Why aint my pigeon, doves, and pheasents not going in there Huts?

I just built an outdoor avairy with two HUGE huts that they can fly up in and get out of the weather. I live in Seneca Falls, New York which is about an hour away from Rochester and as you know the winters are harsh up here. Last night it rained and I noticed that they didnt go up in the hut to get out of the rain, and yes I mean all my birds (pheasent, doves, and pigeons)! Did I do something wrong or will they go up there in do time, or should I put the back in the builden and not let them out at all in the avairy? Please Help someone!

Also I noticed that one of my pigeons has a tumor what should I do to help it?

Thanks and God Bless

Hi John...
It would help to see pictures of your aviary. Without seeing pictures, I can tell you that pigeons like to roost high up on flat perches or shelves. I'll find some pictures to show you and perhaps other members can as well.

It isn't a good idea to have your pheasants and pigeons house together for several reasons.

1.] Pheasants are bigger and more aggressive than pigeons and may kill them.
2.] By housing them together you are putting each species at risk of catching illness form the other.

Regarding the tumor, it's really difficult to offer an opinion without seeing a picture of the tumor and reading more about where on the body it is located.

As soon as i get ahold of my digital camra i will take photo of the avairy. But it seems that my pheasent like my pigeons. because when I seprated them they cried intell i put them back in with my pigeons! I dont know, lol.

It would be great to have a picture of that tumor as well.

How many pigeons and pheasants do you have?

I have four pigeons, two Indian Fantail Pigeons, and two pheasents (one female and one male)! I am confused because you said that pheasents will kill my pigeons but the pheasents was in with my pigeons for three weeks now and they didnt harm any of my pigeons. Matter of fact they sleep on the same branch as my pigeons. I am so confused!

Thanks and god bless

John...I think trouble may begin come mating time, with the pheasants and pigeons, as far as the aggression is concerned.

Here's an article on raising pheasants.

http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1017&context=nebgamepubs

Thanks so much for the artical about pheasents! But when is mating season so I know when to seprated them?

Thanks and God Bless

Maybe this link will answer more questions about your pheasants.

http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/pheasant/spring.htm

These are photos of my Avairy and the bird with the tumor...








Bird with tumor....





Thanks and God Bless

First...lets talk about the bird with the tumor.
Is the tumor on the joint of the wing or is it on the chest of the bird?
Does it feel hot
How does the bird act?
Do you know if the birds have been vacinated for any illness?

Looks like it is on the top of the wing?

John, first off, Charis is right in that they shouldn't be housed together. All birds can get aggressive at times, and if this happened, the pigeons would be hurt. Just shouldn't mix them. It isn't a question of separating them just at breeding time. They just shouldn't be housed together.

Nest off, The chicken wire you have used to cover the aviary, will allow mice, rats and snakes into the pen. Mice and rats will spread salmonella to your birds, and make them very sick. Rats will kill your birds, and if you are feeding them in there, which I imagine you are, that will attract these rodents. Rats will also dig under the fencing to gain access. Snakes will also kill them. Chicken wire just isn't safe. The holes are just too big. Should be hardware cloth. The pen should be covered at least maybe halfway, to let them be out of the rain if they don't choose to go into the boxes. That way they could sit on top of them and still be dry.

Well First off the tumor is on the chest of the bird. The tumor does not feel warm and the bird is acting like he/she usely does!

About the avairy I did cover one box with a tarp but not the whole half of the aviary, but I plan on covering the whole top once I get another tarp!

I just go home and I brought another seprate avairy for the pheasent so I just seprated them! Now the pigeons have the whole avairy to them selves! But what should I do about the tumor?

Thanks so much guys for all the helpful information it is helping a lot!

Thanks and God Bless

The tumor is probably this and it should fall off on it's own. If the tumor would have been on a joint, I would have been more inclined to consider salmonella has the cause. Regardless, keep a close eye on it.
http://www.pigeonangels.com/pigeon-and-dove-illnesses-injuries-their-symptoms-and-treatment-f11/body-tumors-t155.htm

More than covering part of your aviary roof, it needs to have a solid roof to keep snow and rain out. Pigeons do not do well with wet or damp places and I would encourage you to make a solid wall on at least the back and one side.
I agree that the other sides need to be rodents proofed with hardware cloth and during the winter and rainy spring months, covered with a heavy clear plastic that will allow light in but help keep water and wind out.

Ok well as you can see by the pictures the avairy does not have four walls because it is attached to my shed. But should I cover the side with the two huts and the side that the door is on?

And will a tarp work fine for the roof? Because I dont have enough lumber to put a roof on! I built it that way because people told me that It should be like that because pigeons like to see 360 degree sun and fell like they are free! People also told me that as long as they have a hut that they will be fine in the winter and the avairy doesnt need a roof!

So will the pigeons be fine winter if I just put a tarp and plastice the whole thing?

But with the tumor I should just keep my eye on it and it will fall off on its own? and I dont have to do anything in the meantime? Also its wierd because when I got her she was fine. She didnt have a tumor or anything. I just came out one morning and it was there. Do they just appear like that?

Thanks and God Bless

P.S. This web site is great I am learning everything to know about pigeons! I should of found this website sooner!

or to just make is so simple, should I cut a nice whole in the side of my shed and let them have free access to my shed so that they can go in there if it is raining or snowing real bad?

Thanks and God Bless

capturedmemoriescs wrote:

or to just make is so simple, should I cut a nice whole in the side of my shed and let them have free access to my shed so that they can go in there if it is raining or snowing real bad?
Thanks and God Bless

That would be great. Is there electricity in there for light?

We can give you tips as to how to outfit it so they are comfortable. Perhaps NiteOwl could post some pictures of her nest boxes and shelves?!

capturedmemoriescs wrote:

Ok well as you can see by the pictures the avairy does not have four walls because it is attached to my shed. But should I cover the side with the two huts and the side that the door is on?

And will a tarp work fine for the roof? Because I dont have enough lumber to put a roof on! I built it that way because people told me that It should be like that because pigeons like to see 360 degree sun and fell like they are free! People also told me that as long as they have a hut that they will be fine in the winter and the avairy doesnt need a roof!

So will the pigeons be fine winter if I just put a tarp and plastice the whole thing?

But with the tumor I should just keep my eye on it and it will fall off on its own? and I dont have to do anything in the meantime? Also its wierd because when I got her she was fine. She didnt have a tumor or anything. I just came out one morning and it was there. Do they just appear like that?

Thanks and God Bless



P.S. This web site is great I am learning everything to know about pigeons! I should of found this website sooner!

Yes...just keep an eye on it. Temporary tumors are thought to be caused by pox virus which is cause by mosquitoes.

Even if you make a place for your birds in the shed, I still think you should cover the avairy in plastic to keep the wet and chill out.

I'm glad you found us too.

John, it sounds as though you will be able to give them a nice place to live with just a little effort. It'll be worth it, you'll see. You could put a few nest boxes inside the shed. They're easy. Mine are nothing special, but I will post them as soon as I get the chance. May be tomorrow, as it's a little hectic here right now.

Ok great. I have electric running to my shed so there will be light in there. So all I need to add to my shed is add nesting boxes? I dont need to add perches or roost because there are already in there because that is where they where before! I just never broke it down!

But yes I planed on even if I open the she up I will cover the avairy in plastic and put a tarp on top of it, just incase they come out!

Is there anything else should I know?

Thanks and God Bless

It's very important that you keep rodents out of your loft and aviary. They carry salmonella in their droppings and if they contaminate the feed or your birds eat a dropping, it can make them very sick. Rats will actually kill your birds during the night when they can't see to get away. That's why the 1/4 inch hardware cloth is recommended.
In addition, you need to have a first aid kit for you birds which we can talk about.

where should I get the first ad kit?

Now with the 1/4 in. hardware cloth can I find that in any hardware store or what?

Now i dont know if you know this or not but When I built the avairy i didnt put a floor in! It is just on the ground!

Thanks and God Bless

capturedmemoriescs wrote:

But yes I planed on even if I open the she up I will cover the avairy in plastic and put a tarp on top of it, just incase they come out!

Thanks and God Bless

Hello John & welcome to the group I've been following your thread and just wanted to say that if you get alot of snow where you live you may not want to cover the top of your flight.
Here in Wisconsin we get some heavy snows throughout the winter & even though our flights don't have any top cover the snow packs on the top wire and gets very heavy, some snow storms I have to go out 3-4 times just to knock the snow off.

So if you do get the heavy snow a top covering, plastic or tarp, could smash your wire in.

Hope this helps.