12 baby pigeons

[scottio]

Need some advice. I met a man while working the other day that use to race birds. I let him know I was interested if he ever wanted to get rid of some chicks. I never expected him to call back just a week later with some chicks that he said would need to be hand fed. I have no coop built no idea how to raise them up. I really want this to work out. Any good ideas for quick coop? Advice on taking care of them?

[RichK]

A quick coop can be built with some 2x4s and plywood. Put them in the loft and throw them some corn and water every day or two and they will be happy.

[ezzy333]

I would not even consider birds so young they have to be hand fed. There are much better deals available if you look for them I am sure. Pigeons shpuld be good to go when they are somewhere very near a month old. Much younger than that I would pass.

Ezzy

[RichK]

I would not even consider birds so young they have to be hand fed. There are much better deals available if you look for them I am sure. Pigeons shpuld be good to go when they are somewhere very near a month old. Much younger than that I would pass.

Ezzy

I missed the hand fed part. Like ezzy mentioned, skip on those birds. They should be around ~30 days or so before they are ready to go on their own.

[Del Lolo]

They're great to eat -- Squab Under Glass -- Yum Yum

[scottio]

The man told me they imprint best when they are this young. And of course they are free. I just don't want to burn a bridge. Is it really that easy to find other pigeons of racing stock.

[Lucky Dog]

I would not even consider birds so young they have to be hand fed. There are much better deals available if you look for them I am sure. Pigeons shpuld be good to go when they are somewhere very near a month old. Much younger than that I would pass.

Ezzy

Ezzy is right.

Many racers cull one of the young from each nest thinking that one bird per nest will be stronger. He is trying to pawn off his culls on you.
Young birds that need hand feeding are waaayyyy too much work and will most likely die any ways.

[ezzy333]

That might be the answer though I have never met anyone that would do that. Most flyers I know keep extra birds they use to raise the young off of their best birds if they are concerned about them. But I agree as I said before.

Ezzy

[scottio]

I don't think he races anymore. He just keeps them around because he likes to watch them. I don't think I'm up for hand feeding either seems like a pain. He just said the younger the better they would home. I will ask if he will let me get them in a few weeks.

[ezzy333]

Not really true. You want to get them before he lets them out of the loft at 4 to 5 weeks. they wull home to your loft if that is where you have them for a week or two and then let them loose.

Ezzy

[DonF]

If the patch over the beak turns white and they have been out, breeders only is most likely. Very few of my birds go out that haven't turned while yet. You want them when they are eating and drinking on their own and flying in the loft. Settle those in your loft for a week or so with plenty of food and water and you got homer's. I don't think your gonna have much by just throwing something together to make do. You can build a small workable loft in a weekend easily, just doesn't take a lot.