Help, I found a baby (?) pidgeon yesterday!

[azuur]

Hello from South America. I'm very happy I found you on the internet. Here's the story: yesterday around 5 o'clock I found a baby pigeon (if I read correctly, I think it may be called a 'squab') and I don't know what to do with it. I put it in a shoe box with newspaper, heated it under a light, gave it some water and food with a syringe (I've tried peanut butter and water solution or crushed rice and water solution). Later I tried giving him (her?) this with a bottle cap and then a straw, and he did drink some water, but not much.

It seems healthy, poops often, chirps when somebody comes around and just seems okay. Still, I really don't know what to do. How much should I feed him, because he didn't seem to eat much (although some) when I gave him food? How and with what should I feed him, should I open his beak or what? Can I release him into the wild later? Basically, I don't know anything.

Thanks in advance, Adrian

[Pidgey]

Well, first off, go here and see how old he is by comparing the pictures:

http://www.speedpigeon.com/baby_racing_pigeon.htm

Pidgey

[azuur]

sorry for double posting, but I also meant to ask how often I should feed it. I go to school, so what should I do? Like I said, he's warm, responsive and energetic, but he doesn't seem to eat or drink much, so what should I do? Please reply. Thank you, Adrian

[azuur]

First of all, thanks for the very quick reply. After looking at the pictures, I'd say he's about 6-9 days old.

[naturegirl]

Well everything depends on how old this baby is. Be careful giving it water as you could asperate it's lungs. Any feathers yet? About how big is he/she? They eat seeds. Smaller at first as they are small. Grains too. Pigeons drink water just like humans do. They drink water by slurping up water where some birds till their heads back to drink the water. More people will be on here shortly to answer your questions and maybe they can help you out more than I can. Good Luck

Cindy

[azuur]

He has thick needle like feathers and is about 3 or 4 inches long, so maybe I was off a bit on the age.

[Pidgey]

Well, that's not what I wanted to hear...

Normally, they get "pigeon milk" when they're newly hatched and that starts tapering off over the first 10 days and then they're mostly getting a combination of water and regurgitated seeds that have been soaking in the parents crop for awhile. At this point, his gizzard (the muscular stomach) is operational so seeds are okay but somebody else needs to get on here and possibly give you a formula for a homebrew. In the meantime, do you have access to some non-canned things like corn and peas (non-frozen) or puppy chow?

Pidgey

[azuur]

"do you have access to some non-canned things like corn and peas (non-frozen) or puppy chow?" - Yes, should I make a runny or mushy mix?

[Pidgey]

It doesn't need to be but which of those items do you have?

Pidgey

[Reti]

The puppy chow would work for now, but he can't be fed puppy chow for the next two-three weeks.
Is there a chance a vet or pet store near you sells baby bird formula? I am sure parrot breeders would have it on hand. Maybe you can locate one and ask him if he sold you some or he could tell you where to get it from.
The amount of feedings should be 10% of his weight every 4-5 hours or when the crop is empty. You need to check the crop before the feedings.
You don't need to give him water if you feed him formula.
If the crop is not empty before the feeding then you can give just a couple of ml of water and wait till the crop empties and feed.

S/he is still a baby and won't eat on his own for the next few weeks. Also at this age he can become tame and attached to you, so that will make releasing him pretty tough. But you still have weeks before considering releasing him, so lets take it one step at a time.

Reti

[azuur]

right now, I have only rice and popcorn kernels I believe

[Pidgey]

Since Jiggs is currently on, I PMed him to come and have a look. He's also in South Africa so he might be able to help with local knowledge about products that you might need and where to find them.

Pidgey

[Pidgey]

Originally Posted by azuur

right now, I have only rice and popcorn kernels I believe

Unsalted and unbuttered popcorn?

Pidgey

[azuur]

and, yes, the crop is empty

[azuur]

and again yes, it's unsalted and unbuttered, it's just plain popcorn kernels