Need help with malpositioned pigeon chick!!

[CCUK]

Oh dear, I did a semi-count a while back, I’m probably at a little over 100. My girls have been very broody this year. I try to limit them to 3-6 chicks each, but multiplied by 20 or more hens/pullets.... well.....

How many! You are the crazy chicken lady!

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

@Fields Mountain Farm haha true! You are all making me want chickens lol! Just need to get my back garden done up and that will be me

@WVduckchick lol how many chickens do you have ?

Yes! You deffinetly should get some chickens!

Oh dear, I did a semi-count a while back, I’m probably at a little over 100. My girls have been very broody this year. I try to limit them to 3-6 chicks each, but multiplied by 20 or more hens/pullets.... well.....

This year has ended up being a crazy broody year for me too.. i have 3 more gone broody but im not letting them keep eggs... im done with chicks..

@WVduckchick holy moly that is alot lol! Sounds amazing!

@biophiliac yeah i suppose i should! Im so picky with names lol will have a good think tonight

The right name will come to you before ya know it!

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

I have a questions. When getting pigeons is it best to get an adult pair or trio? And do they settle in a new home easily or do they need to be cooped for an extended period so they can settle?

 

[CCUK]

I hope you will choose a name sooner - it's hard to be sure of gender when they are young.


In theory you could do this, its just that a couple of pairs can become 16 birds in the blink of an eye. Pigeon math proceedes on a whole other level vs chickens. Every pigeon hen is a broody and all the cockbirds share incubating duties.


What a great article! Boomer is such an incredible bird she pushed you up that 'learning curve' in record time! Your thread shows how its done.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/uk-pigeon-owners.1244157/

Thankyou @biophiliac. You too have also helped and advised me. It wasnt a planned thing for me, but it's a journey I don't regret. Most people see pigeons as dirty vermin in town centres making a mess but in reality they are very clean birds. They like to bathe and domestic pigeons get decent food and are generally kept clean and tidy. They can be poo ninjas though! Like chickens they all have unique personalities. @LauraMunro you will also have the added benefit of a very tame bird. I can't handle mine like that, they are too aloof. But it is true they do breed.... alot! Mine are already on the second set of eggs even though I tried stopping them with plastic ones! I kind of just gave in a little and bam more eggs! I will stop them next time. Sneaky little buggers they are! I'm hoping to start racing with mine but I'm happy just to see them flying around the loft for now.

 

[biophiliac]

I have a questions. When getting pigeons is it best to get an adult pair or trio? And do they settle in a new home easily or do they need to be cooped for an extended period so they can settle?

To settle them easily is best to get squeakers ~5-7 weeks old that have not flown out side their loft. You would keep them in for a couple of weeks before letting them out. Hard to guess gender at that age. Pigeons like to pair up with one mate and both parents feed the young as well as incubate the eggs. I started with 8 birds that turned out to be 6 hens and 2 cocks. My cock birds made the best of their challenging situation and produced young with all six hens!

Its harder to find and purchase mated pairs and they would have to be captive at least until they raise a few rounds of babies in their new home. Even then no guarantee they wouldn't fly off. You would have their offspring homeset to your loft tho.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

Thankyou @biophiliac. You too have also helped and advised me. It wasnt a planned thing for me, but it's a journey I don't regret. Most people see pigeons as dirty vermin in town centres making a mess but in reality they are very clean birds. They like to bathe and domestic pigeons get decent food and are generally kept clean and tidy. They can be poo ninjas though! Like chickens they all have unique personalities. @LauraMunro you will also have the added benefit of a very tame bird. I can't handle mine like that, they are too aloof. But it is true they do breed.... alot! Mine are already on the second set of eggs even though I tried stopping them with plastic ones! I kind of just gave in a little and bam more eggs! I will stop them next time. Sneaky little buggers they are! I'm hoping to start racing with mine but I'm happy just to see them flying around the loft for now.

Thats really neat, i had no idea there were races..
Gonna go check out your thread tho!

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

To settle them easily is best to get squeakers ~5-7 weeks old that have not flown out side their loft. You would keep them in for a couple of weeks before letting them out. Hard to guess gender at that age. Pigeons like to pair up with one mate and both parents feed the young as well as incubate the eggs. I started with 8 birds that turned out to be 6 hens and 2 cocks. My cock birds made the best of their challenging situation and produced young with all six hens!

Its harder to find and purchase mated pairs and they would have to be captive at least until they raise a few rounds of babies in their new home. Even then no guarantee they wouldn't fly off. You would have their offspring homeset to your loft tho.

Ok.. thank you. I deffinetly have some research to do before I venture in but id seriously like to have some.

 

[CCUK]

How is the little one doing today?

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

How is the little one doing today?

X2

 

[LauraMunro]

He's doing really well, we are both getting the hang of it! Hes putting on weight, was 12g on hatch day and he is now 23g he is eating really well and seems like a strong wee bird! im already thinking im going to miss him being so tiny lol! Unfortunately still no sign from my other chick but im keeping him in incubator for a few more days to be sure