Replying to my own post just to move it along...
It looks like this is one of those useless forums, as most of the new posts are unanswered, and older posts are well, OLD!

I think you just need patience on a subject this arcane on an already arcane forum. I'm sure you raise a good point, not an area with which I'm familiar, and hope you get some thought-provoking, informative inputs.

But I can say that I've always wondered why people in cities don't eat more pigeons? Why just complain about the poo? Aren't they just free food flying around? I wonder the same thing about the "chicken problem" in Miami. Seems like hungry/thrifty people would be out there catching a free dinner. And it seems like somebody's missing a business opportunity there - make it an "ecotourist" thing. "Come to Miami and catch your own wild chicken dinner!"

But back to your issue, I think the powers that be have done an excellent job of convincing Americans that anything not regularly available in a grocery store is not worthy of being consumed, or something only "rednecks" would eat.

I think you forgot something - tastes like chicken, right?

And here's the real thing from Egypt, except that it's still in operation! Monumental structures like this exist all over north Africa, Greece, the Middle East, and wherever the Roman Empire spread into Europe...

Interesting photos and concept.

Pigeons were an important winter food here in the past. They supplied fresh meat in the winter and medieval dovecots survive in many places. Nowadays when we eat pigeon, which we do quite often, it is nearly always wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) which is bigger than the rock dove/feral pigeon and is a major agricultural and garden pest species. It occurs in large flocks and eats grain, seedlings and greens. If we don't net our winter brassicas, wood pigeons will strip them bare.

Here is a link that might be useful: Wood pigeon recipes.

Thanks for chiming in flora!
I never realized there was a temperate pigeon species that regularly feeds on anything other than seeds and berries. I'm guessing people hunt the adults from the wild? Here in Western North America the native Band-Tailed Pigeon is also a highly prize game bird, but certainly not a pest and is becoming rare in some places.

After googling the wood pigeon I can imagine why folks would choose it over the feral pigeon for hunting (larger size, pest control, maybe more abundant than the latter in rural areas where hunting is more appropriate?).

But I can't help mentioning that among the domesticated pigeons, there are several varieties bred for the table that dwarf any wood pigeon in size. Of course the adults are rarely eaten, but rather the squabs, which are still quite large and apparently far superior in quality than older birds.

Hi again - wood pigeons are just shot by farmers as part of their pest control, much as they would do with rabbits. I wouldn't really call it hunting, which is much less common here than in the States.

They can destroy a brassica crop. Not my picture but this is what they do.

Here is a link that might be useful: Wood pigeon damage

fabaceae_native. I agree with your exposition. Could you please post picture from inside your dovecote?

Thanks. I am looking for a bird species to be happy in my greenhouse off season. Pigeons may be it!

The reason one doesn't eat city pigeon is simple - people put out rat-poison grain feed for both Norway rats and pigeons, and the animals are a vector of poisoning for humans. It is a pity, and a tragedy, but the level and frequency of contamination in city pigeons is far too high for them to be safe to eat. One has to raise one own or live in the country, and even there such contamination is far from unheard of.

I commend the efforts to integrate pigeons into permaculture. They have many of the agricultural and culinary advantages of rabbit, but are much easier to raise reasonably humanely.

very good point. If I do it, they will be 100% inside the High-tunnel in the off season. In season, I'm not sure but either they will be in the freezer, or in a coop outside of the High-tunnel.

Nice dovecote! I'm a vegetarian so wouldn't be eating them, but I kind of miss having them around. Importing them into an areas where they aren't native seems like it might be asking for trouble, though. Think starlings.

Very good initial post and subsequent discussion. Preppers will love this topic. Certainly has given me some food for thought. I might see if the local ag college is interested in developing a program, since they are working on solutions that preppers and the developing world would both find useful.