Pigeon Talk

[biophiliac]

Can anyone help? A set of my squabs aren't doing good. There crops are small, and full of hard grain. Its kinda bumpy on them both. I wonder if it is the popcorn? it's like they can't digest it. The parents have plenty of grit. Do I need to sort the smaller grain out, and give only the smaller stuff? The other squabs are thriving. This is how I lost the last set of squabs. Any help is much appreciated.

Sorry to hear that, IDK. Let's tag @sourland If I had to guess, I might try to give them some extra water with a syringe and also feed them a good pinch of grit by hand,then massage the base of the crop gently to try and get things moving.

Are they your Whites? How are they otherwise?weight? pooping?
I usually try to add in extra small seeds when squabs are being fed but still include some peas and corn which seem to get digested ok, so I'd be surprised if the popcorn isto blame.

 

[cavemanrich]

Do I need to sort the smaller grain out, and give only the smaller stuff?

That is something I would definitely try. I would remove the popcorn until they are somewhat already weaned. (I am assuming your popcorn is un-poped) When I was feeding my pigeons, I always used cracked corn, and never had WHOLE CORN. I know that whole corn is fine for adult pigeons. I just did not see how cracked corn would be bad. And it never turned out to be bad for me.

 

[Old_Strain_Lover]

Can anyone help? A set of my squabs aren't doing good. There crops are small, and full of hard grain. Its kinda bumpy on them both. I wonder if it is the popcorn? it's like they can't digest it. The parents have plenty of grit. Do I need to sort the smaller grain out, and give only the smaller stuff? The other squabs are thriving. This is how I lost the last set of squabs. Any help is much appreciated.

Definitely give them some water with a syringe. I can't imagine it being the popcorn as I feed it all the time without problems. I've fed whole corn without problems as well. Sometimes the parents just don't drink enough water before feeding. The only time I ran into any problems was when feeding pellets... the parents didn't drink enough and the pellets continued to absorb water in the crops and turned into a hard dry mass in the babies crops. I just shot some water down their throats and massaged it around a bit, everything softened up and things were fine. Now I keep a closer eye on the babies if I am feeding pellets. How old are these squabs?

 

[backyard pigeons]

Thanks so much for all your helpful replys. Sadly the Squabs died last night. It was cold, and the mother must have gotten off, as she was on them earlier that night.

Sorry to hear that, IDK. Let's tag @sourland If I had to guess, I might try to give them some extra water with a syringe and also feed them a good pinch of grit by hand,then massage the base of the crop gently to try and get things moving.

Are they your Whites? How are they otherwise?weight? pooping?
I usually try to add in extra small seeds when squabs are being fed but still include some peas and corn which seem to get digested ok, so I'd be surprised if the popcorn isto blame.

thanks. I will know for next time. No, they aren't my whites. the whites are doing good.

That is something I would definitely try. I would remove the popcorn until they are somewhat already weaned. (I am assuming your popcorn is un-poped) When I was feeding my pigeons, I always used cracked corn, and never had WHOLE CORN. I know that whole corn is fine for adult pigeons. I just did not see how cracked corn would be bad. And it never turned out to be bad for me.

yes, the popcorn is unpopped. They do not get whole corn, except on exceptionally cold days, like today.

Definitely give them some water with a syringe. I can't imagine it being the popcorn as I feed it all the time without problems. I've fed whole corn without problems as well. Sometimes the parents just don't drink enough water before feeding. The only time I ran into any problems was when feeding pellets... the parents didn't drink enough and the pellets continued to absorb water in the crops and turned into a hard dry mass in the babies crops. I just shot some water down their throats and massaged it around a bit, everything softened up and things were fine. Now I keep a closer eye on the babies if I am feeding pellets. How old are these squabs?

thanks for your reply. I think this is what it must be. I will know for next time. The squabs were just at 2 weeks old.

 

[backyard pigeons]

Good news is, the other set of racing homer baby's (I had two clutches of racers, and one clutch of pure whites) are doing great. They threw some unexpected colors! A pure white, and a, drum roll please, barless. Don't know where it came from! it's father is a checker with white flight, and it's mother is a blue bar with white flights. I will get pictures tommorrow.

The white homers squabs are doing good. They are just now getting pin feathers.

 

[Qwerty3159]

I'm sorry to hear that you lost them but I'm glad the others are alright.
Today was I think the 10th time I've let the birds out since they've been moved to the aviary. No hawk attacks yet, knock on wood.

 

[Qwerty3159]

 

[backyard pigeons]

View attachment 2021196View attachment 2021197

Those are some jet blacks. comparable to my black eagles. I didn't realize your flock was up to 8.

 

[backyard pigeons]

Oops, my screen displayed the pictures weird, and made it look like one photo. You just have five, right?

 

[backyard pigeons]

Alright... I accidentally did something today. @WVduckchick I got sats! I didn't take any pics, but will soon. I have been using a white homer as a dropper. I need a dropper because of the giant pine trees right by the loft. the birds sit in the tops, and even if they are very hungry, they still need a little encouragment. It is weird how well the white homer worked, so I thought I need to get some droppers. I Think I got a decent deal. $30 for a proven pair.

I now have, sats, rollers, homers, and Portuguese tumblers. I am getting rid of the rollers though. Just waiting for the loft to be built by the future owner. I don't plan on keeping more than 6 or so sats.