Urgent please help

[Hokum Coco]

I'm most likely going throw out the eggs when they lay.
Just a suggestion instead of throwing them out putting in fake eggs to incubate or hard boiling the eggs may be wiser.
Otherwise your pair will continue to breed and in a perfect world another clutch of eggs will appear in about 10 days. Which puts the ♀ under added stress.

Hi. No, that information about pigeons neglecting one squab is completely wrong.

Not to discount Jak2002003 in my experience I have had it happen to me a few times (it is definitely not the norm) usually with first time parents and sometimes with my breeders (for no apparent reason). When I would try to intervene in my breeders case it would usually end badly the squab would either die on me in a few days or would turn out to be of poor genetic quality.

 

[jak2002003]

Your set up sounds fine.... only couple of things I would suggest.

1. Deworm your birds.... squabs should not look like yours at 5 - 6 weeks old. They actually should be the same size or even heavier than their parents and leaving the nest practicing flying about the coop at that age!!!!!

2. Change their feed to smaller grains and chickens layer pellets. Your breed of pigeon has a small beak.. maybe they can not manage the larger grains easily so are not getting enough food in their crops to feed their squabs?

3. They need pigeon grit, minerals and calcium (such as crushed oyster shells or crushed cuttlefish bone). They can not digest their hard seeds if they don't have grit in their bodies to grin them up.

Young pigeons will leave the nest and start flying about 30 days after hatching. If they are small and underdeveloped like yours that's not normal.

 

[Lady507]

I'm going to try your suggestions like putting fake eggs (that's a good idea. I feel bad I hadn't thought of that. )This is the first time I've had a squab come out so small usually they are almost the same size even if neglected. It could be the genetics. I'm going to add grit as I didn't know pigeons needed it. I will also change their feed to see if it helps. Thank you for all of your suggestions they really help.

 

[laughingdog]

Your birds show birds known to be bad at feeding n rearing own young if desired quality, beaks etc too short plus they just aren't too smart or instinctual.
Try taking larger one out during day before smaller stops struggling for food or once double size of other. Health also factor, if stressed at all and carrying anything it'll hit young at certain stages. Try apple cider vinegar in water only enough for each day and try feeding layer crumbles. If breeding them n rest doesn't help try fostering to homers or rollers.

 

[Lady507]

Thank you , I will try the vinegar and layer crumbles idea. Thank you for the suggestion. I've had tried to take out the bigger one but the parents feed them at random times throughout the day and sometimes I end up taking the chick for an hour and I always get scared that it might get too cold or something even though it's wrapped up in a blanket. But I will try your suggestion and hope it works.

 

[loftkeeper]

look what happens a egg is laid and if the parents start to incubate that egg then lay another 36 to 48 hours later the first one hatches then the second smaller baby is not fed as much because of size difference you can solve this by taking the first egg away till the second is laid or find another pair with similar size babies this if the babies are not sick don't see that in yours bet age is the problem

 

[laughingdog]

Young first time, show breeds, sick birds, and under fed n exercised birds only have this problem. Why more vigorous performance breeding as fosters lots Because they get better health from free flying eating many things lacking in seed and even pelleted diets. I mostly solved this simply by providing larger breeding cages and providing varied diet, adding ACV before breeding, and animal grade probiotics when breeding them. Clean water daily nogiant drinkers left days or week, and dry dust piled up free loft not allowed to grow mold or attract scavengers and parasite etc over population.. sadly I'm lacking in doing these myself with my back so one of those do as I say not as I do suggestions. Lol
If having this problem or worried you can take out first hatched chick keeping it warm and it'll be fine without food for day or two full other one hatches and has had time to dry n feed (temperature how far apart laid and age/health of parents play role). Clip tiny tip of nail of one so you can tell apart tracking grouth as they may flip flop. If still issue take large best fed one out during day (if it's just glutton it's crop should be half its size stuffed full anyway unless health issues).

 

[Lady507]

Loftkeeper: won't the egg go bad if you take it out.
Laughing dog: I'll probably take the bigger one out it seems easier and less stressful for everyone. I'm pretty sure mines have this problem because they are show breeds as this is not their first young, not underfed or sick. For excercise I usually let them out of their cages everyday for them to fly around unless there's a hawk. It's seems like a better idea to take out the bigger chick. It's true that the bigger chick always has the crop full. Just to make sure if I keep it out all say so that the other one can eat the parents won't reject it right? Thank you for your help, I really appreciate it.

 

[loftkeeper]

no its just like setting chicken eggs just put in nice cool place taking the first hatched doesnt let the smaller one catch up if you have alot of pairs you can find babies same size and switch them the idea of taking one from the nest till the other is hatched and not feed it well i wont say nothing there and to hand feed is something you have to do if you have the time i do but mother nature is better than me it just easier to hold egg tjll second one is laid

 

[Lady507]

When you say nice cool place can it be indoors? Where do you usually put it? You are right in that Mother Nature is better than us. Thank you for your help!!!!