COO is a crowdsourced collection of guides, resources, and links on taking care of pet pigeons and doves. Whether you are only considering getting a pigeon, already have one and are looking for information on specific things, or have any sort of questions, we’ve got you covered! Note that this compilation is specific to pet pigeons and small lofts; it is not meant as an end-all-be-all guide to all pigeon keeping, like show breeding, racing, or raising pigeons for utility.
Everything you will see here has been written and put together by the pigeon community members as a shared effort. Each page has author credits and, in case of non-original guides, specifies the original source. There are also very active Discord servers dedicated to companion pigeons that you are welcome to join: the two largest ones are Companion Pigeon Chat (CPC) and Great Lakes Pigeon Rescue (GLPR).
Note that while some articles in the guide are backed by hard science and have sources listed (such as nutrition or medical recommendations), others have been gathered from collective experience and anecdotal evidence. That applies, for example, to subjective things like reading behavior or “more than one way to do it” things like training. The things described in this guide are what many different people in the community have found to work for them, however that does not mean alternatives are wrong or do not exist. We always encourage to do research and make your own conclusions that align with your circumstances and values!
Contributions are always appreciated. If you feel like you have something to add, want to make suggestions or edits, have recommendations specific to your country, or would like to contribute an entirely new guide, please get in touch!
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COO contains over 30 articles, and while they are grouped and structured, it can be quite overwhelming! To make navigation easier, this section contains the most common questions we get. Click the toggle arrow on the line that fits your case the most, and you will get a recommended reading list.
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Are Pigeons a Good Pet for You?
Guide to Pigeon Pants (Flypers)
Predator-Proofing an Indoor Cage
Pigeon Training & Hand Socialization
Pigeon Marriage, Nesting, and Egg-Laying
Hand-Raised Pigeons and Imprinting
What to Do If You Find a Pigeon
<aside> ❤️🩹 If your bird is hurt or sick, talk to a vet! The guides here provide basic advice, but will not replace qualified medical help. If you are unable to take your pigeon to a vet or have a non-urgent question, reach out at #medical-advice in the CPC Discord.
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Recommended Healthcare Routine
<aside> 🐦 This is a collection of external resources and social media accounts dedicated to pet pigeon education. While we strive to only include reliable and reputable content creators whom we’ve personally known to give excellent advice, we can’t vet every single piece of content, so always take social media advice with a grain of salt. If you know of other educational accounts or channels that you think should be featured here, get in touch (see the “Contact” section below) and let us know!
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<aside> 🐦 This section contains articles and topics that are frequently requested but not covered in COO just yet. Of course, we welcome any and all contributions, not just the ones listed here, but if you’re unsure how to help, this list could be your guide!
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If you have any suggestions, questions, or contributions, you can email [email protected] or ask .ohai. on Discord.