Foster Pigeon Care (For Kids!)
Parents: Please go through this article with your children and help them to understand it. Remember: while it is great for your kids to learn to care for their animals, children cannot ultimately be held responsible for the birds’ wellbeing—until they are older. In the end YOU are accountable for keeping the birds alive and healthy. If at any time this arrangement does not seem to be working out for you or the kids, please reach out to us. We will happily take the birds back from you and find them a new home.
Meet the Pigeon!
Pigeons were domesticated more than 10,000 years ago, making them one of the very first animals humans ever befriended. Long before cats and dogs were common pets, people raised pigeons for food, messages, and companionship—and even admired them as symbols of peace and love.
Pigeons in cities are feral domestics, meaning they are domestic animals (bred for thousands of years to live alongside people) that were abandoned and left to fend for themselves outside. It’s a hard life for feral domestic pigeons. They live short, difficult lives and often die young from hunger, illness, or predator attacks.
Feral pigeons do not have the survival skills that wild birds do, and they don’t know how to find food on their own. They survive off of what people throw to them or drop in cities, which is why they hang around people—they are still dependent on us.
Pigeons thrive when cared for by people, as you will see when you start taking care of your birds! Outside, they live only 2–3 years on average, but inside with you—if they get regular checkups, good food, and a safe home—they can live 10 to 25 years!
Why Pigeons Make Wonderful Pets
Pigeons have so many qualities that make them amazing companions
They are gentle, curious, and smart
They love routine and learn your face and voice very quickly
They mate for life and deeply care for their friends
They’re quiet — no loud squawking or barking — and their coos are gentle and soothing
They love being a part of the family and will watch while you work or play
Pigeon Words to Know
Maybe you’ve never heard some of the words that we use when talking about pigeons, here are a few!
Preen – When a pigeon uses its beak to clean, smooth, and arrange its feathers
Perch – A bar or branch where a bird sits or rests
Grit – Tiny stones or minerals pigeons eat to help them grind up food in their stomachs
Loft – A pigeon’s house or enclosure, usually bigger than a cage
Wing slap – When a pigeon lightly hits you with its wings to say “That’s too close!”
Imprinted – When a young bird grows up seeing humans as their family.
Domestic – An animal that was bred by humans to live safely with people. Cats, dogs, horses, pigs, cows, sheep, and pigeons are all examples of domestic animals
Feral – An animal whose ancestors were domestic (pets or farm animals) but now live on their own in cities or outdoors. For example, when cats or dogs live on the streets, they’re feral—just like city pigeons
What’s my Pigeon Feeling?
Pigeons can’t talk with their words like people can, so they use their feathers, eyes, sounds, and body movement to show how they’re feeling. If you pay close attention you’ll soon be able to know much of what they’re thinking and feeling, you’ll be like a pigeon mind reader!
What do you see?
Soft cooing, relaxed feathers: your pigeon is happy and comfortable!
Pupils quickly getting bigger and smaller: your pigeon is excited or curious
Tail is fanned and pigeon is bowing: your pigeon is showing off or flirting
Feathers all puffed up, bird is standing tall: your pigeon is feeling protective or unsure of its surroundings
Beak clicking or wing slapping: your pigeon is telling you, “Stay back, please!” and you should respect its space
Grumpy Birds
Once your pigeons feel at home, they’ll start to act like the space really is their home—and sometimes that means they’ll defend it!
When you reach in to clean or refill bowls, they might try to bite or slap you with their wings. Don’t worry! They’re not being mean—they’re just saying, “Hey, that’s my house!”
What does this feel like?
A pigeon bite feels a little less painful than being pinched by a person, but sometimes that can be surprising, especially the first time!
A wing slap feels like being lightly bonked with the soft end of a feather duster, while it’s certainly a little funny you should always respect their space.
You might get a tiny scratch here or there, but they can’t injure you. Stay calm and move slowly—they’ll calm down too. Expect this when cleaning their cage—and remember, even though they act tough, they still trust you to take care of them.
Connecting with Your Pigeons
Pigeons are very sensitive to body language. To them, staring straight at someone can feel like a challenge—but a soft blink or a gentle turn of your head says, “I’m friendly.”
You can try these signals to help your pigeons feel safe around you:
Make eye contact and blink slowly at them, it shows them that you’re calm and feel safe with them
Face your body slightly away instead of leaning in close to them
Move gently and quietly — sudden movements can startle them
After some time your birds will start to trust you and recognize you as their friend. The more time you spend with them, the more you will understand their body language and they’ll learn yours!
One thing to keep in mind is sometimes your pigeon can be clumsy and don’t think to be careful around your face! Maybe this means they’ll hop on your shoulder, flap their wings, or give small "pigeon kisses” too close to your face. If this worries you, you might want to keep your eyes closed to prevent accidental pokes or flaps.
Building Trust
Pigeons remember those who are kind to them. There are many ways to be kind to your birds, here are some you can do every day
Move slowly near their cage — that’s their home! They should feel safe in their own space
Offer food from your hand — pigeons love eating and when they associate you with food they will learn that you can be trusted
Let them decide how close to be to you — at the start they may want to stay far away, that’s okay! They’re still learning that you are a safe person to be around. Eventually they will come closer, especially if you have tasty treats
Never grab them suddenly — this is one sure way to set you back on befriending your bird. They may not have your brain but they do remember who is their friend and who to be afraid of
It’s totally normal if your pigeons are a little shy or skittish at first. That doesn’t mean they don’t like you—it just means they need time to get to know your voice, your movements, and your kindness. Stay calm, gentle, and patient, and they’ll start to feel safe around you.
Patience builds friendship!
Taking Care of Your Pigeon’s Home
What do your birds need to be happy and healthy?
Change cage liners daily, and replace bedding or blankets whenever they get dirty
Change out food and water bowls every day for fresh food and clean water in new or freshly washed bowls. The water in the bowls should be about 2½ inches deep
Deep-clean once a week — get all the gunk out!
They need lots of time outside their cage every day—at least six hours, and twelve hours is best
No air fresheners, candles, perfumes, or certain cleaning sprays should be used in the home. Birds have very sensitive lungs, so be sure to check what cleaners are okay to use around your birds
Never use Teflon or nonstick cookware, pans, pots, griddles, hair dryers, or appliances with Teflon—anywhere in the house. Teflon is known to create toxic gasses that can be breathed in by your pigeons
Keep the cage away from kitchens and fumes like smoke, aerosol, or self-cleaning ovens
Clean Hands, Safe Birds
Pigeons are very clean animals, but they’re also sensitive to things that can be on our hands.
Wash your hands with plain soap and water before you touch them
Don’t wear lotion, perfume, sanitizer, bug spray, or cleaning products on your hands
Keep your nails clean and short.
As cute as they are, no kissing your birds
If you’ve been outside or handled other animals, wash up again before touching them.
When you touch your pigeons, anything on your hands can get onto their feathers. Later, when they preen, they can accidentally swallow whatever is on their feathers. That’s why clean hands are so important!
Food & Water
Pigeons need good, clean food and water every day to stay healthy and strong.
Food
The ideal food for your pigeons is Winner’s Cup pigeon feed, which comes in 50-lb bags and costs about $40 per bag. Keep the feed in a large dog food container with a tight lid so it stays fresh and doesn’t attract pests—it will last a long time this way! You can buy Winner’s Cup feed at feed stores like Haye’s Feed & Country in Burien. If you chose something else, make sure to use a mix made specifically for pigeons. Food labeled for “pigeons and doves” or “doves only” does not always have the right nutrients and should be avoided.
Grit
Grit is also an essential addition to any healthy pigeons diet. These small stones help your birds digest their food. You can usually buy grit at feed stores too, but it’s also easy to find online. It’s best to get several kinds of grit and mix them together to give the birds a wide range of minerals. Pigeons instinctively choose what their bodies need from the mix. (We can send you links to everything you’ll need for this!)
Water
Fresh water every day—about 2½ inches deep, since pigeons drink by dipping their whole face into the water like a straw.
What sort of Treats can I give my Pigeon?
Unsalted shell-free sunflower seeds and chopped raw, unsalted peanuts can be given as special rewards. Offer them very sparingly, because pigeons are prone to fatty liver disease if they eat too many high-fat foods.
What should my Pigeons Avoid Eating?
Avocado, Chocolate, Onions, Garlic, Dairy
Caffeine (Tea, Coffee, etc), Alcohol
Salted or processed foods, Candy, Moldy food
Raw beans, Fruit pits, Citrus Rhubarb (leaves)
Pesticides, Treated wood, Poisonous houseplants
Small metal or plastic bits, Coins, Screws, Jewelry, Hair, String, Thread
If you’re ever unsure whether something is safe, it’s always better to skip it. If you must feed them something unusual, a quick Google search will help you decide whether or not it is ok for the birds to have. For the most part, stick with their pigeon seed mix, grit, and fresh water— they’ll stay happy and healthy!
Bath Time!
Pigeons love baths! Give them a shallow bowl of room-temperature water once or twice a week. They’ll splash, fluff, and preen—it keeps their feathers clean and shiny.
Most of the time you can just let them air-dry somewhere warm, away from space heaters.
Pigeons do enjoy getting blow-dried with a hair dryer, however, you have to find a special dryer that does not have Teflon in it—Teflon can damage their delicate lungs and even kill them. So if you are not sure whether or not a hair dryer has Teflon in it, it is definitely better to not use it.
Pigeon Pants
Pigeon pants are little fabric harnesses that look like silly little overalls. You put a liner inside to catch droppings (parents, use a thin liner made to go in underwear cut in half) so your pigeons can spend time out of their cage without making a mess.
They don’t hurt the birds at all—as long as they fit comfortably and are used correctly, most pigeons don’t mind wearing them! They will likely be unhappy and cranky about it at first but give it time and they will get used to wearing pants.
Here’s how to keep things safe and clean:
Change the liner every four hours
Never leave pigeon pants on for more than eight hours in one day
Make sure the pants fit properly—not too tight, and not rubbing around the vent (the vent is where the poop comes out)
Always supervise your pigeons while they’re wearing pants
Wash the pants with mild, unscented detergent and let them dry completely before using again
Throw away used liners, do not reuse them
Where to Buy: The best place to get pigeon pants is Bev’s Bird Boutique, which makes safe, well-fitted pants and liners designed specifically for pigeons. Pigeons come in different sizes so be sure to check which size fits your bird best!
Never take pigeons outside unless they are wearing a harness or pigeon pants with a leash attached.
Even tame, friendly pigeons will fly away if startled—and once outside, they can’t survive on their own. Always keep a leash on them when outdoors, or keep them safely inside. The leash should be held firmly and carefully by an adult or a responsible older child. You need to exercise extreme caution when taking a bird outside, there are dogs and other predators that won’t always respect your space.
Safety at Home
Help your pigeons stay safe by remembering:
Always close doors to the outside, bathroom, and ideally the kitchen too before letting pigeons out
Make sure pigeons are put away or far from the door before anyone goes outside. If they aren’t in their cage, make your exit quick!
Never leave doors or windows open when pigeons are loose in the house unless they have a secure screen
No cats, dogs, or other animals in the same room when pigeons are loose
Keep small things out of their space — they might eat them! Remember, pigeons can fly so this includes the floor or any shelves and surfaces they might want to land on
Never spray cleaning chemicals near them. Some chemicals can’t even be used in the same house as birds
Gentle hands only—no chasing or throwing things
Dangers in the Home
Birds have delicate lungs and curious minds—many normal household things can be dangerous or deadly to them.
Air & Smell Hazards
Air fresheners, candles, incense, cleaning sprays, perfume, hairspray, spray-on sunscreen, nail polish remover, smoke, scented laundry products, paint fumes, glues, Teflon, self-cleaning ovens, and diffusers. If it's an aerosol, use it somewhere else.
Objects & Physical Hazards
Open windows, ceiling fans, mirrors, strings, hair, thread loops, beads, screws, jewelry, open toilets or sinks, hot stoves, pans, or sharp objects. Pigeons will peck at (and sometimes eat) any small objects that catch their eye, so best to put them away.
How Parents Can Help
Parents should
Oversee cleaning and feeding
Make sure all supplies are safe
Watch for any health issues (fluffed up, not eating, odd breathing, oddly textured/colored poop)
Contact Cascadia Pigeon Rescue if anything seems wrong or you have questions
What does my Pigeon Need the Most?
If you can give your pigeon all these things, you will have a happy, healthy bird
Love and attention
A clean, safe space
Fresh food and water
Bath and sunlight
Gentle voices and patience
These are living, feeling beings who rely on you. Every day, you’re helping them feel safe, loved, and cared for—just like they deserve.
