Pigeons

[BKMFR]

Asking for some advice from the Bird dog guys, figured you guys are the right ones to ask for some advice on this topic.
Is there a market for pigeons? If so, What is the going rate? And is there any legal issues in selling them?

Thanks for the help!

[ghosthunter]

I think it depends on where you are for demands last summer was hard to find. Even the trainers like Conway were low when I called.

Not sure what the price should be for me when I needed them , I would have paid a lot.
Seems like someone is always looking for birds.

[WRL]

Yes there is a market.

I would say you could reliably get $3 a piece for them.

WRL

[wildweeds]

No rules on selling them either,other than they can't be sold for food.Game department doesn't have them even classified.So when you get the buisness about someone calling the warden/cops and a big to do goes down.You will win,I know been there and done it on the wetside over here.They are the same as rats,feral animals/birds not governed by the game department.No trapping/catching license needed

[Stilly bay]

$3.00? sheesh that cheap. I will pay $5.00 without even flinching.

[BKMFR]

Appreciating the input, Thanks Guys!!

[AspenBud]

$3.00? sheesh that cheap. I will pay $5.00 without even flinching.

I've never paid more than $2.00-$3.00 a piece for them, usually I have gotten them for free. But that was a couple of years ago and from guys who raised their own homers and needed to cut down on the population in their pens...was also in a different state.

I'm honestly surprised more people don't just raise their own here. They're about the cheapest birds to use for dog training...and they're reusable if you raise homers.

[KFhunter]

I bet I got $50 bucks a bird wrapped up in my pigeons by now - feed has gone very expensive.


even if you find someone to give you free birds at least donate to the feed bill 

[bracer40]

I'd raise my own in a heartbeat..........except for those pesky HOA rules

[Happy Gilmore]

no more than $3. Usually it's feast or famine. You won't make money raising pigeons. not a dime. They are free. Guys who sell them trap them all with cannon nets. They have no money invested other than keeping them until they are sold.

[Stilly bay]

$3.00? sheesh that cheap. I will pay $5.00 without even flinching.

I've never paid more than $2.00-$3.00 a piece for them, usually I have gotten them for free...was also in a different state.

  welcome to Western WA! Chukars and quail go for $10-$12 bucks a pop too.

I honestly do not remember the last time ( if ever) I saw pigeons for sale for $3.00-  a price like that is not the standard and if someone passes up birds going for $5.00 apiece they are going to be waiting one hell of a long time for the next guy selling them at $3.00

[Happy Gilmore]

$3.00? sheesh that cheap. I will pay $5.00 without even flinching.

I've never paid more than $2.00-$3.00 a piece for them, usually I have gotten them for free...was also in a different state.

  welcome to Western WA! Chukars and quail go for $10-$12 bucks a pop too.

I honestly do not remember the last time ( if ever) I saw pigeons for sale for $3.00-  a price like that is not the standard and if someone passes up birds going for $5.00 apiece they are going to be waiting one hell of a long time for the next guy selling them at $3.00

Bulk is always cheaper.

[WRL]

$3.00? sheesh that cheap. I will pay $5.00 without even flinching.

I've never paid more than $2.00-$3.00 a piece for them, usually I have gotten them for free...was also in a different state.

  welcome to Western WA! Chukars and quail go for $10-$12 bucks a pop too.

I honestly do not remember the last time ( if ever) I saw pigeons for sale for $3.00-  a price like that is not the standard and if someone passes up birds going for $5.00 apiece they are going to be waiting one hell of a long time for the next guy selling them at $3.00

Just bought some 10 days ago. $3 each.

Yeah its possible you MIGHT find someone desperate and willing to pay more but with ducks at $11 each and chukar for $10 (I actually just bought a pile of them for $5 each) you aren't gonna move MANY at more than $3 ea consistently.

WRL

[Don Fischer]

I raise my own, never a shortage around here. Haven't had to buy a feral in about 30 yrs. Have homer's also now. Started with three pair and will never have to buy another. On thing about it floors me. I've had calls from Portland and Bend from guy's wanting to buy pigeons, no idea where they got my name or ph#. If your not a hunting or training buddy, ferals if I have some I'll sell got for $5 ea and homer's for $10 ea. If that is to much I tell them I'm not interested in selling them any. My hunting and training friend's have got loft's of their own, they got their starting birds from me.

if what you want to do is catch them and have a market go to training kennels and offer them for sale. Don't expect to make a whole bunch of money on then though. Those kennels that go through a lot of birds buy in bulk and you can't afford to sell that cheap. The guy's with canons and net's generally get lots of them with every firing, like 200+ at a shot. You can't compete with them. On the other hand, I have no clue why pointing dog trainer's are willing to pay $6 to $12 for bob white and chukar to train with with all the free pigeon's out there. A lot are simply to lazy to catch and raise their own, some can't do it because of HOA. But the guy's just to lazy will normally want a better price, not only lazy but cheap also.

[Happy Gilmore]

When you live in an area with 8 pro trainers that go through 300-500 a month each none are free. Homers breed easy as ferals and save pointing guys from doing as much killing. No fly always In retriever training. Shackle birds occasionally if times are tight.