Hi. New to doves with one about to hatch

[Hokum Coco]

Another question. Should it have a full crop? I've been looking at photos online and they all seem to have this big full crop which this little guy doesn't have. Is it too early for that or do you think they are like many of their flock mates and not switched on to the whole feeding bit? Haven't seen mum feed it at all, she just seems to be sitting on it like it's an egg.
It's kinda cute in an ugly sort of way lol

The first few days of feeding is a special pigeon milk that only produced by the parents for roughly 3 days. This milk supercharges the squabs system and gets them off to a good start. That is one reason most pigeon fanciers try to deter people from incubating squabs and hand feeding. It usually ends in the death of the squab.

I would not take them back until the squab is eating on it's own.

You would be wise to listen to his advise move them and I guarantee they will abandon the clutch.
They could be moved anywhere between 14 to 21 days after hatching the longer the better chances for success.

The squabs eyes open in three days and they become more aware of their surroundings.
Here is a link that shows how quick a squab develops that may interest you:

 

[appps]

Thank you! That puts my mind at ease . Looks like we will be babysitting for a bit longer then

 

[caesargirl]

Ohhhhhh! Lovin the ugly cute baby!!!

 

[appps]

Well finally had a chance for the original breeder to check it out (was looking more lethargic today too) and he said it looks like it's getting something but the parents are still learning and haven't quite worked it out. It's crop had a little in it but nothing like the crops of the ones he had there. It was also about half the size of some he had hatch the same day.

So he has taken it and popped it in with the other couple that hatched's surrogate standard pigeon parents for them to give it a good top up feed and then will drop it back. Luckily we only live a street apart so I didn't have to move them from their nest at all.

Was amazed how they didn't seem to mind who they fed and how he could just move babies into other nests to find it a feed.

So fingers crossed it gets a good feed and that's enough to give it the energy to nag our new parents for a feed. If it still isn't getting fed though in the next few days plan B will be leave it with him for his to feed it till its big enough to feed itself.

 

[caesargirl]

Good luck.....!

 

[Majd]

Very cute congratulations! See the parents know how to hatch their eggs! And he is still very tiny with a tiny crop that looks like he's been feeding to me. He can even survive for the first two days off his yolk sack in his tummy! When they're still very young (first few days it's hard to see a big crop... I'd give him a few more days...

 

[appps]

Very cute congratulations! See the parents know how to hatch their eggs! And he is still very tiny with a tiny crop that looks like he's been feeding to me. He can even survive for the first two days off his yolk sack in his tummy! When they're still very young (first few days it's hard to see a big crop... I'd give him a few more days...

It's hard to tell size from the photos but he is now 4 days old and half the size of a four day old I saw yesterday. He basically hasn't grown since he hatched where the ones I saw had grown quite a bit. They also had big full crops where he has never had that so while I think he may be getting something I don't think he is getting enough. Before I took him for the top up feed yesterday he was quite listless compared to the day before. Plus the breeder who has many birds and been doing it for years said the same thing. It was a bit of a shock to see what he should look like compared to what he does look like.

I really think we have come to a cross roads today. I'm out all morning but when I get home after lunch if he is still alive and if the crop isn't looking like there is something in it I think I'm going to either give him to the breeder to put under one of his standard pigeon surrogate mums till it can feed itself or I'm going to start feeding him as well by hand to top up what the parents are giving him till he gets the strength to nag them more. I'm leaning towards the second using this method. http://www.pigeonrescue.co.uk/usingaplasticbag.htm

 

[Majd]

Yes sure enough if he's 4 days old and you see he needs more feeding definitely get a formula and hand feed him, or give it to surrogate parents at the breeder, whatever you see convenient. Keep us posted for more!

 

[appps]

Will do. Have you seen that plastic bag method used before in the link? Looked quite do-able for a novice. I have hand reared a cockatiel before but it was much older that this little dude

 

[caesargirl]

Me feeding Chaos!!!