Ok so when I go to put miss mia up for the evening she whines in a very low almost grumbly sound..... this is not her whine for food to be handfed etc... she also does it when she has flown around too much too quick....??????


ok also, how will I know when she is truely ready to go outside and fly? This concept i s soooooooooo new to me, the thought of letting any of my big birds fly free just freaks me out! I know her dad was a homer, but with her mom not, it makes me wonder if she wouldnt take after her mom more....

The grumbling sound is pouting that she has to be caged for the night, just like a youngster complaining its time for bed...LOL
Actually, your questions would fair better with Susan, I have never became very close to any Pigeons the way I have while handfeeding them for adoption.
Most of my rescues are either Feral or Racers, none are hand tamed as the ones I have adopted out, and I ship them out as babies, so the adoptors see and endure different things that I don't deal with...
Susan trained Gem to free fly by placing him down on a fence then backing up, she mentioned Gem would fly to her at 5 feet then 10 feet, but I believe she started with placing Gem on her shoulder and just sitting outside on a chair to allow Gem to learn his surroundings, and as Gem became more gutsy he would fly further away each time, I remember the day Gem flew up on the roof, Susan was very scared, she posted this picture...



Now I will tell you the same thing...Heather...Mia will never leave you...not intentionally, She will always be loyal to you and always return to you...always....
You have 2 major concerns...Preditors, Sweethearts...
Basically the same worries with your human children.
Sooooo, place Mia on your shoulder and go sit on your front steps for awhile, allow your bird to learn her surroundings....take things slow...for both of you...
When I free fly my birds, none are hand tamed...they come and go as they please....
Best you get together with Susan concerning this issue as both your birds are hand Tamed.
Kate doesn't free fly.
Camilles situation is unique also, Mira free flies along side of her other Pigeon Mollie, Camille lives in town and Mira lives on the farm with Camilles father, but when Camille goes to the farm to visit, Mira is as loyal as can be to her...
Sooooo, touch base with Susan, and or look over Susans threads here in the forum and see what she has posted, the same with Camille and Mira...
Mia will never leave you Heather....never.....

Arty

Mira was able to fly free the day after he arrived from Minnesota. He didn't go far though, and still doesn't. He sat on the fence that first day (after peeling him off of my arm about 50,000 times) and just kept flying back to me, and back to me, and back to me.... Even Mollie flying crazily and continuously above him wouldn't sway him to fly anywhere but towards me. Even now all these months later he doesn't care to fly away from me. He'd much rather be on me!

I think there is less worry in my situation though. We live in the country, almost a mile from the nearest neighbor. It would be extremely difficult for the boys to get confused about their surroundings and get lost.

Well thankfully, I too live in the sticks.... I do have neighbors around but it is still a very rural area ( unfortunately highly desirable area all of a sudden so who knows!)

I guess its time to take her outside and see how it goes, I just gotta chant the words

arty said she will never leave me arty said she will never leave me!

LOL Heather, I think thats what Susan chanted also, I can feel your anxiety.
Free flying is totally up to you...
I really am not a breeder, I saw a little one uncovered out in my loft, a loft where strict egg control is enforced, it was bitter winter out 30 below windchills, I simply could not allow the little one to perish, sooooo I brought him in and hand fed and held...and fell in love again, watched him grow, then asked Kate is she wanted this little one, this opened the door and I saw a way to help the Pigeon regain there dignity.
Now there are four of my mated pairs babies out there in wonderful hands, these folks are helping the Pigeon more than they can imagin, for this both the bird of Peace and I are very grateful...
You will learn more than I Heather, I raise them, cause them to be drawn to there owner then ship them out, anything past that...welllll.....is up to the owner, I mean I can help with certain issues, but for the most all of my birds are Free...(not hand tamed)....
Arty
Peaceful Doves