Tail feather mutation?

[cochinGurl]

I have a pigeon that was born completely bald, none of the yellow fluff that all the baby pigeons I've seen before have. It's sibling had the normal amount of fluff. After a day or so, the father bird started ripping the poor bald one apart. I took him away and hand raised him. He's turned out normal for the most part. The weirdest thing about him is his two extra long tail feathers, one is about an inch longer than the rest and the other is half an inch longer. Has anyone seen this before? I'm wondering if once he molts these feathers out they'll grow back the 'right' size?
Also just FYI I had to move totally unexpectedly due to a death in the family and in all the chaos the baby didn't always get fed in a timely fashion between car trouble and family drama. I feel very bad about it, he has weak spots in his feathers from going without food and he's very small for his age but at least he's alive..

 

[lightchick]

I think it might go away,but if it doesn't then he'll probably be fine.

 

[Hokum Coco]

After a day or so, the father bird started ripping the poor bald one apart. I took him away and hand raised him. He's turned out normal for the most part.

Pigeons have an instinct about their young. When they stop feeding or scalp a squab they sense something is wrong with it. I have hand fed such squabs and for the most part they are usually bullied and their lives are short. Of course there are always exceptions. Good luck I really have not encounter your sort of problem.

 

[jak2002003]

Pigeons have an instinct about their young. When they stop feeding or scalp a squab they sense something is wrong with it. I have hand fed such squabs and for the most part they are usually bullied and their lives are short. Of course there are always exceptions. Good luck I really have not encounter your sort of problem.

I found this out too. A few times I have has one squab in the nest not getting fed.. and there would be a huge size difference between the 2 of them.

I would hand rear them (this only happened 3 time in many years). 1 did well, gained weight, but later, after it fledged, it went downhill. It was not as hardy as the other pigeons and died after about 4 months.

Another squab seemed to have a brain problem.. it was 'wonky' and wobbly a bit. It grew to be self sufficient, but it took many weeks for it to learn to eat seed on its own. In the loft it would just sit on the floor motionless most of the time.. and stared into space. It lived about 6 months and one morning I found it dead.

The 3rd time the baby grew.. but always had weird poops. After a few weeks it started loosing weight and then died.

I know I raised them well.. as I hand raised 3 rescued feral pigeons the same way and they are very fat, healthy and still live with my flock.

I also hand raised 2 ORPHANED squabs from my flock when their parents were kill be a predator. They did great and are still with my many years later.

I guess the other chicks just had something wrong with them... kind of like when chicken chicks get the 'failure to thrive' thing.

 

[jak2002003]

Interesting post.

I have just got 2 squabs the same as yours were. One is just pink and naked and shows not signs of fluff or growing feathers!!!!! I hope I don't have a bald adult pigeon.. yuck!

 

[lightchick]

I found this out too. A few times I have has one squab in the nest not getting fed.. and there would be a huge size difference between the 2 of them.

I would hand rear them (this only happened 3 time in many years). 1 did well, gained weight, but later, after it fledged, it went downhill. It was not as hardy as the other pigeons and died after about 4 months.

Another squab seemed to have a brain problem.. it was 'wonky' and wobbly a bit. It grew to be self sufficient, but it took many weeks for it to learn to eat seed on its own. In the loft it would just sit on the floor motionless most of the time.. and stared into space. It lived about 6 months and one morning I found it dead.

The 3rd time the baby grew.. but always had weird poops. After a few weeks it started loosing weight and then died.

I know I raised them well.. as I hand raised 3 rescued feral pigeons the same way and they are very fat, healthy and still live with my flock.

I also hand raised 2 ORPHANED squabs from my flock when their parents were kill be a predator. They did great and are still with my many years later.

I guess the other chicks just had something wrong with them... kind of like when chicken chicks get the 'failure to thrive' thing.

How do you keep the feral pigeons from breeding with your purebred pigeons? I just rescued a 3-4 week old pigeon and I don't want him breeding with my flock, but I don't know how to raise him without taming him.

 

[laughingdog]

You don't.. lol

you cannot make sure who your mother or father bird is, unless you isolate them two weeks to month before the eggs are let to be set. otherwise males can breed any hen, not just the ones you catch mating the most, and hens can lay in each others nests. ive seen each happen many times as disabled and home and an insomniac, so know doves are not monogamous. that said, my pigeons seem to prefer pairing n mating with own colors, and many feral pigeon studies done show pigeons will prefer flocks n mates of same coloras them or their parents (racist pigeons), so not sure at all what that is about.

 

[jak2002003]

How do you keep the feral pigeons from breeding with your purebred pigeons? I just rescued a 3-4 week old pigeon and I don't want him breeding with my flock, but I don't know how to raise him without taming him.

That will be impossible to stop them breeding with your other birds.

I keep my breeding pairs in their own individual cages.... I only breed about 4 pairs at a time.

In the main loft the birds all do their thing.. making nests and laying eggs. I remove the eggs and put in dummy ones... or I use some pairs to foster chicks from the ones in the cages.. or even hatch out my bantam eggs.

But it can be fun to cross breed a few... I had one 'accidental' cross breed between a white fantail and a black old Dutch Capuchine. He was very cute and became a lovely pet.

 

[lightchick]

That will be impossible to stop them breeding with your other birds.

I keep my breeding pairs in their own individual cages.... I only breed about 4 pairs at a time.

In the main loft the birds all do their thing.. making nests and laying eggs. I remove the eggs and put in dummy ones... or I use some pairs to foster chicks from the ones in the cages.. or even hatch out my bantam eggs.

But it can be fun to cross breed a few... I had one 'accidental' cross breed between a white fantail and a black old Dutch Capuchine. He was very cute and became a lovely pet.

I put the feral pigeon back, but left some food out for him and his parents. I just didn't feel right about taking him from the wild when he was so close to being able to fly. He is about 4 weeks old. I go to check on him every day.

 

[paramount]

That type of tail feather is called a "racette". It is the result of a growth stunt, vitamin deficiency or other type of stress. Typically, it will not return after the first moult.

By the way, your bird was short downed and appears to be a dilute. "He" is probably actually a "she".