4 years ago I decided to raise pigeons for meat and I was all in. It seemed it was perfect for me since I couldn’t have any other animals due to government restrictions. I had my plan of action, I figured how to expand my growth and educated my self with plenty of outdated books that proved to be a great resource once in history. Set up housing, got my pigeons and I was ready. Yes, I thought I was ready.
I didn’t account for one of my neighbors gifting me 20 laying hens and a free coop big enough to house all of them. Quickly the pigeons faded away. All my attention was taken away by the chickens, heck even the kids where exited about these little dinosaurs that brought them joy while chasing and fighting over a roach that just happened to cross their path. The kids where all in.
It’s amazing how times flies by, I spend the last 4 years raising, incubating, processing chickens. All of this in a plot of land that it’s not zoned for animals. But what I learned is that if you get free chickens, you take them no matter the circumstance and make it work and boy did I make them work.
What I didn’t count on was that at the same times my pigeon flock was thriving just as well. With minimal input is was growing. It is still growing and what I mostly enjoy that they raise their own babies with out any input from me. All I had to do was feed them and provide them clean water.
Sadly I didn’t manage them correctly, and I still have not processed any of the pigeons for meat. I have plenty of free loaders and a line that just does not work.
This year I will make my pigeons a priority and make them a part of my meat productions. I will have to remove about half or more of my birds and start fresh but hey you live and learn.
#growfood #grownostr #homesteading #squabs #pigeons