Pigeon Talk

[biophiliac]

HELP! Neither parent is in the nest bowl with the baby now. They are on the roost just above her. It’s now dark. Supposed to get to 27F tonight. What do I do?

Usually at that age they would leave the baby during the day but sit with it at night. Once it was dark and the babies alone in the nest but later mom was with them. If she were not, I thought about covering the nest with a small towel or fleece to hold the heat in. At that age they can produce their own heat although with just one idk. Did you check again? If you are really worried bring it in?

Hoping for an update...

 

[WVduckchick]

Usually at that age they would leave the baby during the day but sit with it at night. Once it was dark and the babies alone in the nest but later mom was with them. If she were not, I thought about covering the nest with a small towel or fleece to hold the heat in. At that age they can produce their own heat although with just one idk. Did you check again? If you are really worried bring it in?

I’m torn. You’ve seen the nest bowl. It’s lined with a Belgian nest pad, plus the stuff they have added. Shavings, straw, etc.
it’s inside the wooden structure, so no wind, but ventilated at the top. The outside water had a crust of ice this morning, but the inside water was still fluid.
I could add a terry cloth, may have a piece of fleece, I’ll have to look. I’ll go check on her again shortly.

 

[biophiliac]

I’m torn. You’ve seen the nest bowl. It’s lined with a Belgian nest pad, plus the stuff they have added. Shavings, straw, etc.
it’s inside the wooden structure, so no wind, but ventilated at the top. The outside water had a crust of ice this morning, but the inside water was still fluid.
I could add a terry cloth, may have a piece of fleece, I’ll have to look. I’ll go check on her again shortly.

Yes, check again to see if she is in the nest. In the conditions you describe I don't think °27 is too bad for abird that age with a full crop. If there were two it would be better... you could put a huddle box or a styrfoam cooler over it like @Hokum Coco suggested for frigid temps. Or maybe @sourland has an idea. Bottom line, I know you don't want to take a risk with Bugsy. Let me know what you find when you check again.

 

[WVduckchick]

Just checked. The baby is alone.
I do hate to bring her inside and then back outside to the cold tomorrow. But I don’t want to lose her either.

I think I have a thin styrofoam cooler, not one of those like Hokum had, but it may be better than nothing. I could cut one side out and just slip it down over the bowl.

I have reptile heat bulbs too, but would take some doing to rig it up.

 

[biophiliac]

I don't know what is best to do. Another thought...could you put a cage over the bowl making it into a closed box with Bonnie inside. If she can't get to the roost she may go into the bowl?

Or, if you move her to the bowl in the dark, would she stay?

 

[WVduckchick]

I don't know what is best to do. Another thought...could you put a cage over the bowl making it into a closed box with Bonnie inside. If she can't get to the roost she may go into the bowl?

Or, if you move her to the bowl in the dark, would she stay?

That’s what I was getting ready to ask, about moving her onto the nest with her. I can check again to make sure she stays. If she moves, I found my reptile bulb, I can set it up over the baby.
I’ll go try moving mom, then check again later.

 

[biophiliac]

 

[WVduckchick]

I moved Bonnie. She didn’t like it and jumped out of the nest, but I was still shining the light. So I turned out the light and put her back in and I think she will stay. I’ll check again in a bit.
Thanks a bunch!

 

[biophiliac]

I moved Bonnie. She didn’t like it and jumped out of the nest, but I was still shining the light. So I turned out the light and put her back in and I think she will stay. I’ll check again in a bit.
Thanks a bunch!

I love the red setting on my headlamp, the birds hardly move when I use it at night.

 

[WVduckchick]

I love the red setting on my headlamp, the birds hardly move when I use it at night.

Duh! I have one of those.