Day to day pictures of baby pigeon development

[TAWhatley]

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

Terry

[Feefo]

Thank you Terry, that makes it so easy to home in on the approximate age immediately. Can we have the link placed on a sticky so that it will be quick to find whenever we need it as a reference? (I am thinking of how threads get buried after several months rather than where it is today)

Cynthia

[Tralyna]

I was looking at the link/pics thru resourses on the day to day growth of the squab and noticed he looks a little bigger than my babie at 7 days.

He opened it eyes today, not all the way but keeps peeking. Also, he looks like he is going to be a light solid color. He doesn't have black anywhere except is beek and feet. Do all bids grow at different rates at different times? He seems to be very healthy and normal...Any coments would be helpful....thanks.

Tracey

[pigeonsR4me]

Tracey,

Yes, there can be differences in the growth rate of young birds. The pictures were of a racing homer. Smaller or larger breeds of pigeons will be different. Even in the same breed things can be different. Occasionally the parents don't feed the sqaubs at the same rate. If there is only one squab in the nest he may get extra food and grow faster. Do you know what breed of pigeon you have or is it a feral?

I would make sure the parents are feeding the baby and check it's crop from time to time to see it is full.

Pater

[Tralyna]

We found this one as an egg and put it in a basket with a heating pad on it and the next day it hatched. He is 7 days old now and pretty sure it's a feral or rock dove....i think they are the same thing aren't they? Anyway, the crop gets filled up pretty good and then 3-5 hours later he is chirping for more. I noticed that the crop around the neck area goes completely down but under the stomach area is still soft squishy but it doesn't look to be part of the crop i don't think. He is barely opening his eyes at this point...once in a while I will see a peek or two.

I have another question. Do all pigeons share the same nests? Or do the parents usually use the same one all the time? The reason why I ask, is because the egg we found was in the same nest where we saw 2 other eggs the other day. If so then if we were to put the one we have in her nest at this age would she continue to feed him? or would they not pay attention since we have handled him? We have been putting seed and corn out for them and they seem to have liked that. Please let me know my options and what would be best for baby...Thank you

[pigeonsR4me]

The feral pigeon is sometimes called a rock dove. Generally they are smaller than a typical homing pigeon. If the bird is being fed well, there should not be much to worry about.

Pigeons do share nests but not usually at the same time. However you do get a couple hens laying in the same spot occasionally. If it were a while between the egg to found and the new eggs, it could be the same pair back for more. Do not put the baby in the same nest. Pigeons make “pigeon milk” to feed the youngsters but it is timed to peak at hatching time. Birds that still have a while to go will not be able to pump the youngsters.

Peter

[John_D]

That is a wonderful set of pics, Terry! A must have reference indeed

John