Can pigeons be good pets? Many people say that raising pet pigeons is both a satisfying and interesting activity. A lot of people keep this domestic bird as a source of income or just a hobby. In general, the most usage of this pet is for meat source or as a pet. For a successful raising of pet pigeons at your home, you need to know the best practices to carry our different activities. It does not really matter if you keep or plan to sell the pet. Can pigeons be good pets? If you do the correct practices when you raise birds, you can be assured that you will get the best results from your pet pigeons. Your pigeon likes to live by pairs, one male and one female. If you plan to buy them, make sure that you get the two of them. Your birds would like to pair themselves, but, if they can’t pair, make sure to lock them in a nest box over the next few days and you will see that your pet pigeons will be bonded. Can pigeons be good pets? Remember, your pet would only pair if they found out that they have the same behaviors and characteristics.
Can You Provide the Right Quarters?
Can pigeons be good pets? If the quarters are cramped, your pigeons would likely engage into a fight and can definitely lead to injuries. Cramped quarters also contribute to the transmission of diseases between the birds. Your pigeons should have enough space to feel comfortable; a breeding pair requires around 2 to 3 cubic feet. Another factor to consider is the placement or location of the pigeon loft. It’s not advisable to place lofts near wires or perching places as they will get distracted; if you want to keep them for training purposes. The best place to set – up the loft for your pigeons are in an elevated area free from barriers.
It’s highly recommended that the floor is made out of wood; though this material can be difficult to clean and maintain. Concrete floor is easier to maintain but it usually keeps the cold which your pigeons will not like; this is why wood is often preferred by breeders. Pigeon hobbyists sometimes use screen floors to make it easier for them to clean but it could be hard for the bird’s feet. The size of the pigeon loft depends on the number of birds you plan to keep as well as the space you have and your budget.
Pigeon Coop
Can pigeons be good pets? We recommended that you install more than one piece of coop/loft, a pigeon house if you have more than one pair of birds. Just like humans, your pet pigeon might not get along well with others, some might become aggressive, in this way, you should shelter them in separate coops. Other than this, you should provide a secure coop for your pets, mainly because your pet pigeon are preys of some other birds as well as some other wild animals. To ensure security, you should make sure that the loft is made of wood, metal sheets, or even wire mesh. Its doors should be very strong and well-fixed to keep away the predators.
Feathers and feces will accumulate faster in their houses, so you need to have a regular clean up. You can control and prevent many diseases as well as parasites if you keep their coops very clean and dirt-free. The materials, as well as the design of your loft, should not be a burden for your pet pigeon in any way. The metal wires and sheets should be securely fixed to make sure that they do not pierce, scratch, or injure your birds. You could also give some soft linings materials to ensure the improvement of the comfortableness of the coops. There should be landing trap or board to help your bird access it house without any difficulties.
Make Sure to Keep them Healthy
Parasites are a great enemy of our beloved pet pigeon. They could greatly interfere with your bird’s attractiveness as well as the reduction of their productivity. Mites, fleas, lice, ticks, worms, and mosquitos are some of the most common parasites for your pet pigeon. The number one way to prevent these things is keeping the bird habitat very clean. You need to ensure that the food and water troughs, coops, perches, flypen, as well as the nest boxes remain sanitized as well as clean. If you see any sign or symptom of a parasite attack, you should use a suitable insecticide or pesticide in order to control these things. You should also quarantine your affected birds in order to stop the spread of any parasites. You should see the help of your veterinarian if your parasite attack becomes very severe.
Weather condition is one element that truly affects your pigeons. Your pet could not really tolerate these problems when it reaches an extreme period. However, remember that all creatures can’t really survive at extreme temperatures, rain, or wind, it is important to give a livable environment for your birds. You need to get the necessary heating system that would help your pet to cope up with the cold weather during the winter season. During the hotter months, you should reduce the bedding and increase the ventilation of the loft. If your place has a strong wind current, you need to have wind barriers n your house.
Feed Pigeons
Can pigeons be good pets? Your pet pigeon likes eating seeds and grains. You need to provide them with dry grains. Simple grains would have a high moisture content that could potentially lead to diarrhea and vomiting. The grains that you can feed your pet are the following: barley, wheat, sorghum, and corn. You can also find ready-made commercial feeds that you can easily buy to improve the diet of your pet. With the matter of the seeds, your bird really loves to eat legume seeds, peas, peanuts, as well as soybeans. You need to break up the seeds into smaller pieces to make sure that the younger ones feed on them without any difficulty. You could also combine two or more different kinds of seeds to make sure that your pet has complete nutrients. The baby birds are usually fed by adult birds, you should not worry about this problem.
A great addition to the feed is the grit. Oyster shell, limestone, salt, bone powder, and charcoal are some of the things. It contains sulfur, calcium, iron, iodine, and some more essential minerals. Place the food in a location that they can easily access at any time of the day. One of the recommended places to put this is near their houses. You need to put the food in clean trays or troughs and should clean these containers regularly to avoid any contamination. You should not put the food insider their lofts because there is a big possibility for them to mix it with feces and other wastes.
Author and long-time animal lover. Sharing knowledge on pet care through experience and the written word. 