Pigeon Startup

HoseGSP · Post by **HoseGSP** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:43 pm

Ok lets pretend that a guy just built a small pigeon coop from the plans he ordered (and overpaid) from LCS. Theoretically what supplies would he need to get his new loft going (feeders waterers lights feed you know all the basics one should have) of course if i was going to build a loft i would have figured all of this out before i would have built the above said coop. its for a friend of mine or something

I know i shoulda just looked in the 500 other pigeon posts but frankly i got lost and confused with all the valuable info that was in them...so i thought id just come right out and ask......also how many birds is a good start and for the loft i built (umm the demensions are somewhere in my head just not floating out)

any info and a place to look for the needed suppies would be great

also if anyone knows where a good source of birds in or around Iowa that would also be beyond helpful

thanks so much i am on this site pretty much daily and am learning as i go...i just dont post much cause i am new to it all but this site is awesome and i want all to know i am picking up tons and tons day by day!!

ohiogsp · Post by **ohiogsp** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 8:03 pm

You need a bullet type waterer and a feeder and grit dispencer. You have to have a covered waterer cause then love to crap in the water. If you want to go the cheap way I use a gallon jug with a 2 x 3" hole cut in the side just above half way. I then fill with grit. I just use a 9 x 13 baking pan for feed because I measure it out and it is only there for less than 10 min. My wife keeps wondering where all those went.

You could make a feeder just like the grit if you are going to free feed. You could use this gallon jug for water also but it ain't going to hold very much (1/2 gallon). With the number of pigeons you will have that might be fine. I would start with at least 6. I don't know how big that loft is but if I remember right it won't hold more than 10 birds.

HoseGSP · Post by **HoseGSP** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 8:28 pm

what do i use for feed is there a certain brand or type or would i be better of mixing one or two things???(i mean it is iowa any and all types of grain are very accesable, but id like to stay away from corn as the market looks to be headed to over 4bucks a bushel)......and how much should i feed lets say 2 or 3 breeding pairs and like 3-4 kill pigeons?? those are the numbers i was thinking of having at all times....but at most 8-10 birds at any one time until i get my larger loft done.

Ohio thanks for the advice u have given me so far and from all of your other pidgeon posts....by the way in the pics of you building your loft (i think it was your posts any how) is that a painting of a sprint car more specifically the valvoline #11 behind u in one or two pics in the garage????

ohiogsp · Post by **ohiogsp** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 8:34 pm

I buy pigeon feed at the local feed store. I put the feed down for 10 min. then pick up. I will sometimes measure it out also. They need 1 once per bird per day. It probably is a sprint car we are big into dirt cars. Every person in my family has raced a dirt car of some sorts (even my grandmother). We have a couple late models we race now.

ohiogsp · Post by **ohiogsp** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 8:36 pm

Here is the watter I was talking about. I use the 4th one down.

http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com/catal ... index.html

HoseGSP · Post by **HoseGSP** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 8:41 pm

i was looking at foys supplies before and they sell a starter kit but it was a bit more htan i wanted to spend and i didnt like everything that came with the kit...i was lookin for a waterer like that and know that i know which one ill be sure to get it headed this way.....
is it ok if i pm u with any questions if u dont mind.....

dirt racing is huge here....i have traveled with the world of outlaws (national sprint car tour) working on teams every summer till now...being from knoxville that is all there is since its the sprint car capital of hte world..we even have a couple late model races here one in the fall pays some big money....even your grand mum raced that is kinda odd yet interesting!

Post by **ezzy333** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 8:46 pm

Hose,

Ohio has given you good advise so I didnt jump in and confuse you. If you need help anytime I am sure he will be glad to help and I will also. Check local stores and see if some carry pigeon food. I can buy it here several places and it will do a great job and the birds don't eat a lot. If you can't find pigeons closer I can get them for you if you let me know how many and when.

Ezzy

ohiogsp · Post by **ohiogsp** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 8:54 pm

Sure, PM me if you want. Ya, knoxville is a big sprint car place for sure. You have been to Eldora then. We go there to race a couple times a year usually. It is alot of fun.

HoseGSP · Post by **HoseGSP** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:31 am

ohiogsp yea i have been to the Big E a few times had a few good times there.....thx again for getting me steared in the right direction...you better be ready for alot of pm's

ezzy i may be gettin ahold of u about gettin a few birds in the near future cause so far the only leads i have are either in Brookings, Sd (7 hours or so away) and a guy has some quail in eastern illinois but it was at least a 7 hour or more drive.....im sure that in the morning when i go looking for pidgeon feed im gunna get a few laughs before they figure out i am serious but im sure between all the farm stores and feed mills around here ill at least be able to get some feed ordered and have it ready...also where do i find grit??

bird · Post by **bird** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 5:39 am

HoseGSP · Post by **HoseGSP** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:40 am

i was planning on attempting to catch my kill birds in the future but was wanting to buy some homers and kill birds for startup....where at in Iowa are u from Bird??

bird · Post by **bird** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 3:30 pm

HoseGSP · Post by **HoseGSP** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 5:39 pm

Knoxville here....how are the bird counts up your way??

bird · Post by **bird** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 8:20 pm

HoseGSP · Post by **HoseGSP** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:49 pm

man i have seen more grass and any semi level ground that has been just hay or pasture ground torn up and been planted corn...i hope the market crashes a bit on em cause the average farmer didnt see the 4 dollar price they sold it to coops in the fall and then when the price went sky high the big guys and the grain bin owners all doubled there money in no time....i also wonder what is gunna happen if it stays like this for to long im sure alot of ground that was to be planted beans or other cause it has been corn already for the past while has been planted corn again aint that isnt going to do the ground any good....i have even seen some guys plant just inches from the roads in places just to gain one or two extra rows of corn this year....
i also hear ya on the rain we dont jsut get little showers anymore it either comes an inch ever 30 minutes or none at all....i have to say i have seen alot of adult pheasants and alot more quail than i have seen in a long long time but it could also be that the ground i have just gotten to is surrounded by a nature loving farmer that is makin millions of governemnet programs to but so many acres a year into quail and water fowl habitat....most farmers hate the guy but i am seeing some benefits from it in my near future...

i guess i dont know a jim jones off hand but then again there are alot of jones in the area.....i guess it dont matter if the number of birds is up or down ill still have the dogs out as much as possible....and if the snow holds off as long as possible like last winter itll be a decent season hehe....

bird · Post by **bird** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 5:42 am