How much food is enough?

[redgryphon]

I think I'm the only one now feeding the little baby (bought baby bird formula today), though I intend to leave him in the nest. The big baby is being very well fed by the braver female, Socks. But how do I know when the little one has had enough? Do they stop begging when they are full (something which hasn't happened yet.) The big one tries to get me to feed it every time I reach in to get the little one. Do I just keep feeding until both babies are approximately the same shape?

[Trees Gray]

Well, hello and how did you do in the storm?

They need to be stuffed so the crop is like a bean bag, or softly inflated balloon. I will find a picture of a full baby.

These pictures show babies with somewhat full crops, but I have seen them fuller.



http://www.speedpigeon.com/9-Day_Old...ing_pigeon.jpg

http://www.speedpigeon.com/4-Day_Old...ing_pigeon.jpg

[redgryphon]

We did just fine. A couple of plants fell over, and a few branches snapped, but that was pretty much it. We're cleaning up and putting everything back outside.

I fed the little baby until he looked rather like the 4 day old. Shoul I feed him more? The big baby is so full that his head rests level on his crop.

[Trees Gray]

I'm glad you made it safely thru the hurricane.

If the bay is quite full, he should be fine. You should make sure the crop empties before another feeding.

How are the parents doing? Will they still feed the smaller one if he is in the nest? It would be most advantages if he can continue to get supplemented by the parents, and the bigger baby receive the formula.

Once the younger one gets caught up and is thriving, then you can put him back with their moms. The little one may just need the time to strengthen and be able better to compete for the food, but you need to keep your eye on it. If the parents continue to ignore him, and he doesn't thrive then there maybe cause for concern.

[redgryphon]

The parents are concerned when I take him out of the nest to be fed, and Socks sits on him, but I think that the other baby is just so much bigger that he can just shove the little one aside at meal time. I plan to leave them both in the nest together, in the hopes that eventually the little one will be fed, but I will continue taking him out and feeding him until he either catches up, or the parents start feeding him themselves. I'm not going to feed the bigger one until either of those things happens, he has a big enough advantage as it is!

Speaking of the parents, I've caught them picking at peculiar things, wire and walls and dust. At the moment they're just eating chicken-food (cracked corn, mostly) since I didn't realise there would be babies to feed, and the adults do fine on it. What supplements should I give them for the babies? I have a bit of pigeon-specific food, which I plan to give them.

[maryjane]

Originally Posted by Trees Gray

Once the younger one gets caught up and is thriving, then you can put him back with their moms. The little one may just need the time to strengthen and be able better to compete for the food, but you need to keep your eye on it. If the parents continue to ignore him, and he doesn't thrive then there maybe cause for concern.

ROFL That is so funny. I had two gay doves once, Lance and Julian, who wanted nothing to do with female doves. I would give them fake eggs and they would lay on them and once I gave them an orphaned baby, which they raised to a perfectly healthy little dove. I'm glad the storm wasn't too bad and the babies are doing well. Great job!!

[Trees Gray]

Originally Posted by redgryphon

Speaking of the parents, I've caught them picking at peculiar things, wire and walls and dust. At the moment they're just eating chicken-food (cracked corn, mostly) since I didn't realise there would be babies to feed, and the adults do fine on it. What supplements should I give them for the babies? I have a bit of pigeon-specific food, which I plan to give them.

The parents maybe craving minerals especially if they are digging in the dust. Pigeons will thrive on pigeon mix, they need a good variety for optimum health. You need to switch them to a pigeon mix, the chicken scratch is not good, especially the cracked corn.

Here is a good pigeon mix example:

http://purgrain.com/ingredients.htm

You can find most of the ingredients and add that to a good wild bird mix.

I would continue to hand feed both babies for now, since they are getting nutrition from the baby bird formula, as well as allow moms to feed them.

Avian multi vitamin mineral will do, and some good red calcium pigeon grit.

[redgryphon]

I will see about getting proper food for the adults. Next question: How long should it take for the babies crops to empty? I fed the little one at one-something this afternoon, and by six he still had food in his crop, and evidently just wanted to sleep. The bigger one woke up enough to beg, but was also full (and, as far as I can tell, is always full. I've never yet seen him not looking like Jabba the Hutt.

[Trees Gray]

It should take about 3 to 4 hours depending on how much they ate. Make sure the formula is mixed per instructions for their age group, not that thick.

The change in diet might be stressful, but feed the babies as soon as the crop is empty. They need alot during this major growth spurt.

Perhaps you can add some digestive enzymes and probiotics to the baby bird formula. This will help with digestion.