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

[Hokum Coco]

worry about feeding it a crop milk

The true crop milk is only fed to the squabs approximately 4+- days. For some unknown reason the parents stop producing it after that time period. From then on is mostly a mixture of water and partially digested food or grains.

 

[LamarshFish]

I believe it's done with crop milk now, parents are feeding a seed mix I think. I've heard if you put a small bowl of seeds in the nest box the baby will learn quicker.

The true crop milk is only fed to the squabs approximately 4+- days. For some unknown reason the parents stop producing it after that time period. From then on is mostly a mixture of water and partially digested food or grains.

That makes sense, because I can sort of see when their crop is full you can see little seeds now, plus the squab looked to be searching around for food to nibble on. I am going to put something in there so it can forage if it wants. Maybe throw in a few broken pieces of peanuts so I can get him hooked at a young age.

 

[LamarshFish]

The true crop milk is only fed to the squabs approximately 4+- days. For some unknown reason the parents stop producing it after that time period. From then on is mostly a mixture of water and partially digested food or grains.

I guess I should have asked, can I expect the squab to eat broken pieces of peanuts?

 

[sourland]

I guess I should have asked, can I expect the squab to eat broken pieces of peanuts?

I'll give you a firm maybe on that.

 

[LamarshFish]

Anybody have any good ideas how I can introduce some normal pigeon feed to the squab that is still in the nest? I'd imagine if I placed it outside the nest bowl it runs the risk of having the squab venture out too early? Any way to place it in the nest and not get in their way? Maybe a shot glass filled with feed? Or is this just not worth the hassle?

 

[sourland]

Rather than leaving feed there full time, how about offering some by hand (with hand stretched out flat) or in a dish with somewhat of a lip. I'm a little concerned about spilled feed attracting rodents to the nest.

 

[LamarshFish]

Rather than leaving feed there full time, how about offering some by hand (with hand stretched out flat) or in a dish with somewhat of a lip. I'm a little concerned about spilled feed attracting rodents to the nest.

I'll try that with crushed up peanuts. Rodents are no issue in my loft, it is absolutely rodent proof, multiple layers of hardware mesh and buried edging 4-6" below ground. No other choice where I live in the city, as rats are all over. I have seen rodents attempt a dig below my loft and give up before the even reach the first layer of buried edging and hardware cloth. None have been successful in the 8 months I've had my loft.

 

[Hokum Coco]

ideas how I can introduce some pigeon feed to the squab in the nest?

Cut the bottom out of a small plastic bottle and screw it on the wall.

 

[LamarshFish]

Cut the bottom out of a small plastic bottle and screw it on the wall.

Brilliant! You're an "ideas" guy!

 

[purslanegarden]

The parents will check on the squabs and give them the added incubation when needed. Pigeons know "NOT" to take a bath in cold weather and when to incubate squabs comes under the same instinct.

i was wondering about this myself, because my pigeons were doing the same thing. early on, they sat on the nest (and the squabs) almost all the time. then just about 1 week later, i saw several times, no parents at all on the nest. the parents just flew around the loft as if they had no care in the world. but somehow, the babies were still doing ok over the span of several more days, not having frozen yet due to the cold temps. good to know this is normal behavior.