ive kept pigeons before in a loft similar to the first one(upland birding) but left the front open and fed them outside every morning and evening closing the door at night, i also made sure there was plenty of water and i was pritty succesful but i wasnt breeding them for a purpose just as a childhood hobby. i dropped it after a few years but my cousins did the same and bred about 30 pairs :oand then couldnt keep track so they started selling them to chineese who ate them but you get my point as long as they get food and water theyl breed for you almost anywhere ;D
You're near Chicago so you shouldn't have any trouble finding inexpensive pigeons, assuming that you aren't shopping for racing homers or something like that. Watch the trader publications, look for swap meets at livestock sale barns and ask other falconers. You should be able to find pigeons for $5 to 10 each without a problem. If you were closer to me, i could get some for you for less than that even. Good luck.
Check with a local nuisance wildlife trapper. Often times they keep a number of the feral pigeons that they trap and sell them on the side to people for training their bird dogs. If the one you talk to doesn't have any, ask him who is the "pigeon specialist". Often times, the trappers specialize in certain types of wildlife and there almost always is a person who traps the pigeons. Just remember that the wild ones are more likely to have the nasty stuff, so be careful!! -Joby
For anybody in Illinois...check this out. There is a vender listed for mice, rats, and chicks frozen or live...There might be pigeons or someone who knows where to get them there. Haven't had the time to go check out the show yet though.
Post by sohighlyunlikely on Sept 29, 2008 18:19:45 GMT -5
I keep a small flock here in St Louis. I haven't had any breed yet all mine are young birds. They just lately started to pair off. I just started keeping them this summer. You can sometimes find pigeons on craiglist, Kijiji.com or downtown at Soulard market.
Where can you buy pigeons to raise for BOP's? All I found are $150.00 per pair fancy pigeons.
That's price is nuts! Contact local pigeon racers. They cull their flocks. Nothing wrong with the culled birds. They're just too slow. You can get em for $2 each, or for free. My vet is heavy into racing and he knows everybody with pigeons. PM me for his phone number.
Or... find a farmer who has unwanted feral pigeons in his barns or sheds, and trap them yourself. We did a pigeon raid some years ago on a barn and brought home 300 for free. We sexed them, dispatched and froze for hawk food those we didn't want as breeders, and medicated the flock against disease. You'll have to keep them as captives since they aren't homers. They'll breed in the loft just fine.
QUIETLY check city ordinances tho'. You may run into problems keeping pigeons where you live unless you're in unincorporated Naperville (where I used to live, btw).
Last Edit: Sept 29, 2008 18:44:07 GMT -5 by Migisi
For anybody in Illinois...check this out. ...Haven't had the time to go check out the show yet though.... www.allanimalshow.com/
I know this weekend swap is over by now, but just a word of caution.... I'd steer clear of 'swap meets' - especially deals made out in the parking lot. forum.kingsnake.com/law/messages/7585.html
Last Edit: Sept 29, 2008 19:43:30 GMT -5 by Migisi