Are Pigeons Good Pets to Keep?
Most people are inclined towards adopting cats or dogs from animal shelters. They tend to overlook other animals and birds that need a sanctuary as well. Pigeons come under this category as people don't think they need to be rescued from animal shelters.
How are pigeons as pets?
People don't often realize that there are multiple pigeons that cannot be released into the wild due to various reasons. Therefore, they require a proper home. However, they are often killed. Pigeons are relatively smart birds. With breeds such as Fantails, Kings, and Homers selectively breeding in a domestic environment, releasing them into the wild is no longer an option. Therefore, for their survival, it's imperative that they land up as pets in someone's house.
Keeping Pigeon as Outdoor Pets
With pigeons, you have the option to keep them pets indoors or outdoors. They are smart birds and would soon adapt to their new home. You should keep them in an aviary outside the house, so no predators make their way to them. You need to make sure that the cage is sturdy and robust and would easily tolerate any external force. To make the cage rodent proof, you should at least use a 16 gauge wire, so the rodents don't chip their way into the aviary. You should place the aviary at a place that gets enough sunlight during winters. For summers, you should keep them in a covered area or at least have a temporary arrangement to cover them.
As a thumb rule, you should keep the aviary size 4x6 feet if you're keeping four birds. Pigeons are great pets as they would mostly spend their time scouting for their favorite seeds, sunbathing, napping or showing off their amazing feathers. They won't cause much nuisance towards you or your neighbors. The pairs would mate after every 4 to 5 weeks and lay eggs. If you want to control the birth rate of the pigeons, you should replace the real eggs with fake ones.
Things to do if you keep Pigeons as Pets
It's important that you ensure the pigeons get proper nourishment in terms of space and nutrition. They must be provided with adequate food and water source throughout the day. They're peaceful birds, therefore, don't disturb them unnecessarily as it will cause stress to them.
Keeping Pigeons as Indoor Pets
You can also hand tame the pigeons. However, it will take some dedication and time. The pigeons would overtime get acquainted with your family and would pick favorite spots to hang around inside your house. It's important that you don't keep a single pigeon as a pet inside as they require companionship to keep them happy!
Also read our other bird tip:
Pigeons And Needle Strips: Does This Work?