Question 1

Is shipping safe? How does it work? What do I do when my bird arrives?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is very common to ship pigeons, it is done through USPS using a specially designed box. I know it sounds scary and traumatic to ship a live animal, but since my birds are so well trained they stay pretty calm through the journey which means they conserve energy and food. Message me your zip code for the exact shipping quote (usually around $50). It is safer than you think! Here's what happens: the bird is shipped Monday/Tuesday, goes to a distribution center, then to FedEx to fly on a plane to reach the distribution center near you, and USPS picks up from there and contacts you to come get them. They are shipped Monday/Tuesday to avoid any delays or issues from weekends (avoiding holidays), they are fed a large meal before shipping and are very hydrated. They will sleep pretty much the entire journey with a little seeds in the box for when they decide to wake up and eat a little. 2 days is average but sometimes it will be 3 days for long journeys. It's ok! In the box there's hydration gel for them to eat to get water, with seeds on top, so they actually do get shipped with food and water. It's safe and the only real issue is delays, which is why shipping dates are particular. Pigeons are much sturdier than you think, they do great when shipped and I wouldn't worry. I will choose the shipping week based on temperatures and holidays primarily. When you get your bird home the poops will be green, that's normal. Just offer your bird food and water, this is a great time to work on handfeeding and recalling to you while they settle in. By the next day, your bird will probably start laying down with you and becoming super friendly. Make sure to feed them well for a couple days.

Question 2

How long do pigeons live?

Accepted Answer

Pigeons live about 3 to 5 years in the wild but can live 15-25 years domesticated. They go through puberty around 2 months old and reach sexual maturity around 6 months which is when female pigeons lay eggs. (Yes, you can eat them!)

Question 3

Where do you get your birds from? Is it ethical?

Accepted Answer

I currently have two pairs: Old German Owl and Birmingham Rollers. I am waiting on a Fantail and a Classic Frill pair. Other than that, I get most of my birds from breeders that take VERY good care of their birds and love them. Most are members of the Arizona Pigeon Club and care deeply about pigeons. They spend a lot of money to make sure they are well taken care of and healthy. I have a good relationship with several breeders all over the state so they will sell them to me at a low cost, as they trust that their bird will find a good home with me. This allows me to keep the cost of pet pigeons down for you as the only thing I am charging for is my time when it comes to hand raising and training (plus all the driving I do...) which is why my birds are so cheap compared to hand raised parrots such as conures and macaws ($800-$2k). Whether all this is ethical is up to you. I believe these pigeons bring joy and comfort and find loving homes which is much more ethical than the way most animals are bred and raised.

Question 4

Why do they cost so much?

Accepted Answer

For comparison, a pigeon from a hatchery like Stromberg's runs around $300 shipped, and that bird could be anywhere from 3 to 18 months old and untamed. You're paying that much for an adult bird with no hand-raising or training behind it. I think $200 for a fully hand-raised, trained, socialized bird is a good deal, especially compared to parrots, which are far less domesticated and still sell for thousands. I hand-feed multiple times a day and spend real time with each bird. There isn't really anyone you'll find offering what I am. Please understand it is very time consuming to house a bunch of pigeons, feed, clean AND train them to be perfect like this for such a low cost.

Question 5

Do I need one bird or two?

Accepted Answer

One is totally fine if you spend time with it, they're hand-raised and bond naturally to humans. They also do well with a second pigeon for company, though whether they end up "pairing" depends on the individual birds. I haven't noticed much behavioral difference between owners keeping 1, 2, or 3. They're all pretty chill and social either way, since they grow up socializing with other pigeons already.

Question 6

Male or female? Can I request?

Accepted Answer

You can't tell until they lay an egg (around 6 months) or you DNA test a feather. For a $50 deposit I will DNA test a batch of 3. If none turn out to be the gender you want, I'll pay the extra to test another batch of 3. This may take some time as I'll need 3 available birds at once. Hand-raised pigeons show behaviors from both sexes, so you can't go by behavior. There's no real difference as a pet unless you plan to breed. If you end up with a female who lays eggs, you'll want "fake eggs" on hand. I can sometimes guess their gender based on pelvic bones but I can't be 100%.

Question 7

My bird coos at me, wing-slaps, bites, what's going on?

Accepted Answer

Pigeons bond to humans as mates, so after 2 months old they will try to "mate" with you. It just means they like you, think of it as a horny-teenager phase that gets better with time. Their bites feel more like a pinch and their noise isn't nearly as loud or startling as a parrot's. This just means they really like you. My birds are usually sold before this phase kicks in. At sale age they're still squeaking, just starting to coo possibly, so you get to experience the stages yourself! I recommend not petting them on the body when on your shoulder, as this is considered sexual behavior and it gets them more excited. I don't personally like for them to get too excited while next to my face. However, a little cooing and biting at the hand is ok. It is ok to pet them though, so don't be worried about that! They are just horny birds. Having a second bird can help them take it out on each other and not mate with you as much. It's one of the cute and funny parts of having a pet pigeon. Your bird may "hump" you, especially if kept solo. They'll basically get on your hand or another body part (maybe an object or toy) to squat and flap their wings for about 15 seconds, then move on. It's not super common, and you can stop them if it makes you uncomfortable.

Question 8

Does it matter what breed I get?

Accepted Answer

I believe that breed does not matter when it comes to a domesticated pet pigeon. My birds are very well trained. People who say breed matters are people who don't train their birds. All pigeons are pretty much the same, they just look different so pick what you think is pretty. If you have requests I can do my best to find what you are looking for with my connections.

Question 9

What are some common pigeon breeds?

Accepted Answer

1. Owls: Usually have a "crest" at their head and a "bowtie" at their chest to look fancy. They are bred to have small beaks and are usually white with color on their wings. German owls are very common, Old German Owls are bred to have bigger beaks. 2. Frills: Similar to Owls as in being fancy, usually lack the "bowtie". These come with feathered legs and a little on the feet. Wing coloring tends to be different. They cannot raise babies due to small beaks so they need different breed parents which makes them much more rare. 3. Rollers: These come in all sorts of colors, they are bred to "roll" as they fly. My pigeons don't really do it when raised to be pets so it doesn't matter. They usually don't have any "fancy" features. 4. Tumblers: Similar to Rollers but they tumble. These usually involve more feathered legs, feet and a crest. Like with Rollers, there's so many types of Tumblers. 5. Fantails: These are fancy pigeons that basically have a fan as a tail so they look very exotic. They don't fly that well as their tail makes it hard. When they do, it's almost like a tornado coming through the town as they usually much bigger! 6. Racing/Homing: These come in many colors and have different beaks typically. They are bred to fly longer distances to reach home. When trained as pets, they don't do this. 7. Frillback: They basically are just pigeons with curly feathers. Personally in pictures I think they look cool but in real life it looks like paper. They are pretty unique and cool though. These birds tend to not fly that well. 8. Modena: This is basically a pigeon in chicken form. They don't fly that well. Extras: Many breeds will involve feathered feet or a crest, it's just something extra bred into them. This isn't meant to go over every breed, these are just the ones commonly bred and kept as pets which means I have the easiest access to. There are MANY breeds of pigeons and it doesn't matter at all which one you keep as a pet, it's really only about looks. A lot of breeders will tell you their breed is the best, it's just to lie and sell you a bird.

Question 10

Who are you?

Accepted Answer

I used to travel the country training horses and exotics (zebras, camels, water buffalo, alpacas, etc.) but got frustrated with how people treated and trained their animals, so I stepped back from public training. I still train privately for the Salt River wild horse management group and occasionally help someone out. These days I teach country dancing at Scootin' Boots in Mesa, but pigeons are still my passion project.

Question 11

Will you train an adult for me?

Accepted Answer

Yes! It's not common, but every now and then somebody asks me to train their bird because they don't want a new one but they want help with recalling or diapering. I do this for $100 for 2 weeks or $200 for 4 weeks. I can't guarantee anything obviously, but I will train your bird to recall indoors and diaper, with constant updates. I do not take these birds outside to free fly.

Question 12

Do you get attached to the birds and get sad when they leave?

Accepted Answer

I personally see it as a new experience to improve my method or training, or meet a new personality. Every bird is different and they are all cute in their own way and the way they do their own things. It is sad seeing a bird go, but you know they are going to a loving home that will teach someone else to enjoy pigeons in the way I have enjoyed them and that's all you can ask for. I love training all sorts of different pigeons and sharing my love of them with others.

Question 13

What is your return policy?

Accepted Answer

I understand things happen and life changes. I would prefer if you have to get rid of your bird you go through me first that way I can retrain it and list it for cheaper than my other birds so it finds a home easily. You are also free to try and find a home for them yourself.

Q&A