Do you know how to feed the baby if it should hatch out?
If not I'm sure someone on here can instruct you. I have raised pigeons for 20 years and
I would not attempt it, although I know other people who do.
If you want a pigeon why don't you just get a pigeon? Even if you succeeded in brooding it and hatching it, newly hatched baby pigeons are not easy to raise without parents.
Beautiful nest boxes! I don't use those nest fronts, but I have heard that if you paint them different colors, they know which one to go to and you don't have them going to the wrong one. Anybody try this?
Gay? No.
It is not uncommon for a very affectionate pair to sit in the nest together. Maybe you need larger nest bowls. I use large dog bowls for nesting. Mine are 10 inches in diameter with straight sides 5 inches high. WalMart. The pair can sit in there together with no problem. Maybe just try...
Another reason not to keep breeders and flyers together... breeding birds who are feeding young need food more than once a day, so they can pump the babies. And they have to eat, too.
You know Utility Kings are raised primarily for food, right? Not noted for their flying or homing ability. You...
I can see some problems with keeping breeders and flyers together. How will you know which are which? You say you have hawks... if you just let them all out, and you have a hawk attack, you could end up with untended young that you would have to hand raise, right? Another thought - do you have a...
I never tried feeding peas, but if I did I would pry the squab's beak open and just pop them in. It'll swallow them all right.
What I use for squabs is 16 or 18% chick starter. I put it in the blender with water, and blend until smooth. I use a 60cc. plastic syringe to shoot the warm food into...
Suggestions: If you can, give him a stuffed animal or even a rolled up towel to lean against. If he is in a nest, even better. Also, let the crop empty before you put more food in. Food should be liquid-y, not too thick. Feel the crop to make sure it is nice and soft, no hard lumps.
Good advice for sure. Just a point I'd like to add... pigeons are hardy outdoor birds that prefer to be outside in the fresh air. Build them a nice coop, put them out there, and they will thank you for it. Been raising them for 20 years.
I offer my handraised squabs chick starter for chickens. It comes in a fine crumble. They tend to tear right into that. Later you can switch (gradually) to seeds if you want. Another thing you can do is put another bird in with him, to show him what to do. And you will have to dunk his face in...
Oh- I used Polyvisol, a vitamin sold for human babies. I took quite a while for her to recover and be able to eat and drink. I use vitamins regularly in their water now.
Why, how nice of you to ask :). I did leave the thread hanging...
The hen appears to be just fine now. She is sitting on about 50 eggs LOL. I am watching her carefully though. Thanks again!
Dirty birds... yes they are. Any captive bird is a "dirty bird" due to being stuck most of the time in one place. I have not seen where anybody has invented a broom, mop, or vacuum cleaner that a pigeon can operate. Also, it's hard to get those tiny rolls of paper towels and tiny squirt bottles...
I hear you Moalnut - I hate the violence of the broomstick method. Not that I never use it... BUT I have used starter fluid and it worked on small birds. You sprinkle it on a rag or something, don't let it touch the bird. Use as small a box as possible. Close the box, bird breathes the fumes and...
I have had some success with wryneck chickens giving the human baby vitamin Polyvisol daily. Had birds straighten up and fly right with that stuff. Don't get the kind with iron. After the bird seems better, you can reduce the frequency but they may always need some kind of supplemental vitamins...
For what it's worth... Don't remember who, but somebody told me to get Polyviflor without iron. It's a vitamin supplement for babies and you give a dropper full each day. I have had 2 different chickens get cured of wryneck using that.