Zilla the Pigeon...*new questions & pics*

[gypsy2621]

After an attack by a mink I was hand rearing 2 baby pigeons, the vet suggest game starter and dove seed ground fine in a coffee grinder, mixed to a thick paste. I used a syringe to feed them and never had an issue with it getting into the lungs.
The baby pigeons were my first experience hand feeding , it was messy to say the least. lol. but very rewarding as they got older.

 

[therealsilkiechick]

i just found this info on feeding baby pigeons and thought it would greatly helpful to someone. here is the link.
silkie

http://www.freewebs.com/bjornpigeons/emergencypigeonfeeding.htm

 

[austinhart123]

how r the little ones doing

 

[SunAngel]

I lost the tiny one yesterday. I think the ordeal with the auction was just too much for it. It seemed to be doing ok on the chick starter and water, but then went downhill when I switched to just baby bird formula.

The bigger one, which acts like something out of an old Godzilla movie seems to be doing ok at the moment.

I have been feeding it every 3 hours and once in the middle of the night. I hope that is enough. I make a thin applesauce type mixture with bird formula, chick starter and water.

He is a little piggy though and acts like he is starving even when his crop seems full, is that normal?

I am just guessing on the he part. It just acts like such a toughy. If it doesn't know its me coming up to the cage, it will make this grunting noise and lunge in my direction. Once I speak to it and he somehow recognizes my hand, he rulls full tilt with his wings spread out at my hand and starts looking for food lol. Its quite comical.

 

[velo99]

 

[austinhart123]

thats normal...lol

 

[SunAngel]

Update: Today is a week since I brought the pigeons home, unfortunately I lost the tiny one on the second day, but the bigger one seems to be doing ok so far. Here is new pics of the wacky creature lol.

Its not getting many feathers on its body, but its wing feathers have grown a lot. It should be around 17-19 days old now, any idea when it will start eating seeds and not need formula?

 

[FrChuckW]

They will start going for seeds between the 3rd and fourth week usually. However that is when they are being raised with adult pigeons feeding them.

Usually the first 7-10 days the parents feed them almost pure licquid crop milk, AS the chicks grow and start to feather and get older the substance changes to where the contents contain more solid partially digested seeds until they wean them.

Baby pigeons, will instinctively chase any adult pigeon once they realize they have legs, begging for food, whether it's their parent or not. It can be quite comical watching them chase around the coop little wings flapping to keep their balance, after a big pigeon.

Sometimes the adult pigeon will stop and feed the baby, other times they just head in the opposite direction.

But in any case you are doing a good job. And yes it has identified you as it's substitute Mom

 

[SunAngel]

Yay, I'm a pigeon lol I just hope I can get it to the point where it is eating and drinking on its own.

 

[therealsilkiechick]

thicken the formula as it gets thicker u can ween it off easier to seeds and what not.