THE PIGEONS CAME HOME TO ROOST

Ever since my friend Jerry wrote an article in "Ruffed Grouse Society Magazine" about his experience with homing pigeons, I knew I wanted pigeons for bird dog training.  Like a man with a mission, I went to various websites and bulletin boards to learn what I could about homing pigeons.  I researched different coop designs, but never "pulled the trigger" until this summer.  

K-Lee needed to become more "staunch".   I knew that if I had pigeons available here on "the farm", I could train more often, more efficiently, and at a huge savings.  Looking on Craigslist (sort of an e-market) and I found young adolescent pigeons for sale.   Once I had them in my coop, I understood why they are called "squeakers".  They sound like a dry hinge on a turning door.

Last week, I let them out for their first-ever, full-blown flight on the outside.  They had been acclimating in the coop for about five weeks, and --having "test flown" a couple birds-- I was reasonably sure that they would come back to the roost.  Just to add a bit of extra assurance (perhaps more for me than anything else)  I decided that each time I would feed them, I would blow a whistle.  After a few days, I blew the whistle, opened the door, and was nearly caught up in a pigeon stampede!  It was sort of a "Pavlovian" moment.

One "homer" loves speed.  He buzzes the house like an F-16, peels off and does it again.  He seems faster than the others, though I think he's just a thrill-seeker with a "need for speed."  I can almost hear the bird say "Whee!"

Last year, we took advantage of an on-line sale and purchased three "traps"--devices that safely hold the bird until the trainer provides an electronic release.  The traps "pop" the bird up about nine to ten feet in the air, then the bird freely flies back to the coop and rejoins its family.  (Nice!)  Using the traps, I can set up one little scenario for K-Lee and train a bit, then set up another.  Or, I can set up a course where she can hunt up birds.

The birds themselves are pretty low-maintenance:  Food, water and "grit" when necessary.  Fly them, keep the cage clean and safe from predators.  

The biggest maintenance "problem" is that my wife has made them into her pets.  Each night I have to report that they are all safe in their beds and that they had fun outside. 
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