Pigeon Talk

[WVduckchick]

That's unbelievable that they are the same age. Is the little one taking to being tube fed?

Seems to be doing ok with it. It’s been mostly flavored liquid so far, I’m still not sure it will make it, but seems to have the desire to live, so I will keep trying.

 

[CCUK]

Seems to be doing ok with it. It’s been mostly flavored liquid so far, I’m still not sure it will make it, but seems to have the desire to live, so I will keep trying.

Have you got any kaytee exact? That is what @biophiliac used with doo. I think when there older you can mash up chick crumb. How come it's so small? If it's parents aren't feeding it or the bigger one is muscling all the feed you could take the bigger one out for a while to give one of the parents chance to feed it.

 

[WVduckchick]

Have you got any kaytee exact? That is what @biophiliac used with doo. I think when there older you can mash up chick crumb. How come it's so small? If it's parents aren't feeding it or the bigger one is muscling all the feed you could take the bigger one out for a while to give one of the parents chance to feed it.

I’ve just been soaking flock raiser, as I don’t have any Kaytee. Added a bit of Nutridrench too.

Good idea! I have them both in the smaller cage now (outside, though they were inside all day until I got home from work). I think I will put Dipsy back in with the parents and see if they will feed him alone. Thanks!

 

[CCUK]

I’ve just been soaking flock raiser, as I don’t have any Kaytee. Added a bit of Nutridrench too.

Good idea! I have them both in the smaller cage now (outside, though they were inside all day until I got home from work). I think I will put Dipsy back in with the parents and see if they will feed him alone. Thanks!

If that works, I think after a couple of good feeds Dipsy will soon catch up growing. I did this with the nest I had with the three. I did it for a couple of days then the little one could better muscle in for food.

 

[WVduckchick]

If that works, I think after a couple of good feeds Dipsy will soon catch up growing. I did this with the nest I had with the three. I did it for a couple of days then the little one could better muscle in for food.

Already working!

 

[CCUK]

Already working!

Fantastic!

 

[biophiliac]

I've been doing some planning and I'd like to build myself a 4x8 or 4x6 loft that I can walk into sometime soon.
My only hesitation is that my losses were very high this season and I'm not sure if I want to invest in a large loft if I'm just going to be feeding the resident Cooper's. I think I'll see how this summer goes before I make any decisions...

Make it with a divider so you can separate hens and cocks. That's my biggest problem... have complete chaos going on at the moment with unpaired cocks harassing all the hens and one attempted rape of one of the babies. Luckily I was there to rescue it...it was screeching its poor little head off! That was when I switched out the cardboard nest box for this to protect them.

I do have to close the door when I'm not there. I let dad in twice today so far to feed them and they are starting to peck at seeds on their own.

Have you got any kaytee exact? That is what @biophiliac used with doo. I think when there older you can mash up chick crumb. How come it's so small? If it's parents aren't feeding it or the bigger one is muscling all the feed you could take the bigger one out for a while to give one of the parents chance to feed it.

I’ve just been soaking flock raiser, as I don’t have any Kaytee. Added a bit of Nutridrench too.

Good idea! I have them both in the smaller cage now (outside, though they were inside all day until I got home from work). I think I will put Dipsy back in with the parents and see if they will feed him alone. Thanks!

Actually, flock raiser is what I used to make the gruel. I haven't ever tried the Kaytee.

 

[cavemanrich]

Comparison pic of Dipsy and Dazzle
View attachment 1751675

Had a similar situation with a pair of babies. The larger would hog up all the nutrition from mom and dad. In natural selection, I think the parents will feed the bigger one as better chances of survival. Pigeons do not think in HUMAN TERM THINKING.
Eventually smaller one failed to thrive

Woh! That's a big difference. Keep tube feedimg!

Agree with tube feeding.

Have you got any kaytee exact? That is what @biophiliac If it's parents aren't feeding it or the bigger one is muscling all the feed you could take the bigger one out for a while to give one of the parents chance to feed it.

My exact thoughts as I came to this post
You can feed the LARGER JUNIOR tube so he does not fall behind. Small junior will get premium feed from mom and dad.

 

[cavemanrich]

That's my biggest problem... have complete chaos going on at the moment with unpaired cocks harassing all the hens and one attempted rape of one of the babies.

I may have a partial solution, give this one some thought.
Take those and fly them. Keep the others inside. Extra hens will not fight, but extra males do.
In their flight, they may run into the lumber crowd. The activities may tire them out and they may return home more stable.
You don't want to become the warden of Pigeon Alcatraz. You want them to behave on their own honor.

 

[biophiliac]

I may have a partial solution, give this one some thought.
Take those and fly them. Keep the others inside. Extra hens will not fight, but extra males do.
In their flight, they may run into the lumber crowd. The activities may tire them out and they may return home more stable.
You don't want to become the warden of Pigeon Alcatraz. You want them to behave on their own honor.
View attachment 1751999

I have been thinking along those lines, even more extreme I have considered banishment. Some days I dream of a hen only flock. lol