching the YBs exploring their new surroundings, especially on a nice warm day.

Ribble, I dont know what happened with the bird as it was in 1996 and I got rid of the birds a few weeks later for a new type of bird (without feathers LOL). But now ive reminded myself of it I will ask the lad who I gave it to, to see if it turned out as clever as it seemed.