UkPigeonRacing

Yep, I use nest felts and put a handful of straw in for them. I change the nest bowls for clean ones when I put the rings on them and any time the nests get dirty. Some parents really pump the feed into them, and what goes in has got to come out

Diamond Dave wrote: ↑Wed Feb 19, 2025 11:03 am So, if a pair has gone to a lot of trouble to make a big nest, would you still clean out the bowl?
Also with a loose nest a lot of straw and stuff can spill out into the box - do you clear that away?

I would yes and put clean straw in

Thanks gents - as my ol mum used to say cleanliness is next to godliness but dont think she ever did go to church!

I clean the boxes out every day & top-up with nesting material, i also change the nest felt between rounds.

Cheers Dave.

It's a topic close to my heart. I was under pressure to get going this morning but now we are home and I can sit down for a moment,
In my opinion the most important thing you can do to raise good youngsters is keep the nest boxes clean.
If you are fortunate enough to have single pens 1 metre x1metre with an aviary on each one, well that's great.
I don't.
So i replace the soiled paper in the nest boxes every day and put clean nest bowls under the babies every time they need it. If there are a pair of birds super feeding and the babies are super shitting, I'll change the bowl every day for a few days.
One thing I can promise you. If you keep the nest box clean, the pigeons WILL be keener on looking after the babies.

Thanks Murray, all invaluable advice from someone who thought you should never disturb the nest.
I do have just 1 more important question - would you physically take a parent bird off the nest to clean the boxes/bowls, even if they hadnt been sitting for very long?

Diamond Dave wrote: ↑Wed Feb 19, 2025 8:31 am Forgot to say I have grilles in the boxes and I use felts in the bowls then let them gather barley straw on top.
( some do, some dont)
Cheers Neil and worm.

we're same should of said once shit around bowl it's cleaned every day

Diamond Dave wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 8:49 am Thanks Murray, all invaluable advice from someone who thought you should never disturb the nest.
I do have just 1 more important question - would you physically take a parent bird off the nest to clean the boxes/bowls, even if they hadnt been sitting for very long?

That depends on how quiet your stock pigeons are.
Many of mine I can lift them out of the nest box and put them on my shoulder like a parrot while I clean out the box
Some will leave me with blood on my hands if I try to touch the nest.
The thing is you are the manager, and you will clean out a messy nest box or replace a bowl if you need to. I have one hen that I have to take outside and lock it out for a minute to change the paper in it's box. It gets very angry.
So, yes.

Blimey Murray, just wondering if you have a wooden leg and an eye patch....