Farm Pigeons

[kjgmh]

This may sound like a strange question, but my my futue in laws own a dairy farm and have lots of pigeons on it. I hear that in Europe they are eaten. Has or does anyone know if these would be good to eat and any info on the seasons. Or are the just good for wing shooting practice?

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Your next fish could be your biggest!!

[Surface Tension]

They're supposed to be good to eat. They eat grain so why not try some. Being distance flyers they should have dark meat (blood meat). Probalby tastes like a Sharptail or Spruce Grouse.
Bon Appitete

[Guest]

They taste better than chicken. Being that they are farm pigeons, they will taste better than the ones under city bridges (had my share of those). There is no regulation on them, so load up and bang away.

[setterguy]

Here is a suggestion, depending on where thoes birds are and how many I would be willing to purchase them from you if there is any way you could capture them alive. I use them for dog training. If you are interested just drop me a line or make a return post.

[email protected]

[Guest]

Setterguy,
How many do you want? I have a friend that works at a grain mill and gets them alive all the time.
Thats what we use for training also.

[setterguy]

Brain-

I would probably take as many as you could get, or be willing to part with. How much does he charge for the birds? If he has access to that many, I know I could make the guy a few extra $$$, as I know guys that go through two or three thousand a year. Thanks for the reply. Sometimes it is impossible to find pigeons for sale.

[This message has been edited by setterguy (edited 04-24-2003).]

[metrojoe]

I've been wondering where to get training birds myself. I've got a great dog but he has little to no experience with birds. I've been thinking of picking up a trap and setting it out under a bridge where I contantly see pigeons. It doesn't sound like their that difficult to catch, it's finding a place to trap them thats difficult.

I'd also be interested in purchasing a number of birds for my dogs training.

[email protected] let me know, Thanks

[Guest]

Guys,

Go for a "Sunday drive" to look for farms that have many pigeons flying around or sitting on the barns or silos.
Go in to ask the farmer permission to "live trap" them towards dusk. Explain to the farmer you will be:

Coming to live trap them inside the barn, in the dark using a long handled fish-landing net and flash-lights or "head-light" works well also. Bring a burlap sack or 2 to puttem in when caught also. Have a outdoor cage ready b4 you catchem helps also.

One can catch literally hundreds a night using this technique..did that..been there.

It's a blast...but do the right thing...ASK for permission.

"LUND-MAN"

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"Leave NO Trace"