Today we had a good chance to spend some quality time with Georgie and Elmo, our two disabled and tame pigeons, after the busy past few weeks. With the cold and rain giving us a break we took them out into the garden for a bit of sunshine and relaxation. Elmo went mad when he saw how long the grass had grown and tried to eat the grass seeds. He didn’t have much luck since his balance isn’t very good, but he looked like he was enjoying himself: flapping about, pecking at the tall grass.
After a few minutes in the sun both Elmo and Georgie were panting from the heat so we let them cool off in the shade and also gave them the option to have a bath. Georgie flatly refused but Elmo was beside himself with joy!
When Richard poured the water onto him, Elmo was in heaven! 
I think the photos and video speak for themselves:
Elmo
Elmo
Georgie
Georgie
Georgie
They say that having an animal such as a dog or cat as a companion relaxes you and can extend your lifespan. I think they should definitely add pigeons to the list!
I just loved watching Elmo enjoying his bath. What a doll. It is so encouraging to know that there is a network of us out there who love and enjoy so much the company of pigeons. Pigeons rock. lol
Hi Spiritflys, thanks for commenting. It is lovely to hear from people who like pigeons!
Our little pet pigeon loves to take at least two baths a month…..especially after she is done incubating her eggs and we take them away. She takes her baths in the dogs’ water dish! LOL, and there is always water all over the floor. So we wipe up and change the water. We tried putting her in the bathtub, but she wanted no part of it.
Hi Diane, thanks for your comment! It seems that pigeons make up their own mind where they think is suitable to have a bath. And it’s usually not in the designated place we want them to!
Hi Revati,
I really enjoy your videos of you pet pigeons on youtube. I volunteer one day a week at the Wild Bird Fund in New York City, where we take in many injured or sick feral pigeons for rehab. I’m currently fostering two orphan baby pigeons named Moshina and Nevin until they are old enough to be released into a feral flock (there are trained wild life rehabilitators on staff to help orchestrate all this, so thankfully I don’t have to try to figure out what’s best for them all on my own). These two babies aren’t disabled so I want them to be released eventually, but we do have pigeons who come in who are blind like Georgie, or have issues where they will never be able to fly again, and those birds can make wonderful pets as you know. Having Moshi and Nev around has given me a taste of what it might be like to have a pet pigeon, and I think I might really love to adopt one at some point–they’re very soothing and playful, and generally low maintenance too. My one concern is the poop. I don’t keep Moshi and Nev in a cage all the time, I like to let them walk around as they don’t fly yet, and they’re very entertaining–they love picking pebbles out of my potted plants, playing with loose feathers and climbing on bags and things, but I do feel like I’m always cleaning up after them, and their poop is kind of runny (maybe because they’re babies?). My question is, what do you think of pigeon pants? Have you ever tried them, and if so, did they work for you? I have hardwood floors now, but someday might live in a place with carpet–if I had a pigeon as a pet, I’d want to spend time with it in my home environment, but do you end up with stains on your carpet and furniture all over? Any suggestions for how to manage the poo factor (which doesn’t smell at all, it’s just kind of messy) would be most welcome. Thanks! Stephanie
Hi Stephanie, thank you so much for your comment. It’s so nice to hear from other pro-pigeon people. I’ve read about the Wild Bird Fund and thought they sounded really good, so I’m glad to hear from someone who has direct contact with them. In regards to your question, I haven’t any experience with the pigeon pants. I know for a fact that my pigeon, Elmo, would hate wearing one, and I’m sure Georgie pigeon wouldn’t like it either. So I simply clean up after my pigeons whenever they poop. Since both of my pigeons cannot fly, they are limited in where they can make a mess, but I totally understand if you would want to have pigeon pants for indoor flighted pigeons. It does make it easier to keep the mess under control. Some people also train their pigeons to poop in certain areas, but I’ve not tried that.
I wish you all the best in your adventures with your pigeons!!
Hi Revati,
If you and your husband ever travel to New York, you should definitely try to stop by the Wild Bird Fund. At my volunteer orientation there, one of the founders, Rita MacMahon, joked that WBF could also be called “Pigeons are Us” because so many of the injured or sick birds we get in are pigeons (they’re such a part of NYC), and the people at WBF really care about pigeons. Volunteering at WBF has truly made me appreciate what special birds pigeons are–they’re very smart and often funny, poignant, beautiful –I never had the hatred for feral pigeons that many New Yorkers do (many people here love them as well, I should say) but after you feed and care for one, something changes. I started to appreciate the “lowly pigeon” in a way I never had before, especially when I knew I didn’t need to be scared of them (there’s so much fear drummed up in people by pest control companies here who are just looking to make a buck); before WBF, I would have been afraid to touch an injured pigeon but they do such a great job of dispelling myths about pigeons being “dirty” and dangerous, etc. I am from the country and actually found it hard to adjust to living in New York, but now that I have a new appreciation for pigeons, I find a lot more beauty in each day, even in an urban environment. To see a pigeon flying in a ray of sunlight in the morning, between all the brick and concrete–it helps me still feel connected to nature, even here, which, wherever I live, I will always be so grateful to them for.
Hi Stephanie, thank you for your comment! I have heard about the Wild Bird Fund and put them on my list of pigeon-friendly rescue centres for when people contact me from the US wanting advice or help. I’m glad to hear from a volunteer that they are as good as they seem to be. I was in the same position as you – I never had a fear of pigeons but until I actually hand-reared a baby pigeon, I didn’t realise how wonderful they really are. Now I’m totally in love with pigeons and love watching them when I’m out and about. Of course, my two disabled ones, Georgie and Elmo, give me lots of love and keep me fascinated in their behaviour. If ever I’m in New York I will definitely be visiting the WBF if they allow it. Thank you once again and have a nice day! Revati
I can’t tell you how truly lovely it is to have a window into your world as pigeon guardians, to know I am not the only one to see the wonder of these beautiful creatures firsthand.
Seeing this video of Elmo made me laugh – he’s so cute!
I love giving my little Rasputin a warm bath every weekend, too. I fill up a large, deep 18-inch serving tray about two inches deep with warm water and he immediately knows it’s bath time. It’s such a joy to watch him flap around and cover himself in the water, and then luxuriate in it like a duck in a pond. I put a bath mat under to catch the splashes (yes, he has his own special bath mat, lol), and then watch him bask under a sun lamp to dry off. Your birds are so lucky to have a garden to be outside in!
Thank you for continuing to share your love for and experiences with your beautiful pets.
Hi Sarah, lovely to hear about your love for Rasputin. He’s a lucky little pigeon!
Pigeons love to bathe and Rasputin obviously loves his bath time with you. Thank you for commenting. I look foward to hearing more about Rasputin.