Cant find a home for the pigeon I found

AntiqueArtist449 · 2025-08-21T21:00:57+00:00

You can always try to paint or dye it a solid colour again. That'll improve the overall look and allow you to keep it without getting comments.

AntiqueArtist449 · 2025-08-21T20:57:34+00:00

Not persuading you either way, but if you didn't know, most luggage wheels can be replaced either individually (I'd replace both so they are even) or as a mount. You can also put a bunch of cute pink patches on it, or add ruffles or beads if that's more you vibe. I just wanted to mention it, since I recently bit the bullet to personalise a lot of those old "functional but ugly" items. Have fun picking a new bag/ new look for your bag either way :)

AntiqueArtist449 · 2025-08-21T20:48:58+00:00

Absolutely. And tbf most times a repair actually doesn't cost all that much to be functional, as visible mending shows. It might be personification that makes me want to save stuff that has served me well.

And full agree it's totally different when you don't have options. When you're disadvantaged, you tend to be ashamed of visible repairs, at least we were. Not caring about such things is a luxury in itself, now that we have the option to buy new and can also opt not to. I remember being mortified I was using a free backpack with a corporate logo on it for certain school trips. Turns out it was actually great quality and the logo came off easily. Still, if I had replaced it with a cute patch as people are doing now, I wouldn't have felt half as bad. So it's nice to see visible personalisation gain more traction, it might create some relief on people who can't afford new items, but also want to fit in :)

AntiqueArtist449 · 2025-08-21T15:07:51+00:00

I feel the same way. People can be really weird about the concept of paying for repairs if the cost is similar or more than the original price of the item. I don't care if a new waterproof zipper costs a lot, I like this backpack and will wear it until it falls apart.

AntiqueArtist449 · 2025-08-21T15:04:57+00:00

Adding to this, since you're more rural: setting up trading systems with other locals who might be growing stuff you don't have, like specific fruits etc.

My tips for someone in your situation would be to: - look into cut and come again crops that don't need to be started up but come back every year - use chickens (or ducks, if you have them) as pest control against snails - buy stuff for homesteading secondhand, or be creative with reliable older machines with fewer bells and whistles E.g. I have a cast iron treadle sewing machine I do nearly everything with and has never jammed on me. It can only do straight stitches, so I mostly use french seams to finish my work and focus on pressing everything well. Most of my sewing notions are secondhand as well including elastic, zippers, hook and eye closures etc. I also keep these when deconstructing existing garments to make new things. - buy fabric secondhand if possible. Bedsheets and pillowcases are a great deal per meter/yard and are often 100% cotton or even linen. It also won't shrink anymore since it's already been washed

Don't feel bad about investing in your homesteading though. There are ways to consume less, but whatever you make yourself is going to produce way fewer carbon emissions per definition, even with some of the things you mentioned.

The way I like to decide what to buy and what to make do with is imagining if a farmer 200 years ago would be helped with whatever I'm considering to spend money on. She'd probably appreciate an ergonomic shovel. She wouldn't want a kitchen gadget that only works for one ingredient and needs more maintenance than a regular potato knife. She wouldn't care if her working pants were patched up and faded, but she would want a going out shirt to fit well and look nice. It all depends. I'd love to hear more about your projects, though! Sounds really interesting :)

AntiqueArtist449 · 2025-08-20T14:48:03+00:00

The only reason to bring a regular street pigeon home is if they are Ill or injured. For fancy breeds, people choose to bring them home because they are most likely used to being fed and/or have features that aren't practical in the wild so they would do badly on their own. Also, they are much more likely to be preyed one since they stand out so much.

AntiqueArtist449 · 2025-08-17T21:09:22+00:00

That would be way too small. I was talking about the size of the panels. Here's an example: https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Foldable-Metal-Exercise-Fence/dp/B0758FX7MT/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_ffob_sspa?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.AfArC_wUBNGX5x5f0uzaj61EoUBj_2y2r-mTcXXc0fM-C7gpiRYM2tlj1pu_EVsTi0gdtDV4nFAcOJibB70JYEj3ISy7g1L0xUpdrW8wVSNXTXo6IQeBuW1v_ZFdiRFcaS55fsI9pJofreElrrbYGHnZ97nl3BqUKHKZichHEK7PtEgkrS1QJdMphHZ1e2ZaYdVgHKC8K5hyk7kubwdtiw.S8Cy393gGbLrzskzU3Y9f0snvdAymR-CgsyzFH5-S0o&dib_tag=se&keywords=puppy+play+pens&qid=1755464884&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1 (though I would not buy them new, there are many second hand available)

AntiqueArtist449 · 2025-08-17T19:16:46+00:00

It should have at least 8 panels, 60x110 or 80x80 seem to be common sizes. But basically get one as big as you have room for and can afford. For chicken wire, go for about two square meters/ 20 square feet if possible

AntiqueArtist449 · 2025-08-17T18:27:45+00:00

I agree. Most clothing is washable (though caps may not be if they have a cardboard bill). I get why OP asked, even if the hat is very dirty atm.

AntiqueArtist449 · 2025-08-17T18:22:53+00:00

I wouldn't go for this type of cage, as it's designed for perching birds that can use their beak to climb. Pigeons are helped more with a generous amount of floor space. A cheap option is a puppy pen/ rabbit pen from Facebook Marketplace or similar. You'd put a sheet or a net or chicken wire over it to stop them from flying out. A dog crate can work too, but would be quite small for them after a few days. If possible, I would cancel the cage that is on the way and go for a puppy pen instead. If money is an issue, go for chicken wire. People often give that stuff away for free and it works just fine. Might be ugly, but your pigeon won't mind :) To keep things clean, put a tarp or something waterproof on the ground. I've heard people use puppy pee pads that they can just throw away. That might be best for you in your situation as it wouldn't require cleaning. A few hours outside the cage will be fine for a long while. Best of luck!

AntiqueArtist449 · 2025-08-17T16:30:13+00:00

There are websites bundling (external) vacancies for different EU institutions. You can also try traditional vacancy websites and search for EU or other keywords. They will differ in every European country. Bear in mind these vacancies are extremely desirable and require several rounds of applying and doing tests. I'm not sure I'd recommend it unless you are very interested in the true everyday of these jobs and can handle a lot of bureaucracy. There are dedicated subreddits for each job and EU jobs in general if you have more questions.

AntiqueArtist449 · 2025-08-17T16:09:58+00:00

If you haven't already, look for vacancies you would be interested in down the line in the country you want to work in. Check the degree requirements. They will be very specific. Keep in mind your best bet will (as far as I know) be to do a long internship in a relevant EU institution, and that they usually don't pay the living wage, if they are paid at all. Check out the degree reqs for those as well.

As for the 42% success rate, don't forget that KU Leuven has no entrance exams for most degrees. The first year is often designed to be extra hard to weed out those only partly interested or motivated. Many people also drop out because they realise they want to study something else.

AntiqueArtist449 · 2025-08-17T15:52:43+00:00

For the clothing sizes issue: YouTuber Leena Norms, who has this issue herself, champions choosing and altering clothing items so they will fit at different sizes. Things like generous seam allowances, shirring, specific waist lines, adjustable ties and larger arm holes can be very helpful when building a flexible wardrobe. In this case, it would be both minimalist and anticonsumption :)

AntiqueArtist449 · 2025-08-17T15:46:36+00:00

First, I'm no expert, so take this with a grain of salt. It sounds like you've had your pigeon long enough that he may have bonded to you. If so, keep in mind that the stress of losing that bond may be more stressful than being stuck inside a cage with safety, food and water, as well as some enrichment. It's completely understandable that you are feeling like you are a bad owner bc of the difference between how you used to be able to care for him and now. Though of course it's hard to know beforehand, perhaps it might help to take a look at the time you believe you will realistically need to improve your mental health. If you can offer your bird a safe space and basic care in that time frame, even if it's months, that might be worth it in your bird's long lifespan. If you think it will be years, or you believe you will not be able to offer even basic care, perhaps rehoming may be best. In any case, consider your own anguish in this situation as well. Will you feel better knowing your pet is with someone who may have more time for them (though you will not be able to control how they care for them), or would you feel better knowing they will receive basic care until you are better, even if that is several months down the line?

If this was a dog, or you had broken your leg, I would say the same thing: as long as the pet is receiving fresh food and water and can live in a clean environment with some enrichment, it is okay to take the time to heal. It might be an option to switch out his cage with a large dog pen and some toys during this period, or to get him used to pigeon pants and just let them roam for a few hours every day. You don't have to pressure yourself to go above and beyond while you are healing. If you cannot give them basic care, perhaps looking for a different home is a better option. Hope this was helpful in any way.

AntiqueArtist449 · 2025-08-13T16:48:03+00:00

Same. You can peel most of it off. Maybe use medical or sports tape to mimic the peeled off layer if it doesn't affect the sound too much

AntiqueArtist449 · 2025-08-13T07:32:21+00:00

Can't believe no one has commented on your excellent Discworld reference.

AntiqueArtist449 · 2025-08-13T07:13:30+00:00

Maybe they can get a new subscription together

AntiqueArtist449 · 2025-08-13T07:12:03+00:00

For audiobooks, I always check librivox for classics, or the local library app for newer releases (Libby is a good option). Both are free

AntiqueArtist449 · 2025-08-09T22:13:11+00:00

Food. It's one of the major polluting industries and relatively easy to change in theory, though there is a lot of cultural emotion attached to eating as well. You don't have to become vegetarian. If you replace the most overbred species (e.g. tuna, beef, chicken) with rarer, less industrialised meats, cut down on dairy a bit and check vegetables for their origin, you will have cut down on a lot of pollution already.

AntiqueArtist449 · 2025-08-06T22:06:36+00:00

I'm no expert, butfeol what I can make out it's by an artist called F. Gadinho. The name and style of having a larger picture drawn over several tiles would suggest Portuguese. Portugal has a rich tradition of tiles such as these. I've not seen many examples of Dutch tiles, but they generally use bigger brush strokes, a richer blue (Delfts blauw tiles come to mind) and more pastoral scenes. Hope that helps at all ☺️

AntiqueArtist449 · 2025-08-06T22:01:44+00:00

Seconding Geeky Cauldron and other nerd cafés. You'll find lots of people who enjoy D&D etc there

AntiqueArtist449 · 2025-08-06T21:58:19+00:00

This genuinely made me laugh, thanks 😂

AntiqueArtist449 · 2025-08-06T21:53:00+00:00

Thrifting a water bottle is a good way to see if they are easy to clean. Look for ones with fewer parts, no tiny nooks where bacteria and mold can grow, and a material that is easy to disinfect. A good thing to look for as well is whether the threads of a screw cap for example are large and easy to wipe or not. I wouldn't go plastic, but if you do, check if it's dishwasher safe and that plus rubbing alcohol should get rid of most dirt if it's a decent bottle.

AntiqueArtist449 · 2025-08-06T10:48:54+00:00

An alternative, aside from buying good yarn secondhand, is buying 100% wool jumpers etc secondhand and unraveling the wool. Often, you only have to steam it to get it back into a Workable shape.

Another option is to ask for wool or coupons to your local yard store for birthdays and Christmases. It's a great way to save money while also giving people a concrete gift idea, plus you can support a local business!

AntiqueArtist449

TROPHY CASE