Need Help; found baby pigeon and am not sure what I should be doing...

[laughingdog]

those babies at that age are not able to process water like an adult so when you give it to them it gives them the shoots an then they die

ive just seen the young eating and drinking yesterday and today.. seen and hear the parents vomit up water with whole seeds and/or pellets, when the young are less than about half feathered, so maybe they need to be told that they cannot and shouldnt do that, and havent had one die from it yet. unless rollers are differant than most in that way. if it doesnt eat and drink itll die anyway. im not trying to be punchy, just seen contrary, and maybe something else was a factor also. i havent hand fed too many baby pigeons though, just doves, finches, and mostly hookbills, temp.

 

[Hokum Coco]

Within the first 5 days of life is when a squab is most likely to die from water (not to disagree with you laughingdog). I always let my foster parents take over the squabs after 5 days due to an old timer who told me the parents secret a special pigeon milk during that window.

I have nothing to back up this statement however. Other than the fact I trusted this fine gentleman's judgement and his experience. You most likely can find things and statements to debunk this theory.

He also told me that if I got a newly hatched squab to feed him condensed milk for 2 to 3 days during that window and if the squab survived start thickening the mixture.

I never hand raised a squab that young they were always beyond that 5 day window when they are more hearty.

 

[laughingdog]

im not disagreeing with hokum at all as the fosters even feed the crop milk for about a week. even seen fosters and new parents getting the crop milk and curd on beaks and faces of themselves and young at eight to ten days surprisingly. mine are always about two weeks by time starting to feather in decent, and sticking own heads in parents crop after parents have just eaten and drank, as well as one or both starting to peck at bedding bedding feathers and food dumped in nest. i assumed what poster was reffering to by pic of half feathered squab.. maybe i read wrong part? if so sorry for ruffling feathers.. and again sad about you losing baby. side note ive heard of people on here trying to mix some regular or whole milk in with mixture to feed young squab.. dont, as was told long ago with rabbits and kittens even that it can be very bad for systems, and therefore i always was told and used goat's milk thinned out greatly if nothing else was available, but laying pellets wetted and mushed up should work if nothing else available nowadays, for future refferance. ive only experimented with this with ringneck doves and ferals as far as doves, sadly admit wouldnt chance on more than handful of few rollers had at time. tried chick feed and it didnt work out on second and third batch tried on so just switched back to using laying pellets from then on, till i got the actual pigeon pellets.

 

[Hokum Coco]

It is good to know what as actually worked for you laughing dog. I will put those experiences in my memory bank for future reference in case I need draw on them. However with my memory bank lately I may end up PM you LOL.

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

What ended up happening with this cutie?

 

[animalsRawesome]

What ended up happening with this cutie?

He didn't make it

He lived for 3 or 4 days before he died. He never really ate that well for me... I feel really bad, but If I hadn't have picked him up I know our barn cats would have eaten him, so at least I gave him a chance. Pigeons still interest me, so maybe some day I'll buy some... just not sure that they are profitable enough to justify keeping... Until then I'll just continue to enjoy watching the wild ones.

 

[Curtiejlee]

Or just trap the feral ones... You live on a farm, right? Most of the farmers here in Washington kill any pigeons around! Luckily, my friends grandfather lets me catch his ferals so they don't end up being killed! Find out where they roost and, at night, use a bright light to stun them! You can then use a fishing net to grab them and BOOM, PAH!!!! Free pigeons! I have had six ferals and they are just as good as purebreds and more domesticated varieties

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

Or just trap the feral ones... You live on a farm, right? Most of the farmers here in Washington kill any pigeons around! Luckily, my friends grandfather lets me catch his ferals so they don't end up being killed! Find out where they roost and, at night, use a bright light to stun them! You can then use a fishing net to grab them and BOOM, PAH!!!! Free pigeons! I have had six ferals and they are just as good as purebreds and more domesticated varieties

Every one does the same thing here, except they use traps. But I got a domesticated one and she was SO much friendlier. The squabs the hatch end up being friendlier though
Sadly our girl got out and I don't expect to ever see her again D: heart breaking, but that's what animal keeping is about, eh?

Sorry to hear that s/he didn't make it.
Pigeons are pretty cheap after the initial costs. We invested in just an aviary (cheaper then building a loft, just have to make sure hawks / coons can't get it) and fed ours chicken feed mixed with goat food, they seemed to like it.

 

[animalsRawesome]

Hmmm... might have to trap some then.

Why don't farmers like them?

 

[getaclue]

I have rehabbed several types of wild birds, and this is a good basic formula for the young ones that fall out, or get blown out of their nests, or that are orphans. Older wild birds need Game Feed, or Wild Bird Feed when they are old enough, or well enough to eat it. Do not feed them Chicken Feed, as several types of birds can't tolerate some of the ingredients.
1 Can Dog Food
1 Multi Vitamin (dissolved)
4 Tums (most birds like fruit flavored best)
1 Can Green Beans
1 Baked Sweet Potato (cooled and peeled)
Water (enough to make it a bit thinner than baby food)
Mix all in food processor or blender. I would put about 4 tablespoons of this mixture into sandwich bags. Keep one out, and freeze the rest. This will give you at least a weeks supply. To feed, I take a drinking straw, cut in half this gives you two. Pinch one end of the straw and cut in half lengthwise about 3/4 of an inch. Cut off the top portion, and round the corners. Like the straws from the convenience store for frozen drinks. Load the end of the straw with food, and gently pry open the birds mouth, and let mixture slide in. Do this every 3 - 4 hours until it's old enough, or able to eat on its own. Yes, you will probably need to get up during the night for a feeding or two, for a few days until you are sure it is getting enough during the day to sustain it through the night. Offer water, and food for them, but don't stop feeding them until you are sure they can eat on their own. Make sure they are warm enough, and keep them out of drafts. Use a clean rag, or towel for them to snuggle down in at night, if they aren't old enough to roost.