Brad on Mon Aug 17, 2009 4:26 amPigeons as Pets
Pigeons are not often viewed as pets. Most pigeons are bred to race, to show or to be used for food. Urban feral pigeon populations are considered nuisances or health hazards and are often exterminated in large quantities. But the pigeon has a noble history, is one of the most loyal and devoted of birds, and, when raised with love and attention, can be a faithful and treasured companion.
Columbia livia, most familiar in the form of street pigeons, is a Mediterranean native. The French settlers at Port Royal, Nova Scotia first introduced the pigeon into North America in 1606 and European settlers imported them into the Colonies for food and message carrying in the 1700's, but man's relationship with pigeons predates written history.
Long associated with peace, the dove symbol first appeared around 4500 B.C. and combined the attributes of all pigeons and doves. Historians speculate the birds clustered in early temples, as they do on modern buildings, so became linked with fertility goddesses like Venus, Astarte, and Aphrodite. These deities symbolized love, peace and harmony. Adding to the "love" connection is the pigeons endearing loyalty and devotion to the same mate year after year.
By biblical times, the dove/pigeon had become a familiar image and symbol. According to biblical flood legend Noah sent out a raven that didn't come back and later a pigeon that returned with the olive branch, a sign of dry land - and of peace. In 1150, the Sultan of Baghdad launched a pigeon postal service that functioned until about 1258. Pigeons were used as messengers in Julius Caesar's times as well as during the siege of Paris in 1870-1871 and in both World Wars. During World War II at least 32 pigeons received the Dickin Medal for brave service. By the late 1800s, every US Naval station had a pigeon loft, and some maintained them well into the 1950s.
Pigeons are a parrot's close avian relatives. They share such traits such as mating for life, producing a crop milk to feed their young, having a fleshy cere covering their nostrils and producing a powdery down in their feathers. The Rock Dove, the only domesticated variety of over 250 species of pigeons worldwide, has been selectively bred for various traits for about 3000 years. Some of the current varieties of the over 200 different modern breeds include Homing or Carrier Pigeons, Tumbling Pigeons and Exhibition or Fancy pigeons. Pigeons come in every imaginable color and variety, from gray barred (like urban pigeons) to red to silver, from petite to the huge giant runt which can weigh over 2-1/2 pounds), from frilly feathered to feathered feet. Raising a pigeon as a pet is not much different than raising a dove. Although it is possible to hand feed the young squab, it is not necessary. Pigeons are excellent parents and will continue feeding their youngsters well after they fledge. Once a baby comes out of the nest it is hardly distinguishable from its parents, thus the myth of "you never see a baby pigeon." Look for a local pigeon breeder who handles his birds daily. Pigeons bond easily with humans, especially those that feed them, and a tamed pigeon, kept alone, will become a faithful and loyal companion to its human. Maintaining a mated pair is not necessary, and unless you are racing or showing them, you probably don't want any extra birds.
Pigeon droppings are messier than doves', so keeping one inside means constant clean-ups. Pigeons live to fly. Allow for at least some free-flight time, either inside or out. Birds that have bonded with a mate or with a location will generally always come home. (This may not be the case in the "fancy" pigeons, so consider clipping their wings if allowed outside). The risks of outdoor flight, though, may outweigh the advantages - free flying pigeons run a gauntlet of hawks, cats, cars, windows, kids with BB guns and pigeon-hating or practice-shooting adults with rifles. Caging needs to be large enough to allow the bird wing-flapping room and to avoid striking tail or wing feathers on the sides. Just like with doves, these birds are ground feeders, so provide their seed, water and grit on or near the floor of the cage. Install at least two natural-wood perches or a shelf and a perch. The shelf should be at least 6 inches deep and be the highest of the perches. Pigeons enjoy fresh seed gasses and other greens, whole wheat bread snacks and whole seeds such as safflower, popcorn, peas and other grains. Commercial pigeon seeds or pellets are available at most feed stores. They need larger grit than doves and also should have some eggshell or oyster shell available for calcium. Fresh daily water in a 2" deep dish is essential. Pigeons love to bathe, to provide a large, flat 1-2" deep dish of water at least twice a week.
The only way to determine the sex of most pigeons is by behavior. At maturity, males tend to bow and coo and strut with fanned tails around their object of affection. They are quite vocal. Females are more demure.
A pet pigeon can be a true delight for the enlightened and informed.
Source: Bird Hobbiest
Pigeons are not often viewed as pets. Most pigeons are bred to race, to show or to be used for food. Urban feral pigeon populations are considered nuisances or health hazards and are often exterminated in large quantities. But the pigeon has a noble history, is one of the most loyal and devoted of birds, and, when raised with love and attention, can be a faithful and treasured companion.
Columbia livia, most familiar in the form of street pigeons, is a Mediterranean native. The French settlers at Port Royal, Nova Scotia first introduced the pigeon into North America in 1606 and European settlers imported them into the Colonies for food and message carrying in the 1700's, but man's relationship with pigeons predates written history.
Long associated with peace, the dove symbol first appeared around 4500 B.C. and combined the attributes of all pigeons and doves. Historians speculate the birds clustered in early temples, as they do on modern buildings, so became linked with fertility goddesses like Venus, Astarte, and Aphrodite. These deities symbolized love, peace and harmony. Adding to the "love" connection is the pigeons endearing loyalty and devotion to the same mate year after year.
By biblical times, the dove/pigeon had become a familiar image and symbol. According to biblical flood legend Noah sent out a raven that didn't come back and later a pigeon that returned with the olive branch, a sign of dry land - and of peace. In 1150, the Sultan of Baghdad launched a pigeon postal service that functioned until about 1258. Pigeons were used as messengers in Julius Caesar's times as well as during the siege of Paris in 1870-1871 and in both World Wars. During World War II at least 32 pigeons received the Dickin Medal for brave service. By the late 1800s, every US Naval station had a pigeon loft, and some maintained them well into the 1950s.
Pigeons are a parrot's close avian relatives. They share such traits such as mating for life, producing a crop milk to feed their young, having a fleshy cere covering their nostrils and producing a powdery down in their feathers. The Rock Dove, the only domesticated variety of over 250 species of pigeons worldwide, has been selectively bred for various traits for about 3000 years. Some of the current varieties of the over 200 different modern breeds include Homing or Carrier Pigeons, Tumbling Pigeons and Exhibition or Fancy pigeons. Pigeons come in every imaginable color and variety, from gray barred (like urban pigeons) to red to silver, from petite to the huge giant runt which can weigh over 2-1/2 pounds), from frilly feathered to feathered feet. Raising a pigeon as a pet is not much different than raising a dove. Although it is possible to hand feed the young squab, it is not necessary. Pigeons are excellent parents and will continue feeding their youngsters well after they fledge. Once a baby comes out of the nest it is hardly distinguishable from its parents, thus the myth of "you never see a baby pigeon." Look for a local pigeon breeder who handles his birds daily. Pigeons bond easily with humans, especially those that feed them, and a tamed pigeon, kept alone, will become a faithful and loyal companion to its human. Maintaining a mated pair is not necessary, and unless you are racing or showing them, you probably don't want any extra birds.
Pigeon droppings are messier than doves', so keeping one inside means constant clean-ups. Pigeons live to fly. Allow for at least some free-flight time, either inside or out. Birds that have bonded with a mate or with a location will generally always come home. (This may not be the case in the "fancy" pigeons, so consider clipping their wings if allowed outside). The risks of outdoor flight, though, may outweigh the advantages - free flying pigeons run a gauntlet of hawks, cats, cars, windows, kids with BB guns and pigeon-hating or practice-shooting adults with rifles. Caging needs to be large enough to allow the bird wing-flapping room and to avoid striking tail or wing feathers on the sides. Just like with doves, these birds are ground feeders, so provide their seed, water and grit on or near the floor of the cage. Install at least two natural-wood perches or a shelf and a perch. The shelf should be at least 6 inches deep and be the highest of the perches. Pigeons enjoy fresh seed gasses and other greens, whole wheat bread snacks and whole seeds such as safflower, popcorn, peas and other grains. Commercial pigeon seeds or pellets are available at most feed stores. They need larger grit than doves and also should have some eggshell or oyster shell available for calcium. Fresh daily water in a 2" deep dish is essential. Pigeons love to bathe, to provide a large, flat 1-2" deep dish of water at least twice a week.
The only way to determine the sex of most pigeons is by behavior. At maturity, males tend to bow and coo and strut with fanned tails around their object of affection. They are quite vocal. Females are more demure.
A pet pigeon can be a true delight for the enlightened and informed.
Source: Bird Hobbiest
There is a real nice introduction post that would be nice for you to introduce yourself in so that we can give you a hug and welcome you in a more proper way rather than on a pigeon thread. But anyway.. 
