Baby (now called Tony Baby)

It's hard to believe that the squeaker that I brought home from SF ACC to foster on 1/16 (along with Hollywood and Amber) has grown into the cock that he is today. Or maybe not. He was the youngest pigeon I'd fostered (or even met) and I named him Baby but what a feisty youngster. He was fearless and did not show the proper respect to his elders even a little bit. He was always the first to come meet a new bird and was always nosy and brash.

When he grew old enough (startng in mid March), he dated the older, street-wise, string-foot hen, Luna.

Then he traded Luna in for virginal Doll (also just a youngster).

Then he took up with my lonely-heart hen, Rocky. That's why I ended up calling him Tony Baby- such a player!

He and Rocky laid eggs and Rocky was SOOOOO happy and things went well for awhile

until they quit the fake eggs (after the proper 3 weeks of sitting) and were supposed to be honeymooning in preparation for laying the next pair but instead Tony got sick. Very sick.

I don't know what or how but this pampered pigeon, having lived with me for more than 3 months (by that time), came down with a really bad infection. He was hospitalized and finally recovered after a long convalescence

and though Rocky was still waiting for him, he took up with Doll instead.

Then Tony Baby kept Rocky on the side as a girlfriend while keeping a real nest with his wife Doll. Ooooh, made me so mad! Tony would fool around with Rocky and then Doll would attack Rocky. It was terrible. This went on for months until finally, in December 2008, Rocky got her own real husband, Walter.

So now Doll's stuck with Tony and visa versa. They are a very beautiful, glamourous young couple and are available for adoption. They prefer outdoor aviary life to the indoor pet thing.

March 11 Update:

Doll and her mate, Tony, have been adopted via the King Care-A-Van and arrived in their new, forever home in Indiana on March 11th. Here are pictures from their new life and below them is what their Adopter says They have been renamed KariJo and Anthony.

Allen and I live on an acre and a half with a small assortment of critters, which include three little dogs (Renee, LeeAnn, Bear), three pet rats (Stella, Bea, Luna), a leopard gecko (Butter), and a greek tortoise (Kramer) who is a really cool dude. Our little menagerie now includes four pigeons Snow, Flurry, and the two BIG and BEAUTIFUL Kings 'Anthony and KariJo'. Now....I am a big animal lover and grew up around chickens and pigeons which my grandpa had (he lived right next door) and I have fond memories of every summer, my four sisters and I, running barefoot and forever stepping in chicken and/or pigeon poo...so I knew I wanted a couple chickens and a couple of pigeons as soon as we had the room. Well last fall we were given a cute little old run down playhouse, a little fixer upper. I'm thinkin "Oh boy, first some chickies then some pijies!" Ya know, FATE is a funny thing. On January 17th after a heavy snow storm and bitter cold, a little white pigeon took shelter on our front porch. Hungry and cold, I put him in a pen in our garage and gave him food and water. I jumped on the computer to research pigeon care and found PIGEON TALK. From there I came across Elizabeth and MickaCoo and the plight of the California King pigeons. I was hooked. When the rescue volunteers started up KING-CARE-A-VAN 2009 I knew I had to try and adopt at least two Kings and give them a forever home. And so it began. After sending an application, a donation, and shipping boxes, waiting two loonngg months, meeting some wonderful people and making new friends, the long wait was over. On March 11th, my two BIG and BEAUTIFUL Kings arrived....ANTHONY & KARIJO! They are amazing white birds with such silly personalities. Every day they will make you smile as they wiggle deaper into your heart. Just like people, some are huggable, some are not....doesn't matter.....they become a part of your family. And it is sooooo worth it! Now with warm weather here, we are working to finish Anthony and KariJo's playhouse and outdoor aviary where they will have more room. Chickens?.........hmmmmmmm. C'MON...OPEN YOUR HEART...YOU CAN DO IT...ADOPT A KING!

Deb n Al Long