And Now For Something Completely Different

Pigeons.

No, we're not taking in pigeons. We're trying to make them go away.

At some point this past summer, a pair of pigeons arrived at the farm and promptly made their home in the cattle shed. A nest above one of the doors soon followed, and then two new little pigeons. Since pigeons poo a lot, and everywhere, plenty of poo followed. And since pigeons attract more pigeons, family and friends soon began arriving from far and wide, all making their home in the now pigeon-poo encrusted cattle shed. They became comfortable enough with us that they began flying into the ground floor of the barn to help themselves to grain or anything else they could find ... of course, leaving poo behind. We'd chase them out, but as soon as we disappeared, they'd swoop back in.

When the flock grew to seven birds, and we grew tired of chasing them out and cleaning up poo, we realized it was time to do something. This fall we started trying to catch them inside the barn -- Kate, Alayne and me equipped with various implements, running around after them -- but after managing to get three this way, the rest got smart and never ventured inside the barn again. But they didn't leave, either, so they continued to make a mess in the cattle shed, in the livestock feeders, on the corral panels, and anywhere else they decided to land -- like the balconies on the house.

We knew we had captured two juveniles and one adult female (we think their mom), and we kept them safe in a dog crate while we pondered what to do next. Because at least some of the pigeons were a family unit, we wanted to get the young ones with both parents and relocate them together somewhere. Yet how would we get the now very wary rest of the flock?

A few weeks ago, not long after we picked up the third pigeon, I was outside about 9:00 p.m., making the last rounds for the night -- checking on the horses, closing up the chicken coop, and making sure all was well. (I use a headlamp so I can see in the dark and keep my hands free.) We'd had a problem with some of our young chickens "learning" to go into the coop at night -- they'd end up roosting in tree branches, on hay bales, just about anywhere but in the safety of the chicken coop. The best way to catch a chicken -- better than chasing it around with a catch pole or net -- is to simply wait for nightfall, when they go into a semi-slumber. Even though they are still awake and their eyes are open, their reflexes slow down so much that you can walk over to them and pick them up. That's what I had been doing on previous evenings, walking around and grabbing slumbering chickens to put back in the chicken coop. (After a couple of nights inside, they learn the drill.)

That night as I made the last round, I noticed in the light of my headlamp another chicken roosting on a hay bale next to the cattle shed. I walked up, grabbed it, and tucked it under my arm. That's when the other -- proverbial -- light went on. I looked up at the remaining four pigeons roosting high inside the cattle shed. It occurred to me that if chickens go into a slumber when it gets dark, maybe pigeons would too?

After putting the chicken back in the coop, I returned to the barn, grabbed a ladder, and positioned it under the shed door. I climbed up, reached out ... and grabbed a pigeon. It squawked, sending the others flying off ... yet when I came back after putting it into the dog crate, they were back roosting ... and I managed to get one more.  Two nights later, I had them all.

Kate drove the group of seven pigeons to an abandoned barn about 5 miles away and released them. We took the photo at the top just before she left. Two hours later, one was already back. Then another. By the end of the day, a third had returned. But it appeared that the original family unit must have stayed at the new site. Progress, of sorts.

I resumed my nightly pigeon-picking until I had all three back in the dog crate. This time I took them with me on a trip to Vermont and released them about 30 miles away.

So far, so good. It's been a couple of weeks, and no more pigeons.

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$1,000 Weekly Winner Again -- Thank You!

Because of all of your votes, we were the weekly winner for week 3 again in the Shelter Challenge -- and that brought in another $1,000 gift for the animals here!  Thank you so much!

The new Shelter Challenge started October 3rd and ends at midnight on December 18th. Grand prize in this round is $5,000, plus $1,000 for weekly winners and $1,000 for state winners. There are also other categories ... please see the Shelter Challenge website for details.

And remember, you can vote every day, so consider bookmarking the voting page to make it easy.

You can vote in the Shelter Challenge here.

Please note:  Use Rolling Dog Ranch for our name and NH for the state and our listing will come up.  [Yes, we are still listed as Rolling Dog Ranch for the purposes of the contest, not Rolling Dog Farm.]

Please help us win more money for the animals here by voting every day, and by encouraging your family, friends and colleagues to vote every day, too. Thank you!

Comments

[Phil Abramsky]

I have to tell you that pigeons are so beautiful. Once we had a flock of them roost at our home for a period of about three months...their cooing was really very nice and comforting for sure. The only thing is that our dog didn't like them at all...we had to give her some discount pet meds to try and calm her down to stop attacking these beautiful birds. Phil Abramsky, http://www.discountpetmeds.info

[Adele]

Guess us New Yorkers sent you a little too much love!

[Katy Price]

Hah! That reminds me of a similar situation I had when I lived in a remote area in Pennsylvania. All of the sudden one summer there were chipmunks EVERYwhere. So I started catching them in a live trap and taking them up a steep hike to the top of a ravine nearby that had an old stone wall circling an old farmer's field. Well day after day I took one after another up there and finally got them all - I guess it was a little too far for a tiny chipmunk to find it's way back. Last I saw they were all still up there and doing fine! Hope your birds stay away! :)

[Margaret]

Wow. And in the picture they look so innocent... :) Very kind of you to take cohesion of the family unit into your plan. But that shouldn't surprise us. Probably a necessity for success, too. Good luck!

[terre]

Sometimes POO happens. Great story. I can just visualize you nabbing the birds, then transplanting them somewhere else. As if you weren't busy enough. Glad things are getting back to normal. Take care.

[Ann]

Like some others have said, definitely never a dull moment at RDF! I have to give you props on your ingenuity in using a dog crate for safely rounding up the pigeons...a very good idea!

[Shirley * James/Portland, OR]

You guys are amazing. Always with such a gentle spirit. At Intel where James works they have to call in the hazmad team to clean up pigeon poo!!

[Reta Davis]

Well, as Roseanne Roseannadanna used to say: "It's always something!"
Sure does keep you hoppin'

[Tonya Allen]

What a great story! Hope the 30-mile distance is sufficient, and that no other local pigeons hear of the now available premises...

[Penny]

the Pigeon Whisperer!

[Valerie]

Good Morning from *frosty* southern Manitoba...well that is quite the tale.....yikes!! 'Fingers crossed' your problem is solved! We have 2 pretty little pigeons that come during the summer to feed on our bird seed along with all the other diners...love to have them..but fortunately they have not taken up residence! Cheers, Valerie (p.s. a big hug to Patti xo)

[Eric]

WELCOME HOME PIGEONS WELCOME OH WAIT NEVERMIND

[Kathleen Rivard]

I understand they make great eating! :) I too would have love to have seen a film of the 3 of you vs "The Pigeons". What next?

[ginger]

Steve, your range of tallents astound me. Did you ever think that they've figured out what a great place the RDR is, and they want to stay with you? Stranger things have been known to happen.
Hugs all around,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit

[Pippy]

I hope these aren't homing pigeons...

[Upper10th]

I like the Monty Python title of this post!

[Anne in FL]

Oh my, there really is no dull moment for ya'll is there? Hopefully they do not have too strong of homing pigeon genetics in them. Good thinking of pigeon plucking though.

[cslvestropez@yahoo.ca]

Your adventures never end do they? LOL Hope your craftiness solved the problem. Their feces is so very un-hygenic, a problem you definitely don't need at the farm. I guess persistance really is the key!

[Mary H.]

The first word that comes to mind after reading this post is "persistence"......of all parties involved!

[DarcC]

Sounds familiar. When I bought my current house, it was gutted to the studs and several windows were broken out, and it had been that way for 4+ years. Basically, I bought 3000sq ft of pigeon poo. Chasing them out and securing windows took three people an entire afternoon. And of course, they found a way back in. To the attic this time, but still. It took almost a year to get rid of them completely.

[Moon Rani]

Steve Smith: Pigeon Hunter - - sounds like the beginning of a new TV reality series! That was a stroke of genius you had about capturing the snoozing pigeons. I was prepared to read that you rigged up something with a shop vac and long hose. :)

[Leila - Washington]

I would give anything for a video of all that!! LOL! Never a dull moment at Rolling Dog Farm....thanks for the chuckle!