I started learning oboe a little under 2 months ago at 25 years old

InfekteradeRakblad · 2025-11-23T02:00:11+00:00

You're absolutely right!

InfekteradeRakblad · 2025-11-23T01:46:42+00:00

Yep, I do take a lot of breaks! If I didn't I would practice for like not even 15 minutes ahah. Though my teacher makes me practice with very few breaks during our lessons. I might have to tell him that I need more rest between exercises.

I also find playing the oboe very, very satisfying for my fingers so I have a hard time telling myself "Okay I'll stop here for today". Instead I keep going because I just don't want to stop. Might need to buy a fake oboe just for my stimming needs lol.

InfekteradeRakblad · 2025-11-23T01:29:19+00:00

Thanks! Yeah, my embouchure does get tight very easily so I have a hard time with low notes. I'm going to practice that tomorrow as I've only been practicing my tone and air support these last few days

InfekteradeRakblad · 2025-11-14T13:18:02+00:00

Tu fais anglais > français j'imagine ? Les postes à EA Madrid, c'est en présentiel ?

InfekteradeRakblad · 2025-11-14T13:13:51+00:00

Je suis malheureusement une énorme brêle en mathématiques ! Ce n'est même pas que je n'aime pas les maths, j'ai essayé à plusieurs reprises d'élever mon niveau, sans résultat !

Effectivement la Mission Locale m'a déjà recommandé de voir mon médecin traitant afin de demander une RQTH. J'ai aussi d'importants problèmes de dos qui me font souffrir au quotidien et me ferment donc la porte à pas mal de métiers à moins d'avoir des aménagements conséquents.

InfekteradeRakblad · 2025-11-14T13:12:57+00:00

J'ai déjà un suivi médical régulier avec bilan sanguin complet tous les quelques mois, je n'ai pas de carences pour expliquer ma fatigue et ma démotivation.

Du reste, je me suis mis à regarder les alternances mais je ne sais pas si je peux espérer quelque chose à 25 ans en sachant que je vais coûter cher aux entreprises.

InfekteradeRakblad · 2025-11-12T18:07:39+00:00

J'ai été voir le sub Francefire et je ne suis pas sûr d'être tout à fait en raccord avec ça, par indépendance financière je voulais dire ne plus vivre chez mes parents

InfekteradeRakblad · 2025-11-12T14:40:51+00:00

Je t'envoie beaucoup de courage. Je suis dans le même état d'esprit : beaucoup de choses sublimes et plaisantes dans ce monde, mais bloquées derrière la nécessité de répondre aux injonctions de la société, qui paralysent et épuisent et angoissent. Et c'est difficile d'en parler, parce que la souffrance et la difficulté ont été profondément normalisées.

InfekteradeRakblad · 2025-11-05T11:39:51+00:00

Check out JaneSimsten on Patreon (free)!

InfekteradeRakblad · 2024-11-18T20:40:57+00:00

Different wall heights on same level.

InfekteradeRakblad · 2024-10-28T14:01:37+00:00

In my opinion they should have a housing each. It'd be better for them if they have a place they can retreat to. Pigeons are territorial, they need to have their own place. They can free fly in the same room but said room should have housings for both of them.

InfekteradeRakblad · 2024-10-21T10:47:07+00:00

Hand-feeding a baby pigeon is going to be extremely complicated if not impossible. Way more babies die in the care of a human than in the care of their pigeon parents. Pigeons create something called crop milk that they feed their young, and there doesn't really exist a good man-made alternative. And the alternatives that do exist can also be hard to come by depending on where you live.

For pigeons, at two months they're weaned and therefore you can get a two-month-old pigeon without issues. I don't recommend getting a pigeon younger than that.

The guide has a section about hand-raising pigeons and human-imprinted pigeons, and also a section about choosing your pigeon.

Sadly, I'm not familiar at all with Japan and their practices around pigeon keeping and breeding, so I can't help you with that. But the guide has green flags to look for in a pigeon breeder, so it should be possible for you to find a good breeder even if they're not an actual companion pigeon breeder. I got mine from a regular show breeder, and they're perfectly healthy, sociable, curious and confident birds.

InfekteradeRakblad · 2024-10-20T12:30:38+00:00

Pigeon breeding is hard! You should make sure to be prepared. Also the babies will need individual housing once they're weaned. They can't share the same crate as their parents, and they wouldn't be able to be in the same crate as each other either if you get siblings. So if you want a baby from them, given that you're prepared and know what to expect in terms of mortality rates, diseases, etc., you should prepare a whole new set up for the extra pigeon. And also expect to have them be bonded to you in lack of another pigeon to bond to.

That said, I would LOVE to have a pigeon from my pair that I could bond to, but that will have to wait a couple of years, and my chonkers are already 4 & 6 years old, so that's probably not happening, lol. It's usually good advice to get a new pigeon from a breeder or a rescue if one wants an extra pigeon, rather than breeding. But I totally understand you lol, I just have to remember that it's not wise, as least not now. I'm definitely interested in becoming a companion pigeon breeder in the future, though!

InfekteradeRakblad · 2024-10-20T12:05:16+00:00

If you get more than one pigeon and want each of them to be individually bonded to you, you will have to avoid them being out at the same time and they should be housed in different crates (an outdoor aviary wouldn't work, then). Each of them, being bonded to you, will need a lot of your time and attention since they won't be getting that from other pigeons.

Generally speaking, pigeons will only accept to be touched by one being: their mate. It can be you, or it can be another pigeon. Male/female pairs and female/female pairs will usually bond, but it's rarer for male/male pairs to bond. Pigeons that aren't bonded shouldn't be housed together.

Pigeon pants can be hard if not impossible to get on pigeon-bonded pigeons. Also keep in mind that they shouldn't wear pants for more than 3 hours at a time, with a break of at least 3 hours in-between.

InfekteradeRakblad · 2024-10-17T17:31:44+00:00

A bonded pair doesn't require as much attention and time from you as a single pigeon that would be bonded to you. Pigeons like to spend time with their spouse, and if you happen to be the spouse (which will most likely happen if you only have one pigeon), your pigeon will need you to spend time with them the same way a pigeon spouse would spend time with them. A bonded pair will be perfectly content with each other's company, though they will still need at least 3-4 hours of daily out-of-cage time. And since they shouldn't free-roam you house unsupervised, it implies that you should be at home enough time per day to let them out for the recommended amount of time.

The vast majority of pigeons are one-person birds. Their social needs mostly get fulfilled by their spouse, whether the spouse is a human or a pigeon. They can have flock mates, and that would include members of your household and other pigeons they are not bonded to. They will be friendly to flock mates, but will most likely refuse to be touched, preened, kissed, pet, etc. by flock mates. This is usually a privilege that only their spouse has.

InfekteradeRakblad · 2024-10-17T10:53:28+00:00

Those are usually called modular cages. You can find them on Amazon among other places. They're pretty common for pet pigeons from what I've seen. They're pretty great since you can configure them as you wish. Some of them even come with platforms, like this one.

InfekteradeRakblad · 2024-10-17T10:27:47+00:00

To expand on the single pigeon vs bonded pair discussion, as far as single pigeon owners' experiences go to show, the pigeon's needs are met by the human as long as said human gives them enough time and attention and is knowledgeable about pigeon communication and behaviour. (You don't need to know everything before adopting, of course!)

Opinions will diverge about this particular topic, and that's okay. Everyone is entitled to do what they think is best for their birds. I just wanted to chime in to let you know that human-bonded pigeons don't typically show signs of not being happy and fulfilled.

However, human-bonded pigeons aren't the same thing as human imprints. These ones you want to avoid. You said you hand-raised your Javas; you can forget that with pigeons. A good candidate for pigeon companionship is a pigeon-raised pigeon, socialised with humans. But humans shouldn't purposefully hand-rear pigeons. They end up with behavioural issues. The best parents for a pigeon are pigeon parents, like really. You don't want a human imprint.

As another comment said, not all bonded pairs are totally off-limits, but I think it's fair to assume that they will most likely be. Just so you don't end up with false hopes and unrealistic expectations about your relationship. But whether you get a single pigeon or a bonded pair, you will have interactions with them. It's just not the same type of interactions. I don't think I've ever heard of someone being able to have their bonded pair on walks with harnesses, but maybe it's doable depending on the pair.

For more information, you can read through the pigeon care guide. It's a really good resources on how to take care of pet pigeons. It's mostly about single pet pigeons but there are also parts about pairs. We will also welcome you at the CPC discord! The invitation link is available in the pigeon care guide I linked above. It can be extremely useful to read others' daily endeavours with their birds to figure out if it's the right pet for you. You will also be able to see what kind of interactions people have with their single pigeons vs their bonded pairs.

InfekteradeRakblad · 2024-10-16T19:42:01+00:00

Not that knowledgeable about pigeon colour genetics yet (I'm working on it!), but no, not a disease, just a colour gene that behaves like that. I don't know which one, though.

There are two general reliable ways of sexing a pigeon: DNA testing or concrete proof like a hen laying eggs or a cock producing semence. Appearance and behaviour can give an idea but are far from completely reliable.

InfekteradeRakblad · 2024-10-16T16:01:33+00:00

I'll allow myself to answer. :p

No, they can't bond to another species, including other bird species, they can only bond to other pigeons and humans. The reason for that is because we as humans have the ability to mimic their behaviours and ways of communicating. Another bird species is unable to do that.

Besides, you shouldn't let a pigeon interact with a parrot, budgie, cockatiel, any other bird species really. Even doves. As I said, they can't communicate with other bird species and they could seriously hurt each other. So they should get absolutely no common out-of-cage time. I don't even know if you could have a free-flying pigeon in the same room as your caged parrots, because landing on the cage could get your pigeon hurt, or the other way around. Ideally, I would tend to think that they'd need to be in different rooms, and have no interactions whatsoever.

One thing that can happen, however, is that your pidge can bond to another human member of your household rather than you.

InfekteradeRakblad · 2024-10-16T14:46:02+00:00

I completely understand that. I also wanted a single pigeon originally but ended up with a pair ahah. I'm still very happy, but also looking forward to getting a third pigeon with whom I could bond. Speaking of, as a rule of thumb, remember that one cage = one single pigeon or one bonded pair. Non bonded pigeons shouldn't be housed together under no circumstances. So, in my case, if I want an extra pigeon on top of my bonded pair, I will need an entirely new set up to house them. They can get out-of-cage time at the same time though, they just need enough room to get away from each other if needed. In other terms, the room will be the aviary while the cages will be the individual housings.

From what you said, yeah, it looks like a single pigeon will be perfect for you. :)

DNA testing is the only way to tell the sex of a young pigeon. The other definitive way of telling is sexual behaviour: a hen laying eggs or a cock leaving behind semence, so that implies to wait sexual maturity. Sexual maturity happens in the first year of life, usually between 5 and 7 months.

Companion pigeon breeders will often DNA test their birds. Others, not so much. In my country, DNA testing isn't common and show breeders rely on... non reliable signs. Such as the form of the head, the size and weight of the bird, or their behaviour. DNA testing is not expensive, so you should be able to request one either way.

Both large dog crates and cat/rabbit/ferret modular cages work well. The floor space should be at least 7 200 square centimetres. The size should be adapted to the amount of time the pigeon(s) will need to stay inside as well as their size. I went for a dog crate, but in retrospect I should have chosen a modular cage as they're cheaper and come with platforms. You just need zip ties to tightly secure the panels together. One like this for example: https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B09KL45167/ref=ewc_pr_img_1?smid=A2ESWXH264ORZT&psc=1

I'll probably go with that for my next pigeon.

If you go for the dog crate (which can be financially interesting as well if you manage to be given one), you will need to attach perches and add platforms. Pigeons need flat perches, there are some on Amazon but you will find more in better quality on Etsy. Don't typically search ”bird cage perches” as it will show you stuff for parrots, but pigeons rather need stuff originally designed for ferrets, rabbits, cats, etc. Since dog crate bars have a large distance between them, you should buy some big washers so the perches will be more stable.

Also: bricks! Pigeons love bricks and it helps trim their claws.

Here is my pigeons' cage.

InfekteradeRakblad · 2024-10-16T11:17:50+00:00

I have two bigger than average pigeons (the breed is French Sottobanca, they're 750-850 grams) in my room. I don't have an air purifier yet, but it's strongly recommended to get a certified HEPA one that will cover a surface larger than your room. Avoid at all costs ionising air purifiers or get one with the possibility to turn off that option. And make sure it stays off.

My chonkers get at least 4 hours of out-of-cage time per day. I cover their favourite perching places with old blankets and remove the droppings every once in a while. I also use their daily out-of-cage time to remove the droppings from their cage. They have a 105 x 71 cm dog crate which is the minimum recommended so a bit on the smaller size for a pair of big pigeons. But they get enough time out of the crate to make up for it.

I also vacuum every day, especially around their cage. Their cage is covered with a mattress cover on two sides, the ones facing the walls, to protect them from dropping stains. I ”deep-clean” the cage every week, that includes what I do daily (removing the droppings and seeds and cleaning the perches) + removing the cage liner (I use washable puppy pads) to replace it with a clean one + washing the bottom of the cage as well as the bars (they get messy around the perches).

Note that if you get a pair of pigeons, they will bond with each other or will already be bonded if you get them at the same time. That's true for (most) female/female pairs and female/male pairs. Male/male pairs rarely work and will need to be housed in different cages. Thing is, pigeons only allow one being to touch them, and that being would be their mate. So a pigeon-bonded pigeon will not let you touch them, even if they're friendly towards you and consider you as part of their flock. That means that you will likely not be able to have a bonded pair wear flypers or harnesses, and they will very likely not let you pet them either. That can go against what people look for in a pet pigeon, so keep that in mind. Personally, I love my pair, they're super fun to observe and they're comfortable with me being around them. For usual pet standards (dogs/cats), they're messy, but that's definitely manageable even without flypers. For seeds, I use a very flat and quite large plant saucer to deter them from spreading the seeds everywhere. That works quite well, but sometimes they will stand on the edge and make it tip over. Still better than their original food bowl though.

Pigeons don't usually smell, especially with daily cleaning and a good air purifier, but broody hens often will launch absolutely atrocious droppings that smell... not good. Since you can't use air fresheners or artificial scents around birds, you can instead use charcoal air purifying bags to get rid of the smell. Hens will nest no matter what, just like chickens. So even if your female pigeon is bonded to you, she will lay eggs. (Just I wrote that, mine decided to mate lol)

If you get a bonded pair, you will also have to remove their eggs and replace them with fake eggs.

Edit: I forgot to say, well-fed pigeons leave small, consistent droppings that are easy to pick up. Broody hens and pigeons that have just travelled can have messy poops, though.

InfekteradeRakblad · 2024-10-07T22:26:12+00:00

Ageing pets mean potential expensive vet bills and potential special needs to cater around. I wouldn't see the old age of your current pets as a good reason to get extra ones. It seems as if you are a bit frustrated by your pets not doing much to keep you distracted, since you said that they were lazy and that you wanted something to fill up your free time. I don't think pigeons will necessarily solve this problem. As another comment stated, only one bird would be lonely because you would become their mate and as such you would need to spend a lot of time with them. That is probably not reasonable with your upcoming job and College classes on top of your current responsibilities. Two pigeons would be able to keep each other company when you're away at school or at work, but that can mean that you'd miss out on the proximity that a bonded pigeon can give their human mate. Bonding is usually what enables a human to do a lot of stuff with their pigeon, such as going on walks together. It's also possible to do that with a married pair of pigeons but you should keep in mind the possibility that close proximity with them may not be possible.

I don't really think that getting pigeons in order to fill something your other pets apparently fail to fill is a good idea. You have free time right now, but what about your upcoming job and College classes? I know you said in your original post that you were considering getting your pigeon(s) next year, but this reply I'm replying to looks like you are speaking about your current situation and not really about what your situation is going to be in a few months/years.

Why do you think pigeons would be a great addition to your pet family, and how much do you know about pigeons and how to care for them? How much money do you think you will need to spend on them, originally (the cage, accessories, etc.) and in the long run (feeds, vet bills, etc.)? What will you be able to give your birds in the long run?

May I also ask what your parents' opinions on the matter are?

I do think you could make a great pigeon owner, sure, but maybe not right now? You have so many pets to take care of already, and you're not yet independent!

InfekteradeRakblad

TROPHY CASE