Bird Feedings and Pet Pigeons (eggs, tame, cage)

[goldengrain]

There is a fellow, in our old neighborhood, who had racing pigeons. He'd let them out daily and we'd enjoy seeing them flying in formation above the river.

We started feeding birds in our yard. We'd mix bags of mixed seeds, black seeds, a fruit and nut mix and some peanuts in shells.

Mostly we'd get sparrows, starlings, doves, and sometimes a grackle or two.
Squirrels would come for the peanuts and a bluejay would dart down, pick up a nut, and head for the trees before the squirrel could notice.

Now, this fellow's pet pigeons have found out about the free food. They used to keep one lookout (a stool pigeon?) sitting near the house and he would somehow alert the rest when food was there.

Now, these pigeons are well fed. They are gorgeous. The owner, I am sure, wants to keep them in good racing form and does not want them to eat food that is not in their diet. They also are like vacuums and really grab a lot of that food meant for the poor wild birds.

The other day, no kidding, I looked out the window to see if the coast was clear and very quickly some flew within viewing distance and sat right in front of the house, begging for food. They must have been on top of my roof. How the heck did they know I was at the window right then?

Are pigeons smarter than I thought they were? Are they psychic?

[phonelady61]

Yes they are extremely smart but be careful because birds outside can carry several diseases that you can come in contact with especially the droppings which is how I got sick and am still fighting the leftover symptoms come on me from time to time . I never knew I could get sick from birds before I did . I ended up in the hospital so it is nothing to play with .

[goldengrain]

Originally Posted by phonelady61

Yes they are extremely smart but be careful because birds outside can carry several diseases that you can come in contact with especially the droppings which is how I got sick and am still fighting the leftover symptoms come on me from time to time . I never knew I could get sick from birds before I did . I ended up in the hospital so it is nothing to play with .

Thank you for the warning. We do not touch them. We feed them on a patio which we hose off from time to time.

You have a parasite? Do you know what it's name is?

Did you go to many doctors before you got a correct diagnosis? I'm asking that because a friend of mine caught some sort of parasite and went to over six doctors: tropical disease people should deal with parasites but most of their practice seems to be giving shots for immunization before trips.

Parasitology should be a subset of bacteriology, but these, to me, are research people and how does one find a doctor who works with the public who is this knowledgeable?

Thank you very much for the warning. We tend to think we are safe in our local world with really great medical care, but something peculiar that you can catch right in your own backyard can sometimes floor our local medical system.

[phonelady61]

Originally Posted by goldengrain

Thank you for the warning. We do not touch them. We feed them on a patio which we hose off from time to time.

You have a parasite? Do you know what it's name is?

Did you go to many doctors before you got a correct diagnosis? I'm asking that because a friend of mine caught some sort of parasite and went to over six doctors: tropical disease people should deal with parasites but most of their practice seems to be giving shots for immunization before trips.

Parasitology should be a subset of bacteriology, but these, to me, are research people and how does one find a doctor who works with the public who is this knowledgeable?

Thank you very much for the warning. We tend to think we are safe in our local world with really great medical care, but something peculiar that you can catch right in your own backyard can sometimes floor our local medical system.

Im still seeing the doctors actually cause they are not really sure what is going on I guess Im the guinea pig case LOL !! I feel somewhat okay now but it may end up something I have to live with , which I hate to say but could be the truth .. I will come back and let you know though .
thanks again

[Stumbler.]

Originally Posted by goldengrain

There is a fellow, in our old neighborhood, who had racing pigeons. He'd let them out daily and we'd enjoy seeing them flying in formation above the river.

We started feeding birds in our yard. We'd mix bags of mixed seeds, black seeds, a fruit and nut mix and some peanuts in shells.

Mostly we'd get sparrows, starlings, doves, and sometimes a grackle or two.
Squirrels would come for the peanuts and a bluejay would dart down, pick up a nut, and head for the trees before the squirrel could notice.

Now, this fellow's pet pigeons have found out about the free food. They used to keep one lookout (a stool pigeon?) sitting near the house and he would somehow alert the rest when food was there.

Now, these pigeons are well fed. They are gorgeous. The owner, I am sure, wants to keep them in good racing form and does not want them to eat food that is not in their diet. They also are like vacuums and really grab a lot of that food meant for the poor wild birds.

The other day, no kidding, I looked out the window to see if the coast was clear and very quickly some flew within viewing distance and sat right in front of the house, begging for food. They must have been on top of my roof. How the heck did they know I was at the window right then?

Are pigeons smarter than I thought they were? Are they psychic?

I have had similar experiences with tame pigeons. My friend when I was in high school, who lived near me at one time, also liked pigeons and he even had pigeons he raised on his apartment balcony, nesting in a box. I used to feed local pigeons when I was in junior high, and they would recognize me coming to similar spots after a while. I even got a bit attached to some pigeons and could swear they learned to "recognize me".

Yeah, pigeons are pretty neat birds, despite their reputation among city-dwellers. They've got good memories and homing abilities, and have been used to carry messages since Antiquity, and have served this function in both world wars. I've also heard they used to be used to carry financial information on Wall Street, back in the day.

Carrier pigeon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

They were also used a lot in psychological research.

Pigeon intelligence - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[goldengrain]

Originally Posted by phonelady61

Im still seeing the doctors actually cause they are not really sure what is going on I guess Im the guinea pig case LOL !! I feel somewhat okay now but it may end up something I have to live with , which I hate to say but could be the truth .. I will come back and let you know though .
thanks again

Both a Chinese herbalist and a local doctor in my insurance plan suggested Olive Leaf (capsules) which strengthen the immune system. No more than one in morning and one at night. I only take them when I feel a cold coming on, now and again and I have now gone years without a cold, which is exceptional for me. That is good to keep in your cabinet, even though it may not help your parasite.

A parasitologist once suggested that every so often I take, over the course of a day, a shot (for females, two for males) a day of some hard liqueur. They said it acted as an anti parasitic. There are parasites that are very esoteric and not even named yet. The fellow was Scottish and worked for the Royal Tropical Disease (something like that) in the UK. He went on treks to third world untrodden areas to investigate these things. He took a drink or two every now and again as a preventative, in case he picked up some bug.

He said this is why the sailors, years back, would be rationed a shot of rum each evening. It wasn't to keep them happy, but to kill things that they may have picked up. If it did not work they would not have gone to the expense of carting the stuff around with them.

He also said we all have parasites. It's normal. He thought they do not all cause problems. (Evidently yours do)

I am no drinker but after talking to him, I may have some vodka daily about every other month.

[phonelady61]

Originally Posted by goldengrain

Both a Chinese herbalist and a local doctor in my insurance plan suggested Olive Leaf (capsules) which strengthen the immune system. No more than one in morning and one at night. I only take them when I feel a cold coming on, now and again and I have now gone years without a cold, which is exceptional for me. That is good to keep in your cabinet, even though it may not help your parasite.

A parasitologist once suggested that every so often I take, over the course of a day, a shot (for females, two for males) a day of some hard liqueur. They said it acted as an anti parasitic. There are parasites that are very esoteric and not even named yet. The fellow was Scottish and worked for the Royal Tropical Disease (something like that) in the UK. He went on treks to third world untrodden areas to investigate these things. He took a drink or two every now and again as a preventative, in case he picked up some bug.

He said this is why the sailors, years back, would be rationed a shot of rum each evening. It wasn't to keep them happy, but to kill things that they may have picked up. If it did not work they would not have gone to the expense of carting the stuff around with them.

He also said we all have parasites. It's normal. He thought they do not all cause problems. (Evidently yours do)

I am no drinker but after talking to him, I may have some vodka daily about every other month.

Im sorry but where did you read I had a parasite ? No no parasites they have done a full blood panel , sputum test , everything in the world test and I might just try this olive leaf stuff . But I cannot take big pills or capsules so if it is a big capsule then i would not be able to take it . but thanks for the suggestion . take care

[goldengrain]

Originally Posted by phonelady61

Im sorry but where did you read I had a parasite ? No no parasites they have done a full blood panel , sputum test , everything in the world test and I might just try this olive leaf stuff . But I cannot take big pills or capsules so if it is a big capsule then i would not be able to take it . but thanks for the suggestion . take care

I'm sorry. I thought you caught something from the birds. I must have misunderstood. Please excuse me.

[phonelady61]

Originally Posted by goldengrain

I'm sorry. I thought you caught something from the birds. I must have misunderstood. Please excuse me.

Please dont take offense it is just that the drs have not found out what it is , whatever it is Im hoping they do soon . take care

[J5K5LY]

I have a pigeon that has a broken wing and can't fly. Found her on the side of the road about 2 years ago. She has a large cage with 3 ramps and 3 levels. She is one serious pooper! One time she became sick and I went to Agway and they suggested something to be added to her water. She had coccidia. It was from stepping in her own poop even though I clean her every day. She is a champion egg layer (of course not fertilized) so I add calcium to her diet. She loves my son and will sit on his knee and watch tv or watch him play video games. She looks like she is waiting for her own controller. However, she hates me most of the time because I am the one that cleans her and has to remove the old eggs. She holds a grudge. And I am the one that saved her little life! LOL I put her outside on nice days in a cage on the ground so she can peck and eat and just be a bird as much as possible. She even likes to play the piano! She can jump up and she keeps going back and forth to make music. Such a funny bird!