Alabama is pretty far away from where I can trace the song to. My grandmother sang it to my mother, and she was from Utah and Idaho. Now I wonder where Grandma learned it; she died before I was born. The lyrics and actions I know are a bit different, so I thought I'd share. I'll post the lyrics alone first and then add the motions so as not to be too confusing.

My Pigeon House

My pigeon house I open wide
and set my pigeons free.
They fly over hills and over the plains
and light on the tallest tree.

And when they return from their merry, merry flight,
I close the doors and I say good night.
Coo coo coo coo coo coo . . . etc.


My Pigeon House

(Start with the backs of your hands facing out, fingers close together like two doors that are closed.)
My pigeon house I open wide (Open the doors so your palms are facing out.)
and set my pigeons free.
They fly over hills (make undulating motions with your arm to signify the hills) and over the plains (move your hands, palms down, out to signify the plains) and light on the tallest tree. (At "light," point up with your index finger and perch all five fingers of your other hand on the top of it.)
And when they return from their merry, merry flight, (flap your arms like wings)
I close the doors (clap) and I say good night. (Rest your head on your hands like a pillow.)
Coo coo . . . etc.