Author Topic: where to get pigeons?  (Read 1188 times)

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Offline coyotejoe

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where to get pigeons?
« on: December 03, 2008, 06:05:21 AM »
Within a 100 mile radius of my home near Canon City Colorado there is very little in the way of game birds, other than turkeys. I would like to raise pigeons to train my GSP/Britt buddy. I have a shed which I could make into a very good pigeon coop but I can't find any brood stock to get started. There a lots of online sources of fancy and expensive pigeons and I have called a couple but the moment I mention utility birds for dog training that about ends the conversation. I know there are still a few live pigeon shoots and they must have a source of birds but that is all pretty hush-hush and I can't get a line on breeders. Can anyone offer some help?
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Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: where to get pigeons?
« Reply #1 on: December 03, 2008, 06:09:17 AM »
pick up a copy of pointing dogs , i used to get it and live birds used to be for sale in the back pages . They may be on line also
If ya can see it ya can hit it !

Offline Don Fischer

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Re: where to get pigeons?
« Reply #2 on: December 03, 2008, 12:17:14 PM »
Cost of shipping pigeons is all but prohibitive. For training birds dogs you don't need homers, ferel pigeons will do fine. Any farmer with a barn full will likely be glad to have you trap them or go in a night with a flashlight and pick them up. I started with ferals over 20 years ago and haven't had to catch birds since and have never bought birds. Ferals will home from farther than your likely to train. I've had them come home from right at 100mi. I have about 50 on hand right now and a bunck of squabs recently hatched out. By the end of next summer I will probably have given away another 50 or so to guys starting coops. I sold about a hundred a couple years ago just to get rid of them but won't sell any more. If your this way, bring a cardboard box and I'll give you enought to start a coop.
:wink: Even a blind squrrel find's an acorn sometime's![/quote]

Offline coyotejoe

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Re: where to get pigeons?
« Reply #3 on: December 03, 2008, 12:47:45 PM »
I do appreciate the offer Don and I do agree that feral birds are exactly what I need but Oregon is a bit far.  We have no wild pigeons near by or I'd have been at it already. There are pigeons down in Canon City and in Salida. I could build traps easy enough but I guess I'd have to get permission from the city animal control before trapping in town, that may be do-able or not.
The story of David & Goliath only demonstrates the superiority of ballistic projectiles over hand weapons, poor old Goliath never had a chance.

Offline moxgrove

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Re: where to get pigeons?
« Reply #4 on: December 03, 2008, 01:17:00 PM »
I actually got my coop going by talking to the maintenance chiefs at a couple local parking ramps that had pigeons. They were leery at first. they thought I wanted to get paid. When I told them the birds were the pay they were thrilled to death.

Offline myronman3

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Re: where to get pigeons?
« Reply #5 on: December 04, 2008, 10:01:40 AM »
contact pigeon racing clubs.  usually in the fall the guys are culling their birds and the ones that dont make the cut can be had really cheap.   use the web to find a club or two in your area.

Offline Tonk

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Re: where to get pigeons?
« Reply #6 on: November 24, 2009, 02:36:14 PM »
Coyoet Joe....I raise some racing homers, Birmingham Rollers & Turkish Rollers as well. I also have White Racing Homers too! Send me a PM and I can tell you how to go about things and where to get your pigeons to start the ball rolling and get your dogs trained.