Squabby.

[Trees Gray]

Originally Posted by mr squeaks

A mother's love knows no bounds!

I second that!

[draykie]

In one of the most heartbreaking sights I've ever had the misfortune to witness, the step-father died from poisoning today in front of our apartment. He convulsed violently for over an hour, choked, and had his mate by his side, kissing him until she was scared off by his movements. While that does mean the babies may not be pecked anymore (at least by him), it was still awful and saddening to witness the neighbourhood's oldest pigeon die in such an agonizingly slow manner.

In brighter news though, Grey's chicks have developed some pretty stylish pants. They have long feathers over their feet and look like Clydesdale horses. Do those fall off after a while or are those a sign of the babies possibly being tumblers? Neither of the parents had feet like this, but Grey used to dive off our balcony and tumble all the way to ground, nearly hitting it, before picking up and flying straight.

[flitsnowzoom]

I'm so very sorry for your pigeon family and you I know how hard you've tried to keep them safe.
Is there any way you can bring the rest of the family in so they stand a better chance?
Prayers and feather hugs.

[Charis]

I'm heart broken over your situation.Have there been other deaths? Terrible, helpless thing to witness. No creature deserves such a fate.

The good news is that the babies should keep their lovey feather pants.
I agree that if there is any way you could bring the rest of the family in, this would be the time. That being said, I realized doing so could be very difficult for the mom.
Maybe there is someone in your area on the forum that could take them so they would be safe.

[draykie]

Catching the adults is impossible, since they're still healthy and very able to get away from any attempts to get them inside. While I could easily grab the babies, the last time I did that, there was an issue over the parents accepting them again and I don't want them to end up going through that and starving, as I'm not too well-versed in feeding them constantly. On the bright side, Mom is very pampered and in some two weeks or so of poisoning, she apparently hasn't eaten a bite. I'm hoping she and the others in the area will make it through all this, but what with pigeons migrating from other neighbourhoods to here because of the new 'food supply', I don't think that's the only poisoning death I'll ever have to watch.

If the mother dies, which I really hope she doesn't for obvious reasons, we do plan to take the babies inside and try to help them out - or, at least, to get them off to a better home where they stand more of a chance.

Along a different line, though -- if these babies are tumblers, is there a good chance of survival when they begin to fly? I've read that tumblers are susceptible to airborne seizures that induce their distinct flight patterns and that they can end up being fatal if they get too severe. Are they going to have a chance even if they don't eat the poison or anything?

[Lady Tarheel]

It is a shame that the people who ordered the poisoning and those that put it out can't witness the agonizing death you saw.

I am so sorry.

[Trees Gray]

Actually I spoke to a "pigeon expert" pest control service guy. He does not use in-humane methods, as he said it is horrible. They KNOW exactly what happens to the birds as they have to stay in the area, until all birds can be picked up and removed from the "scene of their crime." That is the protocal they have to use if they are licensed to use poison. The birds are usually picked up before the average person notices.

It's absolutely the worst death for any bird or creature to have to go thru, and everyone needs to see the truth about poisoning, and you should share it with anyone willing to listen.

I would surely secure the youngsters and any other bird that won't stress and relocate them all.

[draykie]

The mom's laid eggs again, which I realize they do even if there is no male to fertilize them, and as such, if they won't hatch. She's also sitting on them and coming out for food to feed the chicks only sparingly, though - does sitting on them mean they are fertilized, or do they do that anyway?

[jazaroo]

Hi Draykie,

These eggs may very well be fertile. It may be best to remove and hard boil these eggs (add to cold water and bring to a boil, so they don't crack), let them cool to slightly warm before returning them. I don't think now is the best time to be putting more young birds in danger from poisoning.

Ron

[draykie]

That's why I was worried. I don't want her to have anymore chicks here, at least not while the poisoning situation is going on. I knew hens laid eggs regularly even without a male, but the fact that she is sitting on them worries me a little. I'll see about boiling them, as they were just freshly laid as far as I know, so there ought not to be any developing embyro inside yet.

[Trees Gray]

Originally Posted by draykie

That's why I was worried. I don't want her to have anymore chicks here, at least not while the poisoning situation is going on. I knew hens laid eggs regularly even without a male, but the fact that she is sitting on them worries me a little. I'll see about boiling them, as they were just freshly laid as far as I know, so there ought not to be any developing embyro inside yet.

Hens lay eggs only when they think they are in love, when they are stimulated by petting them on their back, and/or when they have a mate. They are only fertile when they actually have a mate. I have several hens who think they are in love with me, and will lay eggs.

Other then that they normally do not lay eggs.

You definitely should take her eggs away immediately and replace them.

[draykie]

With a little bit of panic from the babies and some surprise from Mom, her eggs have been removed and I'm currently waiting for them to cool from the hard boiling before I replace them.

Now you've just made me curious though, Treesa. I wonder if she still believes her mate is alive, if she was 'in love' with the stepfather that was poisoned, or if she's got a thing for me. Hmm!

[Trees Gray]

Originally Posted by draykie

With a little bit of panic from the babies and some surprise from Mom, her eggs have been removed and I'm currently waiting for them to cool from the hard boiling before I replace them.

Now you've just made me curious though, Treesa. I wonder if she still believes her mate is alive, if she was 'in love' with the stepfather that was poisoned, or if she's got a thing for me. Hmm!

They may have mated about 5 to 10 days prior to her laying these eggs when he was still alive.

[draykie]

That may have been possible when I wasn't watching, actually. The male is a little odd, in that he's mated with other hens while 'married' to his own mate, and constantly. But during the time I observed them, all she was able to get out of him was a little food after she flattered him with a bunch of neck-kisses. She's devious like that.

[draykie]

Just a small update.

Everyone's doing fine. The babies are learning to fly, Mom still sits on the hard-boiled egg, and she has yet to lay her second if it's coming. I'm pretty sure there is no poison left on the roof anymore. While it's sad because that's likely due to it being all eaten, it also means that my squabbies won't get any of it. The pest control guys have been coming out every Thursday for the past 2-3 weeks and they didn't come today, so maybe they're done and everyone can settle just with the hawks. The hawks seem to be getting old, too -- I watched one try to catch a pigeon today and it just completely missed its dive and the entire line that was sitting on the apartment and went home. :P

Today, one of the babies got a little adventurous and decided to try to fly. It's the bigger of the two, who I think is a male, and he got up onto one of the chairs on my balcony. Then, his sister found Mom and started choking her dry, while the chubby guy couldn't figure out how to get back down. His wings were going crazy and he was crying, so he eventually stumbled and flapped his way back down to the floor before feeding time was over. Hilarity ensued.