- Mar 26, 2015
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The seed mix has most of what you mentioned, so I think it will be a decent base feed.
Good stuff. If you plan to keep the bird, just try to find a pigeon or dove feed. Buy a big 40-50lb bag (at a feed store that shouldn't cost much more than $20) and it will last you a long time if stored properly.
I got some grit at the store, it's a granet grit for finches and such, it has the anise already in it. I haven't seen it go for grit yet, but I have seen it eat and drink.
Sometimes they will not touch the grit for some time, then they will use it. Just keep it available for the bird and make sure it is kept clean and not soiled. If you have a chance to add some crushed oyster shells that would be good, but I have heardcrushed egg shells would work too for a calcium supplement.
I left the food in there for the 1st 24 hours because it acted like it was half starved and it was eating grass seeds when I caught it, but I removed the food this morning and left a little bit of feed scattered on the bottom of the cage for it to eat today.
That's fine, and probably was wise. When I get new squeakers from other lofts, I will keep food constantly available for them for the first few days. But eventually don't keep food in there constantly. Pigeons will over eat, and over eating is not good for them. A full grown pigeon needs about 45 grams of food per day. If you don't want to bother with measuring, just offer the food for 20 minutes morning and night. The bird will catch on. They actually prefer routines.
Tonight we are going to brace up the wing, basically put it in a sling so it's not tripping on it all the time and dragging wing feathers through poop.
Since it seemed to like the bowl better with the seed in it, do you think giving it a bowl with some "sweet PDZ" in it would work? Then if it pooped in it, I could just scoop it out. Plus, apparently chicks can use the PDZ as grit since it's a small rock.
Good question, I'm not sure. Another thing that would work is diatomaceous earth powder (food grade). Dusting them in that also removes parasites, something you should be vigilante about since it is a feral, and maybe you have other birds in your home.
This weekend I will take it and put it in the bathtub with a dish of water so it can take a bath and not make a massive mess.
Good. You'll have fun watching how much the pigeon loves it. A weekly bath with borax is nice, not only does it clean the bird, but also makes their feathers look nice. A daily bath offered in their cage of just plain water is usually something they enjoy, but they do splash around a lot, so it will make a mess lol.
Just be aware, they like to get in the bath, splash around for a few minutes, THEN they get out and sort of sit around "poofed" up and preen at their feathers. So, since your bird can't fly, just make sure it has somewhere to go since you're using a bath tub. Honestly, something like a 4-6" deep 10x20" tupperware container might work better than your bath tub.
Also, somehow, the bird hasn't managed to mess up it's water, so there is that... lol
Surprising!
Thanks for replying. I will try to get some good photos of it tonight when we have it out to work on the wing and post them on here. Any chance that you could tell if it is male or female from a photo? I have read that it is difficult to tell.
Please share photos! Best of luck. Not many pigeon people on there, but there are a few, and all willing to help.
I was new to pigeons this past spring, but keeping them properly required a big acquisition of knowledge--a lot of reading and asking questions--so at this point I know a bit about caring for them thankfully.
Good stuff. If you plan to keep the bird, just try to find a pigeon or dove feed. Buy a big 40-50lb bag (at a feed store that shouldn't cost much more than $20) and it will last you a long time if stored properly.
I got some grit at the store, it's a granet grit for finches and such, it has the anise already in it. I haven't seen it go for grit yet, but I have seen it eat and drink.
Sometimes they will not touch the grit for some time, then they will use it. Just keep it available for the bird and make sure it is kept clean and not soiled. If you have a chance to add some crushed oyster shells that would be good, but I have heardcrushed egg shells would work too for a calcium supplement.
I left the food in there for the 1st 24 hours because it acted like it was half starved and it was eating grass seeds when I caught it, but I removed the food this morning and left a little bit of feed scattered on the bottom of the cage for it to eat today.
That's fine, and probably was wise. When I get new squeakers from other lofts, I will keep food constantly available for them for the first few days. But eventually don't keep food in there constantly. Pigeons will over eat, and over eating is not good for them. A full grown pigeon needs about 45 grams of food per day. If you don't want to bother with measuring, just offer the food for 20 minutes morning and night. The bird will catch on. They actually prefer routines.
Tonight we are going to brace up the wing, basically put it in a sling so it's not tripping on it all the time and dragging wing feathers through poop.
Since it seemed to like the bowl better with the seed in it, do you think giving it a bowl with some "sweet PDZ" in it would work? Then if it pooped in it, I could just scoop it out. Plus, apparently chicks can use the PDZ as grit since it's a small rock.
Good question, I'm not sure. Another thing that would work is diatomaceous earth powder (food grade). Dusting them in that also removes parasites, something you should be vigilante about since it is a feral, and maybe you have other birds in your home.
This weekend I will take it and put it in the bathtub with a dish of water so it can take a bath and not make a massive mess.
Good. You'll have fun watching how much the pigeon loves it. A weekly bath with borax is nice, not only does it clean the bird, but also makes their feathers look nice. A daily bath offered in their cage of just plain water is usually something they enjoy, but they do splash around a lot, so it will make a mess lol.
Just be aware, they like to get in the bath, splash around for a few minutes, THEN they get out and sort of sit around "poofed" up and preen at their feathers. So, since your bird can't fly, just make sure it has somewhere to go since you're using a bath tub. Honestly, something like a 4-6" deep 10x20" tupperware container might work better than your bath tub.
Also, somehow, the bird hasn't managed to mess up it's water, so there is that... lol
Surprising!
Thanks for replying. I will try to get some good photos of it tonight when we have it out to work on the wing and post them on here. Any chance that you could tell if it is male or female from a photo? I have read that it is difficult to tell.
Please share photos! Best of luck. Not many pigeon people on there, but there are a few, and all willing to help.
I was new to pigeons this past spring, but keeping them properly required a big acquisition of knowledge--a lot of reading and asking questions--so at this point I know a bit about caring for them thankfully.
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