First Timer Baby Pigeon Raising - Won't Open Mouth

[Hokum Coco]

I do not think spayed leg is very common in pigeons.
My experience is I yet to have a squab suffer from that condition.
It is more common in chickens especially the Cornish or Meat King Variety as they are know in these parts.

 

[LyrebirdJacki]

Should i remove the little bandaid then hokum? Do all pigeons usually have their legs out like that early in life? If so that is fine, as he is very good at moving as it is which is why i was a little skeptical whether they were splayed or not.

 

[Hokum Coco]

duplicate

 

[Hokum Coco]

I would go with your own instincts at this point lyrebird. I do not think it will hurt him one way or the other. Where squabs are usually loaded heavy toward the front it is quite normal for them to have their legs to the side for almost 2 weeks or more until their body catches up to their insaciable appetite.

 

[Pigeon Power]

I hate to say it coco but I had a HUGE problem with spayed legs with my squabs for awhile...turns out it was the kind of nesting material. I've had two or three babies that I have hand raised that had the issue as well before I figured out was going on! I had one parole roller, two indian fantails, two Chinese owls, and a modena!! So it can for sure happen! I wonder if its a breed thing I've never had homers with the problem but I would for SURE be careful...Usually its only one leg with pigeons...however I did have one with both ...she couldn't even walk...The others were crippled and had to be in the juniors side of the loft but did fine.To me the little guy looks, like he might be getting a problem with it from my experience with it! Other then that he looks great! Your doing such a good job!!

 

[Hokum Coco]

Thank you for the heads up Pigeon Power.
I guess I have just be lucky!
.I only have my own experience to draw on.
You have to go by your own instincts I have had spayed leg in heavy chickens raised for meat and hobbling the legs together does help.

 

[Pigeon Power]

Of course! That's all any of us can do! It's hard to know everything that's for sure. I've learned so much since I've started following this site, its a wonderful resource, and their are so many kind and knowledgeable people on here I'm just grateful to be able to contribute from time to time, with some of my own experiences.

 

[LyrebirdJacki]

Good work!
I honestly thought the squab would be dead long ago.
His odds have greatly improved and are getting better every day.
There is good chance he will make it now lyrebird in a perfect world I dare say.
You definitely have a gift regardless of outcome.

On another note:
I have been checking your thread everyday.
Thank you for the update and especially the pictures.

Why thank you, I had no idea that it was supposed to be a low chance of a completely hand raised pigeon to survive, and I'm so happy with this little guy and glad that I've put in all this effort. I told the breeder (who is a friend) that next time I want them a little older which he is happy to oblige. He had no idea like me that it wasn't such a good idea to give me fertile eggs....currently working on a ex-cubby house converted into a loft/avairy construction for him and future pigeons to all live happily ever after inside or until a cyclone hits; it's the start of the monsoon season now haha.

Well Sir Johnathan Peepers (my partner decided to add to his name) has just been put on some grit and I'm making his food a little thicker and even adding very little millet to the mix. He is REALLY enjoying that, or he just is always hungry. He definatly does not appear to be dying anytime soon.

Definatly, I'll have to take a few more once he starts to feather up a little. His legs definatly look more normal while binded and it doesn't seem to be restricting him at all (he still manages to make it to the other side of his little box). When I went to change the band-aid his legs still seem a little out so I'm keeping the band-aid on for a little longer to make sure.

 

[LyrebirdJacki]

I hate to say it coco but I had a HUGE problem with spayed legs with my squabs for awhile...turns out it was the kind of nesting material. I've had two or three babies that I have hand raised that had the issue as well before I figured out was going on! I had one parole roller, two indian fantails, two Chinese owls, and a modena!! So it can for sure happen! I wonder if its a breed thing I've never had homers with the problem but I would for SURE be careful...Usually its only one leg with pigeons...however I did have one with both ...she couldn't even walk...The others were crippled and had to be in the juniors side of the loft but did fine.To me the little guy looks, like he might be getting a problem with it from my experience with it! Other then that he looks great! Your doing such a good job!!

I did a little research and I saw a few pictures of pigeons with splayed legs so I bound them anyway to get in early. And with just how front heavy they are as hokum says I can see how they can get splayed easily, but there wasn't too much on pigeons, mostly other poultry.

His legs are looking more normal, and he is moving very freely as if there isn't any band-aid on his legs.

Other than that, very healthy and very vocal....eeep EEEP!

 

[LyrebirdJacki]

I got this for Sir Johnathan Peepers grit today. Going from petstore to petstore nobody had any idea what I was after, pointing me into the direction of the sharp shell grit which I don't feel comforable feeding him....

It was the only bag left and very well hidden, to the point where the clerk had to pull out a book to find the price (really cheap, like $2 for the 1kg bag) but it is as close as I can get to all the pictures I have seen online for grit. Will this suffice?



I have been feeding him roughly this much each feed, is it too much? I've given him a little less with his first feed but I'm gradually adding a bit more for him to get used to it. He seems to be doing well with this and the tiniest amount of millet mixed in. I got a little worried as his crop was huge and wasn't getting any smaller, then he just got rid of it.....in one go which wasn't pretty. Let's just say, he had all his bedding replaced.

I also think he is a bit small for his age. He was born on the 25th of last month and is only just starting to show signs of pin feathers now while all pictures have wing-tips and breasts showing pins by now. His legs are completely better now and he even stands on them for short bursts, usually climbing up my shirt for attention. It is incredible how strong his little legs are!






He also has a little californian quail as a friend at the moment. Put the only surviving cali-chick in Johnno's brooder (he lives in a small tupperware box inside of a fishtank with a lamp inside, so I put the quail outside of the "nest") and come back to see the quail inside the box cuddled up to the pigeon to keep warm. I fear the pigeon will squash it though