Rearing Modenas

Rearing Modenas
Modenas are probably the most territorial of all the fancy breeds of pigeons and do not take kindly to living in overcrowded conditions. The most suitable type of perch for the birds seems to be a widowhood type box which includes a small gate in the doweled partition down the centre of the box. This gate enables me to separate the young birds from the parents at an age of approximately 2-3 weeks allowing the parents to go back down on eggs but still feed the youngsters through the partition. If the young birds are allowed free movement they are inclined to follow the parents down onto the loft floor to feed but are then prone to be bullied and pecked by other adult birds in the loft.

At the stage were the parents and youngsters are section off in the nest box, a pot of food is placed in the parents section of the box. The parents fill their crops in readiness to feed the young and following on from this, the chicks begin to mimic the parents’ actions and start to feed themselves. I usually remove the young birds at approximately four weeks of age and place them in a weaning pen which is situated in my young bird section. The box measures approximately 1000mm by 600mm in size and has a mesh front. It is fixed to the loft wall at a height of 900mm which is convenient level for me to check their progress and also for the young birds to watch the older birds feeding and drinking on the loft floor below. Keeping the other Modenas in the sight of the chicks also has a calming effect on the young birds and encourages them to copy each other feeding and drinking. This gradual integration of the young birds tends to make life easier when they are finally released into the young bird section at about six weeks of age. Modenas will squabble, even at an early age, however they tend to be more tolerant and relaxed with communal life if they have been integrated from an early age and reared within a group.

Once released into the young bird section of the loft at 6 weeks,they are checked regularly to make sure they are managing to feed and drink. The young birds instinctively huddle together on the floor as they did in the weaning pen. Approximately a week after first experiencing their additional freedom, they start to explore the loft and fly up onto the perches.

It is very important to select the correct type of perch for Modena’s. Like many Modena breeders I use box perches. ‘V’ perches and other similar types of perch are not suitable, as they tend to cause the birds to slouch. When a box perch is used the Modena tends to stand up straight and look at its best. The introduction of the box perch at an early age also helps prepare the birds for the show circuit.