Talk:Pigeon keeping

pigeon keeping is NOT limited to homing pigeons! There are many more domestic breeds.

I think this page should be refactored dramatically. "Pigeon Keeping" isn't enough in and of itself to justify an article. Therefore, I think, it should be renamed to "Columbiculture" and the word should be moved to Wiktionary. Then "Types of Pigeons" and "Pigeon Housing" should each be given a separate article. However, I don't want to make this sort of dramatic change without some discussion first. Any opinions?--OnorioCatenacci (talk) 15:58, 9 April 2008 (UTC)

I agree that the page needs some work. I don't however agree with "Columbiculture". I had been considering moving this page to Pigeon fancier which is currently a redirect for this page, and changing the title to suit. Types of pigeons are covered under various other articles as sub-headings/sections at present. See Pouter, Fantail (pigeon), Roller (pigeon) etc. The Fancy pigeon article needs a major overhaul and would cover one of the "types". There is already an article for Racing pigeon and another for Pigeon racing. "Pigeon housing" would be best covered as a section. Probably here or under Domestic pigeon? Before it was split off as a stand alone article it would need to have its own references and everything. Otherwise it would be easy game for the deletionists. There is an article on Dovecotes. Pigeon housing could go in there? But probably not. There is still no article for Utility pigeons (ooh I take that back! Another page to add to my watch list. Well done :-) See how people are quick to mark unreferenced pages? But you fixed it nicely I see) but there is one for Squab (food).--Sting au Buzz Me... 11:43, 10 April 2008 (UTC)

To be more specific in my proposals about refactoring this article, in my estimation the two following paragraphs should be refactored (just for a start):

Pigeons can be kept in a dovecote or in a pigeon coop or a pigeon loft. While they were once a valuable source of meat, in the United Kingdom this use faded away in the early 19th Century, and they increasingly were kept for pigeon racing or for the breeding of Fancy pigeons.[4] This breeding of pigeons to develop and perpetuate features, which can be interesting or decorative as well as practical, particularly interested Charles Darwin, and he took up pigeon breeding while developing his theory of natural selection to explain the process of evolution.[5]

Keeping pigeons has been found to cause a condition called pigeon fanciers lung in some susceptible fanciers.[6] This allergy has caused many fanciers to give up their pigeons.[7]

The writing is choppy; it lacks good transitions from one topic to another. Also the reference to pigeon fanciers' lung seems really out of place.

My plan of attack is to start with rewriting the first paragraph into something a bit less choppy and to remove the second paragraph altogether--but only to another separate article which would be referenced via a "See Also" at the bottom of the article.

I am also planning (per Sting's excellent suggestion) to put together a "Notes" section with shortened references to the book citations; this will be in addition to the "references" section that's already there. Thoughts? --Onorio (talk) 23:54, 30 April 2008 (UTC)

Assessment of the article from the Agripedia standpoint. --Onorio (talk) 00:10, 1 May 2008 (UTC)

food for pigeons

someone bought a landscaping company and previous owner had homming pigons. the new owner was going to kill them if someone didnt come get them. a lady came & took all but 14 & a baby one. i got them & took them about 7 miles from their loft & released them @ the ocean where i know there are many pigons @ the state park & they won't be destroyed. i kept the baby because it still has pin feathers but i don't know what to feed it can someone please tell what it eats so i can nurse this little one & release it later where the others are???!!! thanks for any advice & please dont fuss @ me for letting them go. KHIJJI Khijji (talk) 02:07, 1 May 2008 (UTC)

If it has pin feathers it should be able to be fed with grain. I'm not sure where you are or what feeds are available for you to use. If it was me hand feeding a squeaker here at that stage I'd be giving peas, milo, wheat or corn. The youngster will also need to be drinking water too. So see if it will take water from a cup for you? You will need to pop a seed or two at a time into its beak and see that it is swallowing ok before giving more. Some breeders use crop needles and feed specially prepared mixtures, but it does sound like your youngster should be able to handle grains? Go to your local pet shop and ask if they stock a "pigeon mix" which should contain the kinds of seeds you require. Failing that see if you can seek out a local pigeon fancier to assist you? Please let us know how things go or if any problems etc.--Sting au Buzz Me... 10:51, 1 May 2008 (UTC)