Build your own pigeon trap

If you train your hunting dogs using live birds, but have trouble with the cost of pen raised quail and pheasant,

there is a solution — trap live pigeons for dog training.

Pigeons, or rock doves, are native to Europe and were brought here by settlers in the 1600s. They were domesticated birds that served as pets, food and occasionally for their homing skills as message carriers and racing birds. They are found across North America and have adapted to a wide variety of environments, from rural farm lots to city parks.

Since they are not native, pigeon trapping usually does not require any special permits or licenses from state agencies. However, it is always good to check with local authorities in case there are any special rules or local permits for nuisance trapping in your area.

Pigeon traps vary in size and material, but most feature a one-way entrance that prevents the bird from exiting the trap. Use an open mesh to allow other pigeons to see the bait and other birds inside trap. Pigeons are social birds and will fill a trap quickly if they see others feeding inside.

Here's a basic wire trap that can be built in about an hour. — mohamed muzammil

MATERIALS

Cage

poultry mesh or cage wire
(2) 10-foot x ½-inch PVC pipe
(8) ½-inch PVC 90 degree elbows
(4) ½-inch PVC tee joints
wire cutters
fencing wire, wire ties or zip ties

One-way Door

scrap aluminum arrows, or 3/8-inch wooden dowels (door), cut into 9-inch segments
⅛-inch solid metal rod or bamboo skewer (hinge), 12 inches long
⅜-inch PVC pipe (spacers), cut into ½-inch segments

ALL COOPED UP

Build the cage frame with PVC piping, with rough dimensions about the size of a medium-sized suitcase (24"x12"x12"). If cage wire is stiff enough (10- to 14-gauge wire), you may omit the PVC frame.
Secure wire panels to PVC frame using wire or zip ties.
Create a one-way door using arrow shafts or dowels and metal rod/bamboo skewer for the hinge and 3⁄8-inch PVC spacers.
Make a one-way entrance on PVC side of trap (8"x8").
Create an access panel on top of cage, near the one-way door.
Install one-way door on entrance, using wire or zip ties.

Trap pigeons

Place the trap where pigeons congregate, such as feeding spots. On roofs, leave the trap near roosting sites or watering areas (around air conditioners).
Spread feed around trap entrances and inside floor of the trap.
Leave a water bowl inside cage and check the trap every 24 to 48 hours.

Pigeons can quickly become a nuisance for homeowners and businesses because they make such a mess on
rooftops and because they carry diseases. Spikes, pesticides and other deterrents can be used to discourage pigeons from roosting in a certain area, but these measures are only so effective. Sometimes it is necessary to remove the problem entirely by trapping the pigeons and releasing them elsewhere. Simple pigeon traps made out of cardboard boxes are both an inexpensive and effective means of solving a pigeon problem

Instructions

How to Make a Box Trap
- 1
  
  Sprinkle seed around the area in which you intend to place the trap for a few days so that the bird returns frequently to that location. Stay nearby when the pigeon is eating the seed so it gets used to your presence.
- 2
  
  Cut a 6-by-6-inch flap in the top of a cardboard box using box cutters or scissors. This flap will be used as a door to remove the pigeon once it has been trapped. The size of the box does not matter so long as it is large enough to accommodate the trapped pigeon. A box measuring at least 12 inches square will be sufficient.
- 3
  
  Affix a block weight or heavy object to the top of the box on one side. The weight will serve to drop the end of the box quickly when the stick propping it up is pulled away.
- 4
  
  Prop up the weighted end of the box with a stick approximately 10 or 12 inches long. Use something light weight, like a paint-mixing stick, so it does not injure the pigeon if it falls inside the box. Tie a length of string to the stick and bait the area with seed. Sprinkle some seed under the box and outside it near the stick, where the pigeon can see it.
- 5
  
  Wait for the pigeon to follow the trail of seed and to walk under the box, then yank the string to pull the stick away, causing the box to fall down and trap the pigeon. Position yourself about 20 feet away from the box so you do not deter the pigeon from coming near the box.
- 6
  
  Retrieve the bird from the trap by opening the flap door cut in the top and remove the pigeon. Wear thick gloves during this process to protect your hands from the pigeon's sharp beak.
How to Make a Bob Trap
- 7
  
  Cut a window in the side of a large cardboard box. The size of the box does not matter, but if you plan to catch more than one pigeon, it should be at least the size of a file-storage box. The opening in the side of the box should be about 8 inches high and at least 4 inches wide. You may make the opening longer than 4 inches if you choose.
- 8
  
  Cut several 10-inch lengths of wire using wire cutters.
- 9
  
  Affix the lengths of wire vertically to the inside of the box, spacing them out every 1 1/2 inches along the cut out window. Secure the wires in place with hot glue at both ends, and then stretch a piece of duct tape across all of the wires inside the box to hold them in place.
- 10
  
  Bait the trap by sprinkling bird seed inside and around the trap. The pigeons will push through the wire to get to the seed inside the box and, after the pigeons push through, the wire will return to its original shape and prevent the birds from leaving the box.

Pigeons Palace

Label 1