"Dove holes"

[Minkeycat]

While sitting outside on this summery evening, we've been mulling over the 5 "dove holes" in the front wall of the house. At least that's what we think they are, we've never really known and noone's been able to tell us for certain. They're blocked up with a couple of loose bricks in each with chicken wire at the front.

Can anyone tell me what they were really used for? I've been told pigeons for food but wouldn't you need more pigeons than 5 holes can hold? I'd also like to know how big they're likely to be inside before getting the ladders out and sticking my face up to and hands into what are doubtless spider holes these days. Is reinstating them one day for doves a reasonable idea or complete madness? I'm guessing a coo-ing sound in the bedrooms and bird poo below might become tiresome but other than that, what are the practicalities. There are a few houses around with similar holes but noone uses them. There must be a reason. Any kind of reinstating of them is way, way down the track because there's a LOT of work to get done in the meantime (as anyone'll notice from this photo of them!)

 

[LadyArowana]

Was the house previously divided into 5 apartments and did they have a very very tall postman?

 

[MatthewC]

You really do not want to open them up! You might get a lot of other even more annoying birds there like jackdaws. The church tower here has five put-log holes (on each side near the top) which are blocked up on the inside (sigh), making a nice bird hotel in the thick wall which is home to a huge number of jackdaws; these are very messy and drop a lot of their sticks and twigs when building nests, which block up the hoppers on the roof and leave a mass of sticks on the gravel in the French drain. They are also noisy. The same birds then come across the road and eat the food put out for the smaller birds.

I like birds but jackdaws are not my friends; we have plans to evict them when we work on the tower.

Matthew

 

[Minkeycat]

Thanks Matthew. I'm convinced. There are too many crows here already without encouraging more so I'm pleased to be able to ignore the job of opening them up!

 

[worms]

You really do not want to open them up! You might get a lot of other even more annoying birds there like jackdaws. The church tower here has five put-log holes (on each side near the top) which are blocked up on the inside (sigh), making a nice bird hotel in the thick wall which is home to a huge number of jackdaws; these are very messy and drop a lot of their sticks and twigs when building nests, which block up the hoppers on the roof and leave a mass of sticks on the gravel in the French drain. They are also noisy. The same birds then come across the road and eat the food put out for the smaller birds.

I like birds but jackdaws are not my friends; we have plans to evict them when we work on the tower.

Matthew

We have jackdaws in a couple of old ash trees and I've become quite attached to them. If it is only sticks they are dropping then you are lucky! Ours seem to collect all manner of rubbish from the neighbourhood - most noticeably the unmentionable bits that drop off after lamb-marking!

Minkey, if you were thinking of opening up the dove holes (squab pie?), make sure you know how well sealed the internal faces of the holes are, otherwise when the nest cools down in winter, all the mites from the nest might end up in your bed!

 

[Minkeycat]

Gosh! How revolting! I'm persuaded to keep them very well sealed!

I'm glad you're at peace with your jackdaws. Aren't they supposed to drop jewellery rather than lambs' bits?!

 

[worms]

Thanks, I'm not sure that "peace" and jackdaws often go hand in hand! Never had them drop any jewellery, but I suspect they must keep the good stuff in their nests! ...or perhaps they never read the books!