Please help! Not sure if these squabs can stay warm!

[LamarshFish]

This morning, for the first time, I noticed the parents of about 6 day old squabs not sitting on them. This is these birds' first set of squabs. They were on them when I opened the loft door this morning to open the door to the aviary since it was so cold, and the hen got off the squabs and left them alone. After a few minutes, the cock got up there and sort of sat on them, but then got off. I checked about an hour later and they were not sitting on them. It's in the single digits here. There is a heated pad below the nest bowl, but I'm just not sure whether that's enough. Please let me know if I need to intervene further and bring them inside. This cold snap of single digits is expected through this weekend.... Thanks!

 

[biophiliac]

This morning, for the first time, I noticed the parents of about 6 day old squabs not sitting on them. This is these birds' first set of squabs. They were on them when I opened the loft door this morning to open the door to the aviary since it was so cold, and the hen got off the squabs and left them alone. After a few minutes, the cock got up there and sort of sat on them, but then got off. I checked about an hour later and they were not sitting on them. It's in the single digits here. There is a heated pad below the nest bowl, but I'm just not sure whether that's enough. Please let me know if I need to intervene further and bring them inside. This cold snap of single digits is expected through this weekend.... Thanks!

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@Hokum Coco , @sourland ??

@RezChamp @barn206 ??

 

[biophiliac]

At least they are 6 days and have had crop milk so if you had to bring them in and take over feeding it should be doable. Bet you are glad to have the heat pad installed. I think it is too cold for them to be uncovered very long.

Tagged some of the more experienced cold climate members for better advice.

One's eye open already...I will be hoping for the best!

 

[Hokum Coco]

I noticed the parents of about 6 day old squabs not sitting on them.

"NOT" surprised one bit once you put that heat pad under the nest bowl.

Now if you loose power your squabs may be in jeopardy of dying of hypothermia.

It is a delicate balance raising pigeons and it is easy to do too much.
PIgeons seem to be able to raise one squab in a loft without any help in a perfect world.
If both squabs can survive from 10-24 days of age they will have enough feathers to with stand the cold in a perfect world.
This is what I done work great for me and both squabs survived.
I would suggest covering the cooler inside and out.
I eventually taped mine with duct tape thanks to laughing dog as pigeons will eat the Styrofoam

(never seem to hurt them I might add.)

I moved nest bowl pigeon and all into the cooler at night in total darkness.

As biophillac pointed out they are at an excellent age to begin hand feeding.

 

[biophiliac]

"NOT" surprised one bit once you put that heat pad under the nest bowl.

Now if you loose power your squabs may be in jeopardy of dying of hypothermia.

It is a delicate balance raising pigeons and it is easy to do too much.
This is what I done in your situation work great for me and both squabs survived.
I would suggest taping it with duct tape as pigeons will eat the Styrofoam (never seem to hurt them I might add.)

I can't get the image...error msg. Is it the styrofoam cooler?

 

[sourland]

Have the parents resumed brooding the squabs ? It's not uncommon for the parents to gradually stop brooding, but it is a bit early in this case.

 

[LamarshFish]

Have the parents resumed brooding the squabs ? It's not uncommon for the parents to gradually stop brooding, but it is a bit early in this case.

I have had my wife go check on them, and she said the cock was sitting on them when she went and checked for me while I was at work.

ow if you loose power your squabs may be in jeopardy of dying of hypothermia.

I can't see that happening, it is rigged up pretty good.

 

[LamarshFish]

If I decide I have to bring them in, I wonder if I should just bring in the hen, cock and both squabs and just let them stay in a bunny hutch in my garage for a week while the squabs get older and while these arctic cold temps are around. My garage is attached and usually doesn't get much colder than 32 (F).

 

[LamarshFish]

As biophillac pointed out they are at an excellent age to begin hand feeding.

Can I just bring them in and hand feed / hand raise them going forward?

 

[biophiliac]

I have had my wife go check on them, and she said the cock was sitting on them when she went and checked for me while I was at work.

That is a relief!!!