Pigeon egg incubating.

[lightchick]

I had two Birmingham Roller eggs abandoned because I didn't get the nest boxes in soon enough and the parent just laid the egg on the floor and left it. I put it in a egg carton and waited until the second egg was laid and then I put them both under a makeshift incubator. They have been incubating for 5 almost 6 days. Today one of the other pairs (West of England's) laid their first egg so I was wondering if I could put the Birmingham Roller eggs under them after they lay their second egg? Could they handle 4 eggs? I'd take care of the BR squabs after they hatch so it wouldn't overload the WOE pair. I know the eggs I've been incubating are alive because I candled them yesterday and I could see the embryo.

 

[Twistedfeather]

Your major problem is that once the squabs hatch they must be fed pigeon milk by their parents, which is a lot of work. Normally a pigeon can only handle two squabs at a time so if you want to keep your birmingham's alive you're either going to have to sacrifice the WOE'S or you're going to have to get squab formula and try to hand feed, and all the people that I've met who have done it don't have success.

 

[lightchick]

Your major problem is that once the squabs hatch they must be fed pigeon milk by their parents, which is a lot of work. Normally a pigeon can only handle two squabs at a time so if you want to keep your birmingham's alive you're either going to have to sacrifice the WOE'S or you're going to have to get squab formula and try to hand feed, and all the people that I've met who have done it don't have success.

Yes, that's what I'm planning on doing. I've researched everything about feeding etc. So they can handle four eggs? And would I have to take the Birmingham's out of the nest before they start hatching so it doesn't mess anything up for the WOE squabs? I'd just put them back in the makeshift incubator the last days before hatching because they'll hatch 5 days before the WOE babies. I'm going to feed them Kaytee Exact formula with a modified syringe.

 

[Twistedfeather]

No I don't think your WOE can handle four eggs without abandoning the whole thing. But if you want to handle hand-feeding yourself than go ahead. But there are certain things that are in the pigeons milk that a lot of pigeon squabs need in order to thrive that most formula companies don't have to offer. Hand raising parrots is a slightly easier task because they can eat the formula that companies have to offer.

Many breeders pick a pair of poor quality but good parent pigeons so that they can have them incubate those eggs instead. But it has to be size appropriate to the breeds. A portuguese probably couldn't handle a king.

 

[lightchick]

No I don't think your WOE can handle four eggs without abandoning the whole thing. But if you want to handle hand-feeding yourself than go ahead. But there are certain things that are in the pigeons milk that a lot of pigeon squabs need in order to thrive that most formula companies don't have to offer. Hand raising parrots is a slightly easier task because they can eat the formula that companies have to offer.

Many breeders pick a pair of poor quality but good parent pigeons so that they can have them incubate those eggs instead. But it has to be size appropriate to the breeds. A portuguese probably couldn't handle a king.

Could they handle three? I'm just trying to figure out the best way to incubate the eggs. So I can only hand incubate? Wow. That's a bit of a bummer. I wish I could get one of the pigeons to at least incubate. I can handle the feeding part.

 

[Twistedfeather]

If you are one to experiment I'm sure they could but it's risky and I'd almost just keep them in an incubator and then as soon as you can get them out of there because they won't find food by themselves. All that's really important right now is the willingness to experiment and accept and learn from the results

 

[lightchick]

That's pretty much what I'm doing here.
I didn't even know if incubating them with a heat lamp would work but it seems to be working OK. This is what I'm doing at the moment.

The stuff animals are for insulation. LOL!

 

[Hokum Coco]

Could they handle 4 eggs? No I had a pair handle 3 with no problems. .That was in a perfect world with everything going my way the weakest one for me did not make it.

When it comes to hand raising a new hatch squab. GOOD LUCK !! There are more failures than successes.

 

[lightchick]

Quote: So do you think I should try putting one of the eggs under the WOE pair? I was just wondering if the WOE's would not be able to turn 4 eggs. They can turn three?
The BR eggs are smaller than the WOE eggs. (Am I going around in circles?) I found this link...http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/f5/can-a-pigeon-sit-on-a-third-egg-49095.html, but I guess my only problem is that the eggs would hatch 5 days early and would that make the WOE parents stop sitting on their own eggs if they feel the squabs hatching under them before I can take the squabs out and raise them myself?

 

[Hokum Coco]

So do you think I should try putting one of the eggs under the WOE pair?

I think in a perfect world all 4 eggs will hatch under your birds. Your greatest concern is "PIGEON MILK" especially with a staggered hatch.
Pigeon milk is in limited supply with a short window of availability and is necessary for proper development of a squab it is difficult to duplicate or to find a suitable alternative.

Can you raise a squab from an egg?
Yes, it has been done.

In my expert opinion you are setting yourself up for heartache. Ask anyone who has even achieved it. Your odds do increase with each passing day but in most cases (NOT ALL) the pigeon if it is lucky enough to survive is not quite right and is bullied and picked on by the rest of your flock. It is not a chosen way to raise a pigeon it is done only in an emergency by kind hearted good will people who in all honesty would not want to do it again.

I am going to wish your good luck because I can tell you are going through with your project. I am quite sure you will survive but I would take odds on your squabs..

Check out this link :
http://blogs.thatpetplace.com/thatb...rearing-young-pigeons-and-doves/#.VQrby-Fmo9s