Hi all,
Not sure if I should be posting this here but hope you can help or point me in the right direction anyway!
A while ago 3 doves started to frequent our house roof, they appeared to like our hens which we allow in the garden after lunch, however at dusk they usually disapear back home but unfortunately they have now taken to staying on the roof through the night, can anyone advise how we can trace the owner who will now be wondering where they are!
Regards Mervyn.

Welcome to our forum skibiker and what kind of Doves are they?

Hello,
I'm not sure what kind they are but they are domestic as one has a ring on its foot, but at 64 years old I'm not going on the roof to try and catch them. I just thought someone would have knowledge on how to trace the owner.
Mervyn.

Without putting up a notice, listing in the paper or checking with Vets in your area, you may have difficulty finding the owner. If you live in a small town, you may have more luck.

Sometimes dove and pigeons are banded and the information on the bands could be used to trace the owner. Unfortunately, sounds like you would need a pair of very powerful binoculars.

Also, if they are not white homing pigeons, but white doves, they may or may not be lost.

Also, are there any people who may have pigeons/doves in your area? Any rehabbers?

All the best!

Shi

If you could get a look at their band number it might be possible to trace them by the store (Maybe) that they sold out of and could you put some food and water down for them since they are staying on your roof and visit with your hens on the ground. Do you have any kind of cage trapping devices and any other thing that you might think of--do you have an outdoor chicken coop possibly? If you would go out and maybe try to call them to you with a dove type of language (coo coo) maybe if they were owner owned they just might fly to you. But when you let your Hens out put down some food for them too and water. The only other thing that I can think of is to ask your neighbors if they might know anyone in the area that has birds or Doves? If you have an outdoor chicken coop you might try to lure them with food in there and shut the door...c.hert

Skybiker, Sometimes they have those white dove release businesses and they are actually homing pigeons that they released and they could have just lost their way. Just put food and water around for them and when they get their strength back they will most likey fly home. Do you have any white dove releases near by and they do these things at celebrations or funerals for people. It's very unusual for pigeons to stay on a roof overnight in less they have their nest there. They are maybe just weak and need water and food and I hope that is the case..Keep us posted for we all love birdies here...I also wrote the above post..

Hi Mervyn,

Thanks for coming here in search of how to help these pigeons. We don't expect you to climb up on the roof to get them either, very dangerous! You could try to lure them into a cage or trap of some kind as c.hert mentioned because you need to read the information on the band if there is any chance of tracing it. I don't think even powerful binoculars would enable you to read the info but you could try.

Sounds like you're from the UK, using the term, "rings". Here is a website with other clubs and organizations in the UK that may help.

http://www.whitedovesociety.org/lostpigeon2.htm

So, you can try to catch the birds on the ground, or ask around your neighbourhood like Shi mentioned. Good luck and let us know what happens.

Hi all,
Many thanks, and yes we are based in the UK "Yorkshire". Food and water is no problem as they are drinking from the bird bath and eating the corn we give our girls as a treat in the afternoon, all 3 three birds are pure white and all attempts to catch them have failed as they are just too damned quick for me, our neighbours have no information to offer either, the birds appear to be fit and healthy and bask in the sun on our south facing roof, I will try the address listed and keep you all informed.
Regards Mervyn.