Winter hatch

[taprock]

A pair of our homers have been successful with this hatch. We had one chick out this afternoon. Now we have a big storm coming in tomorrow. Northern Michigan, below freezing. Do I need to worry about the parents keeping them warm? How do I tell if there is a problem, before it's too late? I can't imagine it would go well moving them into a carrier and then the house and I'm not prepared to feed them. Which is another question...should I be prepared in case there is a problem?

It's great, exciting but just opens up a whole new set of "Things We Don't Know!"

 

[Hokum Coco]

Do I need to worry about the parents keeping them warm?

No they will be fine at this juncture.

If they are not fully fledged (about 2 weeks of age) and too large for the parents to keep warm that is when you may suffer a loss. Tampering with the nest can some times cause the parents to abandon the squabs and you will be forced to hand feed the squabs or face loosing them. I have had success placing the nest bowl inside a Styrofoam cooler. I did this when the squabs were about 2 weeks old and moved nest bowl mother and all inside the cooler in the dark. I was also prepared to hand feed the squabs if things went sour.

A more effective way to deal with your situation in the future maybe installing a heat lamp.
If for any reason you find it necessary to supply electricity to your coop via extension cord.

Please employ a "Ground Fault Outlet" also use a "Safety Chain" in conjunction to any heat lamp or incandescent bulb after mounting.
One loft fire is too many and these precautions could be the difference.

A simple action such as a rodent chewing on your extension cord could be the cause of a loft fire and a ground fault circuit could be the difference in witnessing your loft in tack or a pile of smoldering ash.

1. P.S. There are now a variety of ground fault extension cords available in major retail centers that also would be a wise investment
2. My method for dealing with winter is quite simple one extra feeder of whole corn. I live in Canada subject to -40º. I have 67 trips around the sun. I have raised various types of chickens and birds for decades.
   
   TLC still has to be provided to birds that may not be adapting well to the diet. For the most part birds are vocal happy and do just fine. NO HEAT NO EXTRA LIGHT please and thank you works fine for me and my flock.
   

 

[taprock]

Thank you. We will keep an eye on them. Who knows what the weather will be like in a couple weeks.

I did do some reading on hand feeding just in case. I wasn't sure with first time parents. I really don't want to but I would much rather hand feed than lose them. Are they called squabs from hatch? We had used the term for young birds but wasn't sure on newly hatched babies.

I have other birds and only the tiny Seramas have heat, but not a lamp. Thankfully we haven't made it to -40 but they have done some very cold weather down to -27. I fear the melt and then refreezing more than straight cold. I have seen more frostbite in the spring than winter.

 

[Hokum Coco]

Are they called squabs from hatch?

Yes that is what pigeon fanciers call young birds until they take flight. Then they are called "Squeakers" you will know why long before they take flight.

 

[LamarshFish]

A pair of our homers have been successful with this hatch. We had one chick out this afternoon. Now we have a big storm coming in tomorrow. Northern Michigan, below freezing. Do I need to worry about the parents keeping them warm? How do I tell if there is a problem, before it's too late? I can't imagine it would go well moving them into a carrier and then the house and I'm not prepared to feed them. Which is another question...should I be prepared in case there is a problem?

It's great, exciting but just opens up a whole new set of "Things We Don't Know!"

I am in Michigan as well, but the SE LP, not as cold down here as it is up there yet. I have just over 6 month old young homers and I think they will start laying soon. I have heard young birds first clutches they are not as good of parents, so my expectations for them hatching and raising their first youngsters in the cold is not high, but I am curious to hear what you end up doing to keep the birds warm in our cold state! Please keep us updated!

 

[taprock]

They did fine last week with the single digits and 40+ mph wind. The strange way the wind blew the rain around left moisture on the floor of the loft which is a concern. But babies doing good. None of the bids have gotten exercise lately thanks to weather and hawk. Today they rebelled and all took off out the door when I went to give them food and water. I did bring the squab in to warm them while the parents were flying. There back with parents now.

 

[LamarshFish]

View attachment 1186616 They did fine last week with the single digits and 40+ mph wind. The strange way the wind blew the rain around left moisture on the floor of the loft which is a concern. But babies doing good. None of the bids have gotten exercise lately thanks to weather and hawk. Today they rebelled and all took off out the door when I went to give them food and water. I did bring the squab in to warm them while the parents were flying. There back with parents now.

Good stuff. Looking like we're in for some wintery stuff come this weekend. Glad I just moved my loft next to my house where I can have access to power to run my thermostatic heaters to keep their water from freezing. Now I just hope I can move my chukar coup in time.

 

[Hokum Coco]

There back with parents now.

The squabs should do fine with their parents for the short term. When they start approaching 2 weeks of age and the parent can no longer incubate them because of their size that is when they may die of hypothermia.

Tampering with the nest with some pigeons gives cause to abandon. I have learned this the hard way. On the up side they will be of an age where you can easily hand feed them (which would last maybe 2 weeks +- twice a day). I suggest you check out U tube for links to videos on feeding pigeon squabs. Just to be prepared for one of the worst case scenarios.

 

[LamarshFish]

When they start approaching 2 weeks of age and the parent can no longer incubate them because of their size that is when they may die of hypothermia.

I don't have squabs yet, but I was wondering in regards to this comment, if you do have squabs during cold months can they be removed at 2 weeks of age and taken care of indoors until they are fledge sized? That would give them a few weeks of warmth when their parents don't sit on them, but when they're still quite small. Just curious.

 

[Hokum Coco]

can they be removed at 2 weeks of age and taken care of indoors

Yes it has been done and the chances of survival is much better.