Help! Pair of 1-Day old Pigeons Possibly Abandoned

[comradewolf]

hello here's the problem:

my apartment's lift landing was under construction for the past few months and during that time, a pair of pigeons were roosting in the corner of the newly constructed ledge. and soon there were two eggs.

the eggs hatched in the evening yesterday but today the construction workers needed to clean up the ledge so they said they would have to remove the chicks if i didnt.

so i quickly put the chicks in a box with some rags and newspaper-the mother flew away!

now the chicks are in the box near the original place where she sat on them.

the thing is, i dont know if the mother's gonna return. they only stop construction at 6pm in the evening so that would be the only possible time she would return. can the chicks last that long?

how would i know if they are abandoned? I really don't mind bringing them up myself but I'm so scared because of past experience - once found an injured baby mynah, tried to nurture it but it died in the end. sigh...

any help would be much appreciated...thank you.

[Matt D.]

Watch to see if the mom comes back if she doesn't before dark take them inside and keep them warm. Tell us if you have to take them inside.

[Charis]

If its dark where you are now and the mother isn't with them, it would be best to bring them in. Where are you located in case we have a member near by that can help you?
Other members will be coming on to advise you further.

[comradewolf]

hello, well i dont think the pigeons would come back till 6pm because it is really noisy where the chicks are and there are other humans.

i'm in singapore actually and it's 10am right now. it's been an hour since the mother left...

thank you for your prompt reply. ive been reading the forums ever since I saw they were going to have chicks. kinda had a feeling i would need your help soon after

[Matt D.]

Oh... then leave them out there I would think for a while and see if the mom comes back... if not but 2 pm i would take them in feed them water them and then put them back out... or atleast till 6pm.

[comradewolf]

okay i think ill bring them in while the workers are on break and feed it some water. thanks matt. but hm...how to feed it water /: they're so small...wouldnt wna drown them or anything...would a staw be alright..

[Matt D.]

No put some water in a shallow bowl and stick there beak in there about half way up the there nose holes. they will drink if they are thristy... they maybe to young for this... can you upload pics or tell me about how old day are by this chart http://www.speedpigeon.com/baby_racing_pigeon.htm

[comradewolf]

hello matt, they are definitely a day old from the pictures. also because i saw the two whole eggs under her yesterday morning but chicks at night.

they are in my home at the moment. the workers were cementing the floor so i had no choice. im going to put them back at noon while the workers are on lunch break. hopefully, the mother pigeon would return when it's quiet.

so are they too young to be fed water that way...

thank you..

[Matt D.]

Yes why to young... these are very small birds... i am not the one to be talking to about this... you will have to find a real pigeon rescuer on here. I am not, just a racer... if you had more pigeons I could tell you what to do and pawn these birds off but you dont... someone else really needs to step in... you will have to make a pigeon milk to feed these guy... pigeons that young eat very often.

[horsesgot6]

You Will Need to Go To Your Pet Store Pick Up Some Kaytee Baby Bird Food. This Is What You Will Look For http://www.kaytee.com/products/exact/ Most All Pet Store Carry It.
This Site may Help with the Feeding Part http://www.internationaldovesociety....eedinghelp.htm

I Hope All Works Out And the Mom And Dad Pigeons Came home To the Little Ones.

[Charis]

Originally Posted by horsesgot6

You Will Need to Go To Your Pet Store Pick Up Some Kaytee Baby Bird Food. This Is What You Will Look For http://www.kaytee.com/products/exact/ Most All Pet Store Carry It.
This Site may Help with the Feeding Part http://www.internationaldovesociety....eedinghelp.htm

I Hope All Works Out And the Mom And Dad Pigeons Came home To the Little Ones.

Jennifer, It might be difficult to find that product in Singapore. I'm glad the other site has a recipe.

[maryjane]

Thank you for taking care of these babies. If you can get a hold of baby bird food, here is a link to some pictures I took about hand-feeding:

http://picasaweb.google.com/awrats3333/BabyFeeding

Baby pigeons need to be fed every few hours. It is very important to feed a little bit and then let the crop (the area under the beak that fills with food) empty (go flat) before feeding again. Also very important to make sure the food is not too hot; test it first on your wrist as you would for a human baby. Do not try putting their beaks into water as they are too little for that yet. A heating pad set on low with a towel over it is ideal as they have no way to heat themselves; usually mom or dad would sit on them at this age. I've heard you can substitute baby cereal in an emergency situation but am not sure what kind. Please keep us updated and good luck!!

[comradewolf]

thank you! i put them back on the ledge hoping the mother would still see they are there. I think by 7pm, if the mother still doesnt return, I'll take it in and start liquidfying crumbs.

Alas, I don't have poultry rearing crumbs. would anything else be suffice? i can only get the bird food you mentioned tomorrow.

i didnt know baby pigeons looked so adorable!

will keep you posted. thankyou!

here is a photo i took before i put the box back:

[comradewolf]

update: a pair of pigeons (im guessing they are the parents) are outside on the ledge looking at the two baby pigeons but arent sitting on them. the baby pigeons moved, so i guess that means they are alive.

is this a cause for concern? the baby pigeons are in a medium-sized box. is she not sitting on them because of the box? should I remove it? I'm afraid that if I touch the box, they would fly away again.

[Trees Gray]

So, how long has it been since they have eaten anything?

If you have changed the outside of the nest so that they don't recognize it they may abandon the babies, however, I would wait to see if they will feed the babies. Mom should be sitting on them and keeping them warm.

If they leave I would bring them in and feed them with the formula for hatchlings.Make sure to warm them up first for at least a half hour, and then start with a very thin formula.