Care Sheet for BirdsAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 2.00 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 04/18/2006 |
Main Category: | Non-Reptile/Amphibian |
Sub Category: | Birds |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Repti_Chick |
Years Experience: | 5 to 10 Years |
Species: | Pigeons |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | This caresheet covers all phases, mutations and colors of homing pigeons and fantail pigeons |
Sexing and Characteristics: | This can be done visually, but it sometimes takes some practice and experience.
Generally, the male pigeon will be larger than the female. His neck will be bigger and fuller. Male pigeons tend to coo more than females also.
Experienced breeders can also tell by feeling the pelvic bone of the bird. |
Mostly Active During: | Day |
Substrate and Water Needs: | Water can be provided in a poultry waterer or a shallow dish or pan. My pigeons enjoy it when i move the sprinkler so the water falls into a corner of their cage in the summer. They’ll lay down, lift their wings and take a bath.
Substrate: Different substrates can be used to line the bottom of the aviary or pen. Pine shavings work fine, but hay or alfalfa is prefered as it’s easier to clean and change and it doubles as nesting material if your breeding. |
Lighting and UVB: | Pigeons are best kept outside so they’ll get plenty of UVB and UVA rays from natural sunlight. All birds need 8 to 10 hours of light everyday so achieving this in an outdoor aviary won’t be a problem. Just make sure they have a place to get out of the sun if they want to. |
Temperatures and Humidity: | Temperature shouldn’t be a problem. Pigeons are found all over the world in cold, snowy and windy places like Chicago or New York, hot humid places like Cabo San Lucas and hot and dry places like the Mojave desert in California. They can stand just about any temperature as long as you provide shelters for them to escape the elements. |
Heating and Equipment: | None necessary |
Caging Provided: | My pigeons live happily in a backyard, outdoor aviary that is 8 feet high, 12 feet long and 6 feet wide. The aviary has a full roof with 2 sides solid wood and 2 sides with 1 inch chicken wire. I have 3 established breeding pairs and 2 inclosed nestboxes that are a cubic foot and 2 round open nest dishes that were made by sawing 4 inches off the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket. |
Diet: | N/A |
Description of Diet: | Pigeons are grain eaters and somewhat scavengers. Their main diet should be a quality pigeon seed mix which generally contains a combination of red millet, cracked and whole corn and whole peas. They can also be fed whole wheat or rye bread and crackers as treats. They also enjoy cereals like Kix and Cheereos, just avoid sugary types for the most part. The seed mix should be available to them at all times.
Some pigeons will also enjoy some romaine lettuce, spinach, and other leafy greens and some chopped apple or other fruit. |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | As long as the birds are fed a quality food, no supplements are necessary.
Breeding and brooding pairs may be supplemented with calcium and protein if desierd. |
Maintenance: | Very easy to maintain, very undemanding.
They need fresh food and water.
Depending on the size of the aviary and number of pigeons, the enclosure may need to be cleaned out anywhere from once a week to once a month. I have 6 pigeons all together in mine (4 chicks but they haven’t left the nest) and i clean the pen once a month, sometimes twice. |
Some Words on this Species: | Pigeons are very beautiful birds that aren’t as messy as they are made out to be. They come in a variety of different colors and patters, and you can even become involved in racing them or showing them.
Pigeons can be housed with ringneck doves and chickens without a problem.
Perches:
A variety of different sized and textured perches is necessary to exercies a pigeons toes and feet, provide stimulus, and prevent fatigue. From small twig type perches, to broom stick thickness and even the size of the pole on a stop sign. One thing that pigeons need though is a ledge. A 2x4 board works great. This platform will need to be cleaned and scraped when you clean the rest of the pen.
Pigeons also make good pets if you take the time to tame them. And while they do well outdoors, a single pigeon indoors kept in a large parrot cage will do just as fine. A handfed pigeon is also an option, although it is difficult to find a breeder that does this. I am one of the very few and I may be selling chicks in the future to select homes. |
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