Pigeon fanciers! I'm writing fiction. People trying to survive build a henhouse to raise pigeons and seagulls.

Question

Will the pigeons and seagulls attack each other...?

Must they be kept separate, or would it be safe for them to house the two types together...?

(I know nothing about raising poultry.)

Also, related, what color are the pigeon and seagull eggs...? how large are they...? I've read in survival books that birds' eggs that are speckled (camouflaged) are the ones that are the most strongly flavored, while the bland tasting ones (like those of domesticated fowl) are plain solid colors and are easier to spot. I don't want to just make up phony details.

They'll be fed plants, etc, and whatever else the people have for leftovers. Rest assured, I don't intend to actually eat them myself...! (I hear seagulls are protected in some areas, but as far as I'm concerned, they're safe from me.)

I hear they can have parasites, too. Any way to get rid of those...?

I realize this is a lot of question for my 5 points, but I appreciate the help.

While I appreciate the answers so far, I must reiterate: I'm writing fiction. This has nothing to do with being practical.

My characters have no choice: they will not be rescued and are doing all they can to survive. The pigeons and seagulls represent a potential source of protein which they must not waste.

Please frame your answers from this point of view.

Once more, thanks for the help!

It's like a desert island situation, so they are stuck with pigeons and seagulls. They'd love to have ducks and geese or chickens and turkeys, but they don't have any choice in the matter.

Answer 1

Hi,
I've raised pigeons for many years and have written books as well, so I understand the needs of fiction.

First? Why ARE there pigeons on this island, or have they also been rescued?

2nd: No, you can't keep them together, the gulls will attack the pigeons.

3rd: Pigeons lay white eggs, 2, and they are determinate layers - won't continue to lay if you still the eggs like chickens, but they will start a new nest and relay in about ten days. You might also consider letting them have some hatch and reared so that they have squab and also have some to replace birds lost. Eggs are about 1/4 the size of a large chicken egg. When boiled the "whites" aren't opaque like a chicken egg, they are transluscent and you can almost see the yolk inside.
If you want some basic pigeon care info, check out: http://www.angelfire.com/ga3/pigeongenetics/basicpigeoncare.html

For some basic pigeon info, go here: http://www.angelfire.com/ga3/pigeongenetics/BASICPIGEONINFO.html


4th Gulls (let's assume herring gulls) lay large offwhite browish spotted eggs. http://wildspace.ec.gc.ca/media/habitat/large/HERGe.jpg Gulls are seasonal layers - their eggs are delicious and lots of folks around the world used to raid colonies for the gull eggs ---in Holland one treat was to take fresh gull eggs and whip it into brandy to make eggnog - got that little tidbit from Niko Tinbergen's classic book on The Herring Gull.

Gulls are pretty omniverous, but eat lots of fish, offal, other animals young, etc. Here's some basic info on their breeding etc.
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Herring_Gull.html


As for parasites: - let's stay with external mites, lice, etc. Have your characters find some diatomaceous earth. A bit of that sprinkled on each bird will help rid them of feather lice, etc., as it punctures the chitoneous skeleton of the insect. Don't have the birds or characters breathe a lot of it, doesn't do good things for lungs. (they used to use this stuff especially before chemical insecticides)

Answer 2

pigeons and seagulls dont lay enough eggs so people wouldnt keep them to survive...
people would keep chickens instead...

you can vaccinate birds but I doubt there is a vaccination that has been tested on gulls.

they eat different foods so you wouldnt house them together.