Good Care Techniques for Homing Pigeons

Homing pigeons are a variety of domestic pigeons, bred to find their way home over long distances. There are several uses for these selectively bred birds including carrying messages and racing. White homing pigeons are often released as doves for weddings, sporting events and funerals. Raising homing pigeons is simple as long as an owner practices good care techniques.

  1. Feeding

    • An important part of taking care of homing pigeons is proper feeding. These pigeons eat whole grains such as corn, rice, soybeans, legume seeds and sorghum. Before feeding, sift the whole grains through a fine net, such as a mosquito net, to eliminate any dust, dirt or other fine particles in the feed. Keep the food in an accessible place so the pigeons can feed at will and check the food on a regular basis to avoid the growth of harmful mold or taint that will cause sickness in the pigeons.

    Housing

    • Proper housing is important for a homing pigeon's breeding ability, health and safety. A proper housing unit is typically in an elevated loft that is airy but not drafty. It is beneficial for a pigeon owner to provide the pigeons with sand, small stones and shells for building their nests and keeping their eggs safe. In cold weather, cover all openings of the shelter with unbleached muslin to keep the cold out while allowing light inside the dwelling.

    Bathing

    • Baths are an important part of raising homing pigeons, as the pigeons typically take frequent baths to ward off pests. A homing pigeon owner should provide a bathing container two to three times a week that is approximately 3 inches deep for easy bathing. Do not provide the bathing container on extremely cold days, as bathing in the cold may result in sickness for the homing pigeon.

    Flying

    • When training, allow the bird to fly short distances daily, such as 15 miles, however, for longer distances, allow one day of rest between flights. When the homing pigeons are not training, it is important to exercise the birds two times a day, allowing them to fly as much as they like. Always avoid liberating a homing pigeon in mist, rain, heavy fog or snow, as these weather conditions may result in the loss of a bird.