I have eggs laid... now what

[LamarshFish]

I just use a regular flashlight. Take out one egg at a time candle and replace promptly. The eggs should be solid black by now with very little detail where they should be close to hatching.
Easy Peasy Japaneasy.

Well, I slithered into my loft last night when it was dark out, flashlight in hand ready to candle, and suffice it to say mama pigeon was NOT having any part of me touching her eggs. I did not make much of an attempt though. I put my hands towards her underside to see if she would just sort of get out of the way, and she just growled and pecked at me. I didn't want it to be an ordeal, so I just decided not to bother. The earliest due date for the first egg is tomorrow, and the eggs will do whatever they're going to do whether I candle them or not, so I am just going to wait and see!

 

[biophiliac]

can't wait to hear if you get babies
while you wait - tell me if I'm crazy to be thinking about starting some birds in mid-winter? ... @sourland ?

https://madison.craigslist.org/grd/d/racing-homer-pigeons/6383352764.html

Sorry about the highjack

 

[biophiliac]

Not sure if this is directed to only Sourland. I think he would respond to this question the same as I with

"You are setting yourself up for heartache wait until February 14th".

Yes, to anyone.
Thanks Hokum, I was afraid of that. ...just to be clear, I'm talking about squeakers, not trying to breed. Does seem more sensible to wait.

 

[LamarshFish]

can't wait to hear if you get babies
while you wait - tell me if I'm crazy to be thinking about starting some birds in mid-winter? ... @sourland ?

https://madison.craigslist.org/grd/d/racing-homer-pigeons/6383352764.html

Sorry about the highjack

It might be worth a try. They won't start breeding until they are 6 months of age at least, so that won't be until summer. As I've said before, my experience goes that squeakers training is easier in higher numbers, but I think it can be done with 4, just less brains for the group think and group training. This time of the year you of course have the added risk of hawks being more hungry.

Just to add, those squeakers are just on the other side of being a tad bit old. IMO they are best when they still have some yellow fuzzy down feathers on their head and neck, which means they're about 4 weeks old. I'd guess those are between 2-3 months of age. Keep in mind after you get them you'll want to settle them to your loft no less than one week.

I would offer $40 for all 4. Who else is going to buy them this time of the year? $20/bird is too much, unless maybe they have formal pedigrees that come with the birds, which I think would be useless to you anyways, unless you are serious about racing.

Either way, might be a good relationship for you to network with and find more birds.

 

[Hokum Coco]

I'm talking about squeakers, not trying to breed. Does seem more sensible to wait.

I neglected to open the link. I miss understood. You can start with squeakers anytime.

 

[biophiliac]

I neglected to open the link. I miss understood. You can start with squeakers anytime.

Really!?!

It might be worth a try. They won't start breeding until they are 6 months of age at least, so that won't be until summer. As I've said before, my experience goes that squeakers training is easier in higher numbers, but I think it can be done with 4, just less brains for the group think and group training. This time of the year you of course have the added risk of hawks being more hungry.

Just to add, those squeakers are just on the other side of being a tad bit old. IMO they are best when they still have some yellow fuzzy down feathers on their head and neck, which means they're about 4 weeks old. I'd guess those are between 2-3 months of age. Keep in mind after you get them you'll want to settle them to your loft no less than one week.

I would offer $40 for all 4. Who else is going to buy them this time of the year? $20/bird is too much, unless maybe they have formal pedigrees that come with the birds, which I think would be useless to you anyways, unless you are serious about racing.

Either way, might be a good relationship for you to network with and find more birds.

Thanks, I kinda thought those were a bit old for a beginner like me, might risk it anyway. I have email'd him and he does have 6, he also has 2 about to be banded. I am trying to make the connection bc he's within 30 mins of me.

 

[LamarshFish]

Really!?!


Thanks, I kinda thought those were a bit old for a beginner like me, might risk it anyway. I have email'd him and he does have 6, he also has 2 about to be banded. I am trying to make the connection bc he's within 30 mins of me.

Assuming your loft is done and you have a settling cage ready, I don't see why you shouldn't. Worse case you lose them, and if that happens you'll likely lose them on the first few releases, which will be in the next few weeks, so no big bond to them yet perhaps, and if you lose them they weren't worth having in your loft anyhow. I'd just go for it.

Don't forget to give each bird a look over, make sure no canker and that their eyes look healthy.

 

[biophiliac]

Assuming your loft is done and you have a settling cage ready, I don't see why you shouldn't. Worse case you lose them, and if that happens you'll likely lose them on the first few releases, which will be in the next few weeks, so no big bond to them yet perhaps, and if you lose them they weren't worth having in your loft anyhow. I'd just go for it.

Don't forget to give each bird a look over, make sure no canker and that their eyes look healthy.

Sounds like good advice.
If I lose them in the winter I hope they join the Chase flock across the street. Those ferals seem healthy and now that I know what to look for I see them occasionally flying in a real tight kit.

Added - No pipped egg today huh?

 

[biophiliac]

handfeeding babies...

 

[LamarshFish]

Added - No pipped egg today huh?

Nothing yet. Yesterday was Day 17, so hopefully in the next few days