I have eggs laid... now what

[biophiliac]

Yes, this is the pair I thought was two males, and for good reasons. My hens all act like hens, they do not coo, all they do is growl. My cocks coo and strut and puff up their neck feathers. Both these birds, #6 and #9, coo and puff up their neck and strut. But #9 laid an egg, so apparently she is indeed a hen. So, folks aren't joking around when they say you can do all the guessing you want with the physical traits and behavior, but you never truly know until they lay or you do a DNA test.

There was no egg yesterday, so I imagine she laid this one today and there will be another tomorrow.

So these are both nice birds that you really wanted babies from, It's kind of neat that they keep us humans guessing, imo. How do you know #9 laid the egg?

 

[taprock]

When our pair laid an egg on the floor I fixed up the nest in the time between egg one and egg two. I gave them a nest and put it in a covered crate so they wouldn’t get filthy. Our first clutch of eggs didn’t hatch. Also the new parents may need watching. The first week ours would forget to feed the littlest squab. They are doing go now, it just took a bit. Good luck!

Our birds hatched the middle of last March.

 

[biophiliac]

rs would forget to feed the littlest squab. They are doing go now, it just took a bit. Go

I read some where that one way to handle that is to remove the bigger one for short periods to let the little one get fed. Is that what you did?

 

[LamarshFish]

So these are both nice birds that you really wanted babies from, It's kind of neat that they keep us humans guessing, imo. How do you know #9 laid the egg?

I am pretty sure #9 laid the egg because #6 is almost indisputably a cock bird by looks and consistent cock bird behavior. Also, #9 is tending to the nest at the times a hen tends to a nest.

 

[taprock]

I didn’t want to have them separated because of the cold so I just took the little guy out and tube fed when he needed more.

 

[LamarshFish]

I didn’t want to have them separated because of the cold so I just took the little guy out and tube fed when he needed more.

Are you talking about the smaller of the two squabs? Would you mind sharing with me how you can tell if one needs to be hand fed? I don't want to intervene unless they need the help. Thanks! I am also in Michigan (SE LP), so cold weather here, but probably not as cold as where you are.

 

[taprock]

Yes the smaller. When he was squeaking with an empty crop for an hour it was the signal to me to feed him. I never filled his crop as full as his parents did -still not that confident on tube feeding - but enough that he was satisfied until his parents did feed him. I would feed and then return him to the nest.

 

[Hokum Coco]

How long before they hatch?

Happy to hear your finally having a bit of good fortune come your way.

You have had your trails getting started.

In a perfect world they should hatch in 19 days (I have had them hatch as late as 23 days).Your main concern (if you have harsh winters) will be once the squabs hit about 2 weeks of age. That is when they still naked are too large for the parents to incubate and are in danger of dying from hypothermia. That is when in the middle of darkness I transferred nest parents squabs and all into this make shift Styrofoam cooler. Worked for me in Canada.

 

[LamarshFish]

Happy to hear your finally having a bit of good fortune come your way.

You have had your trails getting started.

In a perfect world they should hatch in 19 days (I have had them hatch as late as 23 days).Your main concern (if you have harsh winters) will be once the squabs hit about 2 weeks of age. That is when they still naked are too large for the parents to incubate and are in danger of dying from hypothermia. That is when in the middle of darkness I transferred nest parents squabs and all into this make shift Styrofoam cooler. Worked for me in Canada.

View attachment 1203284

Thanks. I remember you mentioning this. Did you transfer this cooler right into the nest box, or just keep it elsewhere in the loft? I own one cooler like this, but I think it's a bit big to fit in the nest box.

Another option I have been weighing for once the squab are born (if they hatch) is a small chick warming pad. I have heard in use they elevate the loft temp actually about 10 degrees warmer than outside. Interesting for such a small device. Here is a link to the one I orderedam: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JHK375E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Hokum Coco]

but I think it's a bit big to fit in the nest box.

I would not use the cooler in your case and go with the nest warmer. Pigeons will abandon a nest for just cleaning I have experienced. It is also best to due your tampering in full darkness if possible. It is only for a week and by then they should be nearly full fledged and able to combat the cold.