Nesting in a plant pot

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hi Gladys,

You're most welcome and I don't mind posting the pictures. I may not get to them as soon as you send them but I do eventually I think the reason you are having difficulty posting your photos is because they are too large. There is a limitation on the size that they can be in our forum and that is 100kb. Most cameras these days don't take pictures as small as this so they need to be resized by software on our computers. Another option is to post them to an online folder and then provide the link to your album in your post. In any case, I really don't mind posting them for you

Originally Posted by Pisciottano

I wonder, though, if when the little ones will start to eat by themselves and will have access to this adult food, will this be a problem?

I don't see this being a problem Gladys. I can't imagine that the turtle dove mix or the "dove" mix would be much different and either should be accepted and appreciated by the young pigeons once they start to eat on their own.

Originally Posted by Pisciottano

My present problem are the sparrows. Not only do they eat the food but they scatter half it all over the balcony floor. So, here I am daily recivering the dusty scattered seeds , rinsing them in a sieve under the water tap and letting them dry before putting them back in the bowl.

I wouldn't recommend rinsing and drying the seeds. Rinsing them with water and before they are dry could be causing mould to grow on them. I wouldn't worry if they are dusty or not, this won't harm the pigeons.

As to the sparrow problem, my only suggestion would be is to put the food dishes out for a limited time. Let the pigeons eat what they want and then sweep up the scattered seeds and dispose of them. You could put the seed dish out a few times during the day for short intervals. Perhaps at 10am, then 3pm, then again around 7pm for about 10 minutes each. This will get the pigeons into a routine and they will eat their fill at these times and they will chase the sparrows away when they are eating. It's a difficult balance to achieve when feeding wild birds because once word goes out, they will all come for a hand out; sparrows and pigeons alike

Hope this helps.

[Feather]

Gladys,

I wish that you could post some of your stories on the forum. A good story teller is just what we need. Pigeons are lovely little beings that don't seem to get very much respect. They are such loyal mates and good parents.

Your stories for your grandchildren will teach them while they are young that every creature on our planet deserves it's space, even if they do over lap a little bit.

Best Wishes, and thank you for over seeing this family of feathers.

Feather

[Pisciottano]

Hello Brad,

I will try your suggestions regarding the seed schedules. If I succeed in discouraging the sparrows there will be no seeds scattering. My pigeons eat very neatly. Yes, really! As for the food attracting other pigeons....... no danger. When once or twice other pigeons tried "to visit"
they were chased in no unmistakeably manner. My pigeons seem to consider that ALL of the balcony is their territory, available to the sparrows but not to other pigeons. They seem to grow twice their size and they make the most angry sounds when chasing them, specially the cock. Will keep you posted on the results of my "sparrow strategy". Bye, for now. Gladys

[Pigeonpal2002]

Good luck Gladys, I hope the plan works

[Pisciottano]

Hello,

My baby pigeons spent the tenth night of their life alone. Yesterday evening mum and dad arrived together at the time mum usually starts her night shift "covering" the little ones. While mum fed them dad waited patiently perched on my kitchen window but after a while he went back to the balcony and you never saw such a seductive dance, cooing and spreading his tail. Finally she left the kids and joined him and up they flew away together. By then the sun was going down and I wonder whether she would come back to spend the night with her little ones. Well..........she didn't. Aren't they too young to sleep alone? They are in fact NINE DAYS old.

Today the couple came twice (it is 3 pm in France). They arrived together and while mum fed the babies dad ate and ate and ate.I have a short video showing this which I will send to patient Brad por posting. Once the feeding was over the couple flew away together again. In other words, there is no more taking turns and no more "baby sitting". I don't remember things happening this way last year when they had one baby. Is this usual behaviour?

Many thanks for your help. Gladys

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hi Gladys,

I think it depends on several factors why the parents seem to be "irresponsible". It's also hot enough outside for the babies to be left alone overnight at their age. As long as the parents are still coming to feed the babies, there is no problem here

Send the video when you're ready and I'll post it

[Pisciottano]

Hello Brad,
Some days ago my computer "told" me that the video I had sent to you could not be delivered for some obscure reasons that I didn't understand. My computer experience is no better than my pigeon esperience.Today I tried again and looking at my sent mail I see that in fact the video appears to have been sent successfully!! If this is so you will have received it twice. I also sent some updating photos on developments on my balcony.

The young pigeons are doing very well but I'm a little worried because the parents poops, infrequent as they are, have hardly any solid matter and is sorrounded by a whitish looking liquid. I saw this for the first time today. As I said before they hardly poop at all on the balcony (they never have done it more than twice a day). It is significant that both birds have this problem, is it not?On the other hand they both look fine. I hope they will not pass it on to the babies, whatever it is. The babies' poops are normal. Any idea what this can be?

Would be happy to receive some advice keeping in mind that these are wild ferals I cannot hold in my hands. Thanks a lot. Gladys

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hi Gladys,

I got your new pictures, but the video did not come through. It may be too large to send either through your email or mine receiving it, I'm not really sure.

I'm not sure about the parents droppings either. It would seem like they haven't eaten enough going by what you said, that there is hardly any fecal matter in them. The white portion is the urates or urine of the birds and this sounds normal. As long as they and the babies are doing well, I wouldn't worry too much. There is really not much you can do anyway since these are wild birds and because you can't catch them like you said.

In any case folks, here are the new photos of the youngsters, parents and the view from Gladys's balcony....quite beautiful! The babies have sure grown and appear to be doing just fine

[Pigeonpal2002]

And the next couple....

[Reti]

Great pics and adorable babies.
Thanks for sharing.

Reti

[TAWhatley]

Very lovely pictures, Gladys! Thank you so much for sharing with us. Your view is gorgeous, and the baby pigeons are positively precious and adorable .. also very healthy looking.

Terry

[mr squeaks]

Gladys, the poops in the pictures look fine to my inexperienced eye...at least from what I've heard...

Your views are SPECTACULAR! Looks like the pijies are getting a great view too!

Many thanks for sharing! The squabs looks GREAT!

[Lin Hansen]

Gladys,

Just wanted to say that the babies look great and that it looks like you live in such a beautiful place! Thanks for keeping us updated...I enjoy reading your posts.

And thanks to Brad for posting Gladys' pictures.

Linda

[Pisciottano]

Hi everybody,
Many thanks for your reassuring mail. How silly of me, I never thought about the urine, I was afraid that that was diarrhea. I can assure you that the cock and hen eat very VERY VERY well, especially the cock, he eats non-stop during 30 minutes or more and that 3 or 4 times a day. Usually 7:30 am, 1 pm and 7:30 pm, but sometimes he also pays a visit at 3:30 pm Same thing for the hen but she doesn't spend such a long time eating.I'll try to send a photo of the parents,you will see how well they look. By the way, the droppings in the picture are from the babies not from the parents. One thing I found extraordinary was that the babies have the "sense" to push their "bottom" outside the nest to poop so as to keep their nest clean!!! Is this normal behaviour or are my little ones particularly clever?? That's a joke, of course.

About the video, my silly computer tells me it has been sent successfully twice. Next time my technician visits I'll see if he can figure out why the computer "lies" to me.

This will be all for this time. Do forgive my inexperience. I wonder what silly question I'll be still asking next time. Thanks again. Gladys

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hi Gladys,

Well, it could be that the parents, (although eating tons of the seed you are providing), haven't really digesting very much of it themselves when they pooped. "Your" two babies are at the age now where they would basically be eating whole seeds directly from the parents crop. The parents eat the seeds, drink some water and then fill up the babies crops with what they've just eaten. You just may be seeing their droppings when they haven't digested any or much seeds themselves.

As for the babies pushing their bums over the edge of the nest to poop, yep this is pretty normal for all baby pigeons, they are all smart that way

Yes, when your technician friend comes over again, ask them about the video email and see if you can resend it and we'll try to post it again for you