Pigeons are smart, emotional, and social. They thrive in a flock or with loving humans. They mate for life, and are loyal and devoted. They can live 15-20+ years with proper care.
Food: A basic pigeon mix for variety. We currently feed Versele-Laga 15% No Corn Pigeon Food (available via Chewy or possibly at your local feed store), and occasionally add human grade popcorn and Harrison's Adult Lifetime Fine pellets in addition to the staple grain diet. IMPORTANT: Many veterinarians are not familiar with pigeons and may suggest an all-pellet diet, but this can cause health issues and is not ideal for the species. Pigeons are granivores and do best on their natural diet. Many pigeons also like a "dove" mix with smaller pieces to be added. Calcium grit can be sprinkled on top or offered separately in a small dish. Fresh chopped veggies can be offered - favorites include fresh greens, thawed peas, corn, finely chopped carrots (NO onion / mushroom / avocado) . Make sure to remove and throw away uneaten fresh foods within about 12 hours. Safflower seeds and raw, unsalted peanuts or sunflower hearts make good treats in moderation. Avoid processed chips and breads except for rare occasions – they have no nutritional value. Do not offer sunflower seeds that are in a shell - these can cause crop impaction.
Water: Wash & refill bowls daily. Automatic waters should be emptied and scrubbed twice weekly. Even if water appears clean, bacteria start to build up on the containers. Pigeons will also drink from bath bowls - so it's important that all water sources are regularly washed.
Bathing: Provide a shallow dish for bathing several times per week - at least once weekly for indoor birds. Pigeons vary individually with how often they prefer to bathe.
Indoor Pigeon Cages: Minimum cage size is 24x36 and 24" tall (bigger is always better) for birds who spend very little time in it other than sleeping, though pigeons need time out of cage to fly and explore. A cleaning should be done daily, depending on how much time is spent inside. We use newsprint paper to stack a week's worth of papers on the bottom tray and remove them as needed for easy cleaning. Critter Nation cages are excellent for pigeons and easy to set up and clean. (available on Amazon and Chewy) They are modular and can be set up as separate units or put together without a floor divider to give your birds an entire double cage.
Accessories can include mirrors, platforms, perches and half-logs, and small dog beds for lounging. We use pillow cases to cover beds for easy cleaning.
Other caging options can include large dog crates - however the wider bar spacing on those make them unsafe for birds in a household with cats/dogs who can stick paws into the gaps.
Taming/Interacting: If you want to interact with your birds, the more time you spend, the more tame the birds will become. They are curious and social, but take time to adjust to changes. Be patient and don’t force interaction. Treats are a great way to get a bird to want to be near you. Children should always be supervised when interacting with birds.
Sunlight/Outdoors: Never take birds outdoors unless they are in a cage or securely harnessed. Birds should not be allowed to free-fly due to the dangers of getting lost or harmed by predators. Fresh air and sunlight are always great additions to health and enrichment, but only if done safely.
Nesting: Pairs will usually nest and lay eggs. Even single females will sometimes lay. This is part of their natural behavior and they love to gather nesting materials such as strips of paper. Check for eggs twice per week, and replace any eggs with fake ones. Far too many birds need homes, so Olive’s Place does not support breeding. Replacing eggs is necessary so that females do not over-tax their bodies constantly laying new ones. Pairs will usually lay a new pair of eggs about every month. Laying more often than that can be dangerous to females. Laying females especially need access to calcium grit and anyone with female birds should have calcium (and ideally an Rx of metacam) on hand for potential egg issues.
Dangers: Birds have sensitive respiratory systems, and the following can be harmful: smoke, fumes from nonstick cookware, candles, air fresheners, etc. Keep them away from anything small enough for them to ingest. They often explore on the ground, and can get underfoot.
Other animals, such as cats / dogs should never interact with pigeons or be loose in a room where pigeons are uncaged. Parrots (hookbills) should not interact with pigeons (softbills) regardless of size, due to differences in social cues and the risk of injury from a parrot's strong beak. Rats can attack pigeons, and even smaller snakes can strangle them - especially in the dark when birds are less able to evade an attack. Regardless of the temperament and history of another pet, Olive’s Place only allows interaction among birds of the same size/species - it simply isn't worth the risk.
Outdoor Birds: Being outdoors in an aviary is wonderful for fresh air and sunlight. Living outside with dirt/grass or exposure to wild birds involves potential exposure to parasites. Pigeons can have external parasites like feather lice. This type of lice is bird-specific and cannot transfer to you or your furry pets or survive off of the bird for long - and is treated with scalex spray, a bath of ivermectin, or sevin dust. Internal parasites such as worms are treated with drugs like Ivermectin, Pyrantel Pamoate and Moxidectin Plus. DO NOT USE PANACUR (Fenbendazole) or related drugs. These are toxic to pigeons and doves - but as these species are not commonly treated by vets or mentioned in the literature, your doctor may not be aware of the danger.
Aviaries: A safe aviary is not just built to keep birds IN, but rather to keep predators OUT. Half-inch wire mesh hardware cloth or similar should cover all openings (NO chicken wire). The floor or perimeter should have anti-digging measures such as buried hardware cloth - but solid concrete floors are ideal for safety and longevity. There should be no gaps more than ¼” due to snakes and rodents. Cleaning should be done regularly, scraping shelves and washing surfaces. A safety check, looking over the aviary quarterly or even monthly, ensures that everything stays in safe condition. A good aviary provides a variety of shelves, cozy nest boxes, protection from the elements with a sheltered interior space, and modifications for any disabled birds. It should be large enough to provide ample room - uncrowded birds are healthier and less stressed.
We have recently made upgrades to our aviaries and are busy continuing to improve infrastructure. We will be updating aviary information with more details, ideas, and photos by spring 2025.
