| Mark,
It would not be fair to the bird for you to try and catch one, as they
are used to being free. What you are proposing may also be illegal.
I am sure you could find a person in the area who currently raises
pidgeons and would sell/give you a couple to start with. If you have
trouble finding a pidgeon person I would suggest you check with the
local grain stores and see who buys pidgeon food. By buying from a
breeder you could get a much younger and healthier bird, and if young
enough they are more apt to be tame and stick around if they get loose.
I myself had 2 wild pidgeons, but I had them because their wings were
broken and never healed right.
Doug
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> What you are proposing may also be illegal.
FWIW, it *is* legal (at least in Massachusetts) to keep wild-caught
pigeons. According to the Fish&Game Department and the Audobon
Society, there are three types of wild birds one may keep in
Massachusetts - English House Sparrows, Starlings, and Pigeons.
The reason you may capture and keep these birds (as opposed to other
wild birds) is that they are not native to the United States, and they
are considered something of a nuisance and compete with native species
for space and food.
>It would not be fair to the bird for you to try and catch one, as they
>are used to being free.
At first glance, I agreed with you, Doug. But then, why is capturing a
local bird to care for it (presumably humanely!) any more or less
unfair than buying a wild-caught parrot? I have wild-caught parrots and
finches in my breeding program, as well as having/had wild-caught pet
birds, and most of the parrots for sale in *most* pet shops are
wildcaught. I do encourage people to buy and keep domestically raised
birds - they make better pets and its good for the breeders :-), but I
don't think I could legitimately pass judgement on the fairness of
keeping a captured pigeon.
With that said, Mark, I still agree that in your case, finding a person
who raises pigeons and purchassing dometically raised birds for your
breeding stock is the best thing for you to do. The reasons are:
1) As Doug said, you get a younger, healthy bird with known parentage
2) Domestically bred softbills nest and breed more reliably than
wild-caught - you'll breed them more sucessfully
3) You get a bigger choice of *types* of birds. Doves and pigeons come
in ALL TYPES, from the "simple, basic model" to ones with elaborate
crests, fancy colours, etc. Check American Cage Bird magazine -
they list several breeders of pigeons and doves in their
classifieds.
4) You get to know another breeder, who can give you help and advice
as well as birds! NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THIS - talking to other
breeders has made me much more sucessful in my breeding program than
I ever would have been on my own.
/Rita
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| Greetings,
I should have checked back in here sooner! The last time I was in
the old BIRDS conference, it seemed I was the only person interested in
pigeons. I hope there is still some interest.
I myself had a dozen racing pigeons up until 2 days ago. A gang
of racoons broke into my coop, and all the birds were killed. This was
especially unfortunate timing, as I had just built a small specialty coop
that I was going to use for hand raising 4 of the young birds I had. I'm
not planning on re-establishing the whole coop, but would like to get 4
young (just weaned) pigeons for this training exercise.
I just tried sending Lisa Armitage mail, but she is no longer at the
node listed. Does anyone know if she is still with DEC? If not, I'd appreciate
any other pointers to other pigeons sources. I already miss my flock. They
were an impressive sight circling my house, or anywhere I brought them.
Fred
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