A buddy is trapping pigeons in a commercially made cage trap (don't know manufacturer) that has about 6 vertical swinging one-way bars on two sides. Pigeons are crowding into the trap, but then exiting later through the vertical bars. The bars seem to be only swinging inward . Are the bars spaced too far apart? Or is this just a design flaw? Any suggestions?

Saw photos of another pigeon trap that has a row of individual gates with only two wires in each one. This trap is not made like that, unfortunately.

I have had pigeons get out of bob wire traps like this, you can reduce the number of pigeons escaping by checking more frequently so birds crowding the bobwires can't force them open or preventing them from approaching from the side by adding a return of mesh a couple of squares deep either side of the entrance. On a long running trapping job with a large walk in aviary trap I alternated the bobwires with funnels and got a better catch rate.

Talpa, Thanks much for the suggestion, we'll try that.

There are hundreds of threads and posts on the subject of pigeon trapping on the ADC forum and in the ADC Archives. Here are a few from the ADC Archives-

http://www.trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1138174/Pigeon-_Pigeon_Traps#Post1138174

http://www.trapperman.com/forum/ubbthrea...amp;#Post951582

Pigeon job help

The SEARCH feature http://www.trapperman.com/forum/ubbthrea...?__#Post1980258 will help find a lot of historical information, on just about any subject, in a short period of time.

LAtrapper, the search option was the first thing I tried on the ADC forum. Nothing came up regarding pigeon trap malfunction or pigeons escaping traps. Trap brand recommendations, other methods of eradication, and general methodology for trapping pigeons answered questions well--they just weren't the ones I needed answers to.

Depending on the brand of trap, it may need to have a section of 1/2" hardware mesh added to the "floor" where the bobs hit the floor. The end is bent up about an inch, and you cut the last wire edge off, leaving the almost 1/2" single wires sticking up. The bobs will drop in between these wires, preventing the pigeons from pushing them sideways. They sometimes have enough play to move sideways, which provides just enough room for the pigeons to squeeze back out.

Here's a picture of a Tomahawk pigeon trap. You can click on the pic and zoom in to see the wires on this model, right where the bobs hit the floor. You can ad this panel using cage clips (rabbit cage clips with cage clip pliers), all available at any farm supply store.

http://www.hayneedle.com/product/tomahaw...p;tid=TMHK101-1

I make my pigeon traps using the bobs from Foy's Pigeon Supply. Mine are the older wooden-framed style, but they now offer an aluminum design which looks like it would be great for building some quality pigeon traps.

Here's a pic of one of the traps I built:



This is the link to Foy's:

http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com/traps-and-bobs/2139-american-aluminum-trap-6x12

Keep in mind, the product above is sold as a "trap", but is ONLY the bobs and frame. It's NOT a complete pigeon trap. Terminology is different between pigeon enthusiasts and wildlife control people!

Ron,
Thanks for the info. We will add something so the ends of the bobs can't move sideways too. We've already added a wire guide between the bobs so the pigeons have to go straight through them and can't hit them at an angle.

Those wood framed doors look good. If this guy does much pigeon trapping i'm going to suggest he look into retrofitting his trap.

Talpa,
Your suggestion largely stopped the escapes. The guy caught and held 19 pigeons so far.
Thanks again.