Hi. New to doves with one about to hatch

[appps]

Think Im officially out of the woods now. Went and gave them their food again this morning and both mum and dad got off again so I could see our little baby Maddox.


He was sitting up with his head held up and a nice full tummy Mum came back after about 5 minutes.

Thank you all for your help!

 

[caesargirl]

Think Im officially out of the woods now. Went and gave them their food again this morning and both mum and dad got off again so I could see our little baby Maddox. He was sitting up with his head held up and a nice full tummy Mum came back after about 5 minutes. Thank you all for your help!

Ohhhhhhh!!!!!! Maddox is wonderful!!! You have to at least check in with pics every once in a while.... He's so adorable. I'm happy he's got you, just in case mum and dad turn hippie again!

 

[appps]

Ohhhhhhh!!!!!! Maddox is wonderful!!! You have to at least check in with pics every once in a while.... He's so adorable.
I'm happy he's got you, just in case mum and dad turn hippie again!

I suspect I will have a million questions when we hit that kick him to the curb age shortly lol. I've been reading and it sounds like they only look after them for about three weeks? Or have I got that wrong? At some point mum and dad have to go back to their own home so it's deciding when they are treating him like like he can fend for himself if they go and he stays. so guess it depends at what age they decide they've had enough. Hubby doesn't really want to keep him but if my sister takes him there will be three of them in her bird house which isn't very big. Not sure if they would live happily together or eventually when he hit mating age fight?

 

[caesargirl]

I didn't have parent piggys, so I'm not any help! But, my guys were eating seed or at least having seeds in their formula. I would guess it's ok to send him back once he's %100 on seed and water. Is the food and water in a place he can get to when he's older so they can show him how to peck?

 

[caesargirl]

When @casportpony or @Hokum Coco comes back on, they can help more. @laughingdog has answered questions for me too.

 

[casportpony]

Think Im officially out of the woods now. Went and gave them their food again this morning and both mum and dad got off again so I could see our little baby Maddox.


He was sitting up with his head held up and a nice full tummy Mum came back after about 5 minutes.

Thank you all for your help!

He looks great!

-Kathy

 

[appps]

I didn't have parent piggys, so I'm not any help! But, my guys were eating seed or at least having seeds in their formula. I would guess it's ok to send him back once he's %100 on seed and water. Is the food and water in a place he can get to when he's older so they can show him how to peck?

No, they actually fly up to that, but its only 6 inches or so higher than where he is. Will he get out of the nest itself or would I need to put some in the nest? His nest is pretty big, this photo probably gives a better idea



Its actually an indoor bunny cage on wheels and the food is in a polystrene box that I attach each morning to the side door just above that grey bit.

Would he come out onto the newspaper area to get food at that age do you think?

Scuse the mess and poop, this was first thing so hadnt changed the paper and it was never meant to be a nesting box. Great size for one but bad because they think its fun to sit on the top and poop on the handle sigh. Cant really pull it out to hose it off or exchange for a clean one either so have to let it dry and scrape it off. This part of having them I shall not miss LOL

 

[casportpony]

He looks great! What's his weight now?

-Kathy

 

[caesargirl]

No, they actually fly up to that, but its only 6 inches or so higher than where he is. Will he get out of the nest itself or would I need to put some in the nest? His nest is pretty big, this photo probably gives a better idea Its actually an indoor bunny cage on wheels and the food is in a polystrene box that I attach each morning to the side door just above that grey bit. Would he come out onto the newspaper area to get food at that age do you think? Scuse the mess and poop, this was first thing so hadnt changed the paper and it was never meant to be a nesting box. Great size for one but bad because hey think its fun to sit on the top and poop on the handle sigh. Cant really pull it out to clean or exchange for a clean one either.

That's what I did. I left food and water in the cage 24/7. Whenever I went to the cage and tapped near the food to make it move and they started to peck. Little by little. I used heavy weight glass ashtrays from family dollar as dished. Each one weighs nearly 1 pound, so no tipping and only about an inch deep. It was easier with Epic, the other 2 taught him how to peck. The food and water dishes I left on the floor 24/7 right around 2-3 weeks.

 

[appps]

Oh and they are eating a pigeon pellet mix that seems to have a little cracked corn in it. Ive been reading about them needing calcium when breeding. Not having the bag to check its calcium content do you think I should get my sister to drop off some of the shell grit she has for them to add to their diet?