First of all, reading all of your posts, I thought it would be fun to hear where everyone is from...I am in S.St.Paul MN, and I know Arty is in Coon Rapids, about 30 minutes north from me.
Also, I was wondering what everyone would suggest for my new bird for a cage in the house (needs to be secure, I have cats), and outside...I was thinking about a rabbit hutch. I currently have a chain link dog run, enclosed on top, which we use for outside time for our cats...I was thinking the bird could hang out in there on occasion, without the cats of course! How does that sound?
Maybe someone here could recommend a place to get cages for less $ or even sell me one??? Here is a far away pic of the outside enclosure (only one I could find).

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Hey there! We are down south in Houston, Texas!

Jessalyn and Ruby

I use a large Parrot Cage when bringing a baby in and hand feeding, maybe I can bring this critter cage back to you for at the shop.
You will have to be careful about the bar spacing, we don't want any broken legs, I place newspapers in the bottom of the parrot cage ontop the grate to assure there little feet don't slip through the bars.
I will hand raise your new baby in the critter cage you gave me, this way he-she will be used to it and bring it back to you when your baby is weaned.
Does this sound okay?
You can try Craigs List in the pets area craigslist: minneapolis / st paul classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events
That outdoor cat run is awesome, I appreciate your kindness towards mother natures creations when keeping your cats contained, this says a great deal about a person, but then I already knew "you are special".
I do have this very large Parrot Cage here just sitting empty.
My wife might be willing to sell it, I would have to ask her first, but is this what you would be looking for?



Arty

That Cat run will work great, after awhile and your new family member learns his-her surroundings you can free fly, but this comes with risks as you are aware of and more than likely your new baby will be mainly white, this color seems to attract attention.
I am simply saying that cat run offers a bird to learn there surroundings very well and after awhile (2 weeks or so) you will be able to free fly, this is how birds are trained to home.
Then (with Racers) the birds are taken maybe 10 miles away from there home and released, the next week 20 miles and so on...
You haven't said what baby you are going to go with yet, Racer or Lahore?
I wouldn't train your Lahore as a Racer, but...it would be cool to let your bird go at the shop, he-she would be home way before you will driving...
But again...there are risks involved.
If you are interested in that cage let me know and I will speak with my lovely wife Rose Ann.
Take Care
Arty

Yes, I am very interested in the green cage,as long as you find it suitable for a pigeon... it looks sizable and attractive. I do think I will go with your lahore mommy...I have fallen for those babies already! IT IS DECIDED!
That is a great idea raising him/her in the critter cage with my continuing to use it for a while so he is used to it, I don't want to disrupt his world too much.
I NEVER let my cats run free, I do not think it is ok, because they kill other critters, other critters can hurt them, they are no match for un-kind humans or cars...or other cats! I have 4 cats and 2 dogs...I love them all very much and would never put them in harms way, which is why I doubt I will free fly my baby...makes me nervous just thinking about it! Fun in a way though to entertain the though.....

HEY Jessalyn and Ruby in Houston!!! You are definately not in my neck of the woods!

Okay then, I will speak with my wife concerning the cage.
I raised Mira, Gem, Mai, Bob in that cage, so some history comes with it, I think a full grown pigeon will be okay to call it home, lets hope the wife will part with it.
The Lahore baby is a go, I feel this is a great choice (for a pet) I usually avoid that word... .
Lets pray both eggs survive so you will have a choice.

I wish I could say out of all my babies there was a favorite, but all I can say there is but one that has changed my world and has profoundly effected the Dove & Pigeon forum, There was a tragic loss to a very wonderful beautiful bird of peace so named as GEM.
grandmamurphy/Gem - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Mira
Mira Pictures!!


What adaptors have said about there bird of Peace!
Camille & Susan Please

Tritak/Heather and her Bird of Peace shipped to Tennessee
How is your bird of peace doing? I think that he is settling in quite nicely and bonding with the entire family.


Biting? We went through a brief nip period but of course it doesnt hurt at all ( I have been chewed on by macaws too many times )


Mess? Oh the poops that end up all over the place right before he takes off to fly around LOL but other than that, just a seed mess around the cage from tossing it around.


Loyalty? Mai Tai is the absolutely MOST loyal bird I have ever met, I can honestly say that he is truely loyal to me but also enjoys the entire family.


Cage stress if any? He doesnt like it if he is left in there too long but he plays with his toys I have in there for him. He has several different perches and a swing that he hangs out on also along with a basket to sleep and poop in!


For the most part how does your Pigeon do during out of cage time? He flies room to room with me but if I move around too much he will hang out with one of the kids until he feels like flying around again.


If you take your bird outside, do you worry about clipping his/her wings? I almost got brave enough to take him out once but by the time I decided to let him go out, he didnt want to, but no I wont clip his wings. He deserves flighted freedom.


What about a harness? Well if he takes off down the block like Susans did I just might get one LOLOL


Do you fear you will loose your bird? Yes but Arty swears I dont have to worry about that LOLOL


Can you compare your new friend to other birds you have? NIght and day, night and day. I absolutely could never allow any of my birds free flight outside let alone inside. They would eat through the walls. The most Mai Tai will do is peck at the counters! I also dont have to worry about loyalty issues with him. He loves us all with me being just a tad more special!


Do you have any complaints? The uncontrollable poops!!!! LOLOL seriously though, no, he is a phenomenal bird of peace that I still cant believe that I love so much.


I also would like to hear your overall experience with the bird of Peace.


He is amazing. I am at awe and total peace watching him fly around the house and landing on my butt every time I bend over! He is gentle with the baby and has fun playing with the boys and will coo to my hubby who calls him daddys pretty chicken!

We all are completely taken with him and will be eternally thankful to Arty for the chance to have one of these majestic birds.

Mai,
as requested


Bob,
It was a bitter winter, 30 below wind chills, I entered the loft to refresh the seed and water and found this little one sitting all by himself, no momma or pappa keeping him warm, he was but pin feathers, I scooped him up and brought him in the house, I began hand feeding.
As a Rehabber I made an oath not to become attached to any animal as a successful release is always my objective but as this little bird sat in my lap after the feedings my love for him grew, then he began to demand to be with me, very very touching.
I began to think, Hmmmmm this bird would make a wonderful companion so I asked a dear friend of mine named Kate if she would be interested in this little bird of peace, without any questions Kate and her daughter came over and took the bird home and named him Bob.
Katey tells me the same as everyone else, there bird is very loyal, a pleasure to have within there home.

I just spoke with the wife concerning the cage Roxanne, she wishes to hang onto the cage just in-case something happens, I can see her reasoning as parrots also find there way to us.
I will look around for you and try and find something.
Arty

Hi Roxanne,
Here's where my wife buys our supplies, she said you can get the best deal with them.
LOTW_Opening_preload

Also she said Pet Smart has a really good deal on bird cages going on right now.

Love on the wings is located in Elko, close by New Market, much closer to you than I.....

Arty

New Market isn't far from me, I will check it out. I have plenty of time to find a good cage for home, I understand, tell Rose Ann thanks anyway! Fun to read about your babies, I am so looking forward to it.