pigeons

[quailgunner02]

if you trap wild pigeons then keep them and feed them for a couple weeks will they return after training? or will they just leave forever?

[Doc E]

Wild caught fully adult pigeons will go back to their original homes (especially after only two weeks). It's possible that very young adults might learn their new home, but again it will take a lot longet than two weeks. The old ones will return to their new home only if they have hatchlings to feed. Birds that are hatched at your place will almost always return, and young trapped birds will return only after they have lived at your place for a number of months.



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[mustad]

Doc,

Is that any feral pigeon or just homers?

m

[Doc E]

I think it's all pigeons. All pigeons have homing instinct --- it's just that Homers are better at it.



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[daleh]

Pigeons are a tool just like a shock collar, whoa stick, or steady barrel.
Too Much is never a good thing
The reason trainers use pigeons is because they are inexpensive and fly several times with a teather on it. Also they return to a cope when you launch them.
They however, are no subsitute for finding a wild or realesed bird.
If your dog ever points a pigeon in the wild chances are he will get run over under the bridge.

[mustad]

I agree with you Dale. I think next year I'll be raising my own Chukars.

I have my own bird launchers, so at the very least I can do my best to simulate wild birds, but there's no subsitute as you say.