Did you know pigeons are excellent companion animals? Many people who are considering a parrot may do well to also consider a pigeon. Their care needs and their personality are very similar to what many people may expect of a parrot, while parrots are actually much more complicated than many at first assume.
- Unlike parrots, pigeons are truly domesticated and adapted to live in human environments. Even wild adults tame down readily in a few weeks. Young birds, and adults of some fancy breeds, are basically tame by nature.
- They are intelligent and easily trained. They can learn to step up, come when called, and learn tricks via positive reinforcement in very short time spans.
- They are super affectionate and often love to be petted, and will preen your hair and fingers.
- They are tidy! Mine is largely housebroken to use newspapers - and did so with very little reinforcement on my part. Their droppings when kept as pets and fed properly are compact, mostly solid and more easily picked up than parrot droppings. The white staining streaks that come from wild pigeons are the result of malnutrition and will never be seen in a pet pigeon!
- They cannot chew anything in the home such as furniture or electrical cords, nor can they cause any harm if they bite you.
- They are remarkably fluffy and soft!
- Their ideal diet really is just dry seed. They are specialized seed-eaters to a degree not seen in any parrot, and don't digest vegetables or other foods very well, though they can eat some greens in moderation. They do not require additional supplements to thrive except for a little grit and some crushed calcium, though Vitamin D may need to be supplemented if they cannot get natural sunlight. This is all they will need through their entire life of up to twenty five years.
- Their enrichment needs are much lower and are filled completely by space to fly, interaction with their owner and very simple foraging opportunities. There is no destruction of expensive toys to worry about.
- Your neighbors will never hear them. Pigeons are quiet. Females hardly make a sound. Males can't be heard outside a closed door.
- A tame pigeon is very tolerant of handling and will usually accept wearing a harness much more readily than a parrot, often without any training process at all, and enjoy getting outdoors.
- They are more tolerant of being left alone for short periods and being an only bird, and do not develop neurotic behaviors such as plucking.
