Anyone raise pigeons for meat?

||Downhome|| · #21 07/09/10, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Norman

Go to a barn or cave or outbuilding and reach in the nests.

under bridges is good too. I will caution stay out of the city parks where people feed them though.

Bearfootfarm · #22 07/09/10, 10:10 PM

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How many chicks will a pigeon raise at a time?
How often do they breed?
How long does the squab take to get to eating size?

They lay eggs in pairs.
It takes about 21 days to hatch, and another 3 weeks for them to be fully feathered.
You can eat them then, or wait a little longer for them to gain some size.
Often they will lay a second pair just as soon as the first pair hatches.
The male and female take turns incubating and they both feed the youg

motdaugrnds · #23 07/09/10, 10:48 PM

I have considered pigeons as well. While mother lived we kept "fantail pigeons" because Mother enjoyed watching them fly. We only had a few pairs and the black snakes caused them problems; so we never ate any of them.

I built a 2-part nest for both pairs at the top of the barn; however, if I were to raise them for squab food, I think I would construct something more protective.

I'm watching this thread with much interest.

postroad · #24 07/09/10, 10:59 PM

Do they free range on the neighbors grain fields?

billooo2 · #25 07/10/10, 12:19 AM

WOW!!! There is apparently more interest in this topic than I anticipated.
How can I find breeders of meat breeds in Ohio or surrounding states?

Bearfootfarm · #26 07/10/10, 01:30 AM

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Do they free range on the neighbors grain fields?

Yes they will, but the larger breeds don't normally fly very far.

I've never seen any of mine more than 1/4 mile from the house, and most of the time they are within 200 yds of their coop.
They also like small seeds, so will spend time in grassy fields too

jen74145 · #27 07/10/10, 01:38 AM

One of those things I've always meant to get around to.

This year, I think I will pester DH into helping me build a dovecote. Hmm.

pancho · #28 07/10/10, 08:30 AM

King pigeons would be a good choice for squabs. They are larger and are still able to fly. The texas pioneer is just a king that can be auto sexed. It is easy to do the same with any king pigeon, just pick out the right colors.
If you want to keep your pigeons caged, cross your kings with runts. This will increase the size some but they won't be able to fly as well.
Kings are a good choice for free flying. Large but still usually able to out fly a hawk. The giant homer is another good choice.

6e · #29 07/10/10, 08:57 AM

Does anyone know, can you raise pigeons with chickens? We have a very large chicken house that the chickens only use the bottom half, so there's the whole top half, plus a large pen outside. Can pigeons live with chickens?

pancho · #30 07/10/10, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6e

Does anyone know, can you raise pigeons with chickens? We have a very large chicken house that the chickens only use the bottom half, so there's the whole top half, plus a large pen outside. Can pigeons live with chickens?

If the enclosure is large enough you can raise just about any birds together.
The only problem with chickens is they might kill the young squabs if they get out of the nest. Do not overcrowd and there will not be a problem.

Bearfootfarm · #31 07/10/10, 11:13 AM

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Can pigeons live with chickens?

Yes but like Pancho said the chickens will kill the young pigeons when they get on the ground. Even male pigeons will sometimes kill the young ones.
Often the pigeons will nest on the ground, so you could lose a lot of eggs that way too.

They also are messy, so I wouldn't want them roosting over my chickens

You'd be better off to divide it with chickens on one side and pigeons on the other

Also keep in mind, when you first buy some pigeons, you will need to keep them confined for at least a couple of months. I didn't turn mine out for the first 3 months, and when I did, half of them never returned.
Once they start nesting and raising young, they are more likely to stay, and the ones you hatch will seldom leave if they have food and aren't overcrowded

motdaugrnds · #32 07/10/10, 11:18 AM

The only problem I can see inherent with raising pigeons is the poop. I sure wouldn't want them dropping it anywhere my goats are housed and raising their young.

I found the Texas Pioneer Pigeons website and contacted them requesting information as to housing and nutrition. I forgot to ask about yearly maintainance. Do pigeons require tests or injections of any kind?

Bearfootfarm, that is interesting housing you have. It looks like utility wire (small holes no snake can get thru); however, I noticed in the larger room where the nests are, there is an entrance. (I can see our large black snakes enjoying that housing and the free food it provides.) Do you shut that little opening up at night?

What type of watering is used? Pur anything in the water?

lisa's garden · #33 07/10/10, 01:26 PM

I've been interested in pigeons for a while and would like to try them next year maybe. I have seen them at the fair in the poultry barn. You might be able to locate a local source for pigeons by visiting the fair.
Google hatcheries and pigeons and you should find some websites for hatcheries that sell them.
I have seen squab for sale in the freezer section of a local market that caters more to the ethnic customers.

dezingg · #34 07/10/10, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TedH71

I remember hearing about a homeless man being arrested in Austin, Texas, for killing pigeons

So when SHTF happens pigeons in the city won't be a problem anymore? Likewise for too many ducks at the lake?

Navotifarm · #35 07/10/10, 03:24 PM

I've been interested in pigeons for years but have heard there is a kind of disease they carry which affects the lungs, spread via their droppings. I forget the name of it but it's like pneumonia. Is that just a story spread by the persons who spread poison grain for big city pigeon massacres or is there such a disease? If so, what care and precautions are advised?

Bearfootfarm · #36 07/10/10, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Bearfootfarm, that is interesting housing you have. It looks like utility wire (small holes no snake can get thru); however, I noticed in the larger room where the nests are, there is an entrance. (I can see our large black snakes enjoying that housing and the free food it provides.) Do you shut that little opening up at night?

The "aviary" is 1/2 inch hardware cloth, but the inside is 2 inch poultry wire.
I have had a few problems with snakes, but I don't worry about large predators because the nesting area is inside my barn.

I use a 3 gallon "poultry fountain" and don't add anything to the water.

I leave everything open most of the time, and my biggest losses are to hawks

Bearfootfarm · #37 07/10/10, 04:05 PM

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is a kind of disease they carry

It's a fungal disease called "Histoplasmosis"

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hi97146.html

Quote:

H. capsulatum grows in soils throughout the world.7,22 In the United States, the fungus is endemic and the proportion of people infected by H. capsulatum is higher in central and eastern states, especially along the valleys of the Ohio, Mississippi, and St. Lawrence rivers, and the Rio Grande.4,23 The fungus seems to grow best in soils having a high nitrogen content, especially those enriched with bird manure or bat droppings. The organism can be carried on the wings, feet, and beaks of birds and infect soil under roosting sites or manure accumulations inside or outside buildings. Active and inactive roosts of blackbirds (e.g., starlings, grackles, red-winged blackbirds, and cowbirds) have been found heavily contaminated by H. capsulatum.19,24-36 Therefore, the soil in a stand of trees where blackbirds have roosted for 3 or more years should be suspected of being contaminated by the fungus.28,37 Habitats of pigeons24-26, 38-40 and bats,24, 41-56 and poultry houses with dirt floors24, 57-62 have also been found contaminated by H. capsulatum.

Hank · #38 07/11/10, 10:38 AM

All this reminds me of the time, years ago, GrandPa was raising some pigeons with the chickens. He butchered a few for us to eat. We had never cooked pigeon before so we just put them in a pot of water and started it boiling. Sounded like a bunch of rocks rolling around in that big ol pot.LOL We boiled them things all day and never did get them tender enough to eat. That was my first and last time cooking and eating (or, trying to eat) pigeon. LOL
This is one of the best things about this forum. There is always a thread that takes me back to some great memory of my past.

Hank
http://www.doublemfarmandchuckwagon.webs.com

Bearfootfarm · #39 07/11/10, 11:40 AM

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never did get them tender enough to eat

That's why the youngest ones are preferred.

Ed Norman · #40 07/11/10, 12:06 PM

Several times I've shot pigeons roosting in caves out in the desert, not city birds. I would pluck and pressure cook them and they were tender and tasty.