Compton30 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 29, 2024 6:46 am
When did you decide to keep your own pigeons that would return to your coop? Was it worth the time and trouble of getting the operation up and running?
I had the same debate. I decided to go the feral pigeon route.
Could not find a reliable supplier of feral pigeons. Believe me I tried.
That led me to the realization that self sufficiency is the best solution. I trap my own wild pigeons. At first I paid attention to internet "experts" to my detriment. Flash a light look under bridges at night on and on, the trap doors advise I got was way off.
I did 3 videos on You Tube about my learning curve on the subject. I think Ive done a post on here with links to those videos. If you have not yet, take a look at them. I do not have all the answers, I do not consider myself a pigeon guru. But, those videos can cut your learning curve saving you time and money.
For the last several years I catch more than I need and actually let some go. Some of those I catch several times.
This year I found a real good spot. I currently run one trap in an old building that has become a pigeon roost, owner gave me a key and said get rid of as many as you can. I catch 30-40 a week running the trap every 48-72 hours. I set it up on the old front counter. No more climbing ladders and running 3-4 traps to catch what I need. I like, prefer and seek out simple stuff and processes that actually work.
I had the bright idea of trying to sell my excess birds to other dog trainers. Trust me, forget it. Not worth the trouble.
When I am done working dogs on pigeons I simply quit trapping until I need them again.
Benefit to me. Not having to feed and take care of a bunch of homing pigeons year round. Fussing with pigeons outside of what I use them for has no appeal to me. Some folks consider pigeons as a hobby. I do not.
As far as how many birds I go thru? I am currently working 4 dogs and use 8 per training session. I can get by with 4-5 birds, but Ive the luxury of plenty of birds, so I use them.
I use carded birds, so can work 2-3 dogs on the same 2-3 pigeons.
Ive got two broke dogs I use for field clean up. Example.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp5tamm ... EK&index=5
If you are using launchers my numbers of birds are irrelevant. You will go thru more birds popping them for a dog. I cant even guess that number, but at least double it.
One of several reasons I use carded birds. Homers are too docile and sit there. Most feral birds do not. They will get up and fly. I love spooky pigeons to work dogs on. Sometimes, you get a sorry feral pigeon that's got a lot of quit in him. I make sure those are eradicated from the pigeon gene pool.
You didn't ask. But, you mentioned enriching a farmer over renting birds. That sounds like a money pit with no ROI. Its important to understand costs. The way I am describing. At first you will spend money starting up. That gets better as you get equipped. Maybe consider spending that money on your own learning curve and equipment. You control your ROI.
I spend about 50 cents a bird currently. Wire for traps, a ladder, fuel, bait and feed and such. And of course you need to build a pen to hold them in. I built my holding pen back in 2007. Next time I build one it will be bigger and a walk in design with a set up in the corner to make it easier to catch my birds at o dark thirty in the morning.
My costs are spread out and have gone down per bird over a few years. At first I spent more time looking for places to trap, driving around observing pigeons, building traps etc. The time I spend has went down considerably as my learning curve got shallower. I am at maybe 3 hours a week right now. Bottom line? I am not at the mercy and whims of others for my training birds.