A woman has forced her husband to share their home – and even their bed – with two pet pigeons, who wake her up each morning with kisses and cuddles.
Lucie Morris’ journey into pigeon companionship began when she traveled 50 miles to rescue an injured pigeon that had captured her heart.
The saga started in February when Lucie, 31, from Neath Port Talbot in Wales, saw a Facebook post about an injured pigeon in someone’s garden.
Unable to resist, she decided to bring the bird home, intending to release him after recovery – however, the pigeon, who was assigned the name Rosie Cheeks after being mistaken for being female, had other plans.
Speaking to Lancashire Live, Lucie said: ‘I’d planned to release him once he was better, but he made himself at home.’
‘These pigeons have completely stolen my heart – they are a huge part of our family. I love waking up to their kisses and cuddles.’
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Rosie, despite his injured wing, quickly became the boss of the house, even teasing the family’s three dogs: Bronson, an eight-year-old beagle, and Cookie and Poppy, six-year-old beagle cross terriers.
Lucie’s husband, Anton, 38, a joiner, was initially sceptical about keeping a pigeon – but Rosie’s charm soon won him over.
In March 2024, fearing Rosie would be lonely when the family was out, Lucie decided to adopt a second pigeon, Flori Pretzel, without consulting Anton.
The new addition initially caused tension, as Rosie asserted his dominance, but despite the early clashes, the two birds have learned to tolerate each other.
Lucie explained: ‘Rosie is boisterous and he’ll eat off your plate and fly onto your head. Flori is the more loving and caring one – she doesn’t leave my side.’
Flori, being particularly clingy, often accompanies Lucie on visits to her mother’s house or on errands, perched on her shoulder. ‘I’ve had a few weird looks when I’m in the car as Flori will sit on my shoulder but I don’t mind one bit,’ she said.
Living with two pigeons has its challenges, particularly in terms of cleanliness. Lucie admits that the birds are messy eaters, often requiring her to clean up both their food and the food they steal from the family’s plates.
Despite the extra work and the £20 a month cost of caring for them, Lucie wouldn’t have it any other way.
‘They’re both cheeky characters, and they aren’t tidy eaters. But it doesn’t bother me – I love them too much to care,’ she said.
The pigeons have fully integrated into the Morris family, including their two children, Austin, 11, and Lainey, four.
The birds now shower the family with affection, including sharing the couple’s bed. Lucie describes the daily kisses and cuddles from Rosie and Flori as an irreplaceable part of her life.
It comes after Abby Jardine, from New York, revealed how she potty-trained her pet pigeon so she can take the bird with her everywhere she goes – carrying it around in a special purse and carting it to parties and restaurants.