4 babies!!

[Falcon-Rider]

I have a pair with 4 babies, one was born while I was on a 2 day trip (either thurs or fri), another was born saturday, another monday and the last this morning(thursday). I had to feed the youngest pigeon a bit when I got home from school today( around 330, it was beggining to hatch when i checked on them this morning) since it's crop was empty.

I plan on checking every few hours on it and the second two youngest. I know its problematic to have 4 babis (I hadn't planned on it, I just didn't think to check under the mother after she laid the first 2), and I only have 2 other pairs laying right now out of 5.... one has 2 eggs which were laid around a week, maybe a week and a helf ago, the other has 2 babies which are begging to gain all there feathers. So the option of moving babies is out of the question....

I was wondering if the age difference could become problematic when it comes to wheening time.

The pair is normally quite good at sitting/feeding the babies and the other three seem to have been fed fine.

~~~~

I also have another question.... what could cause a baby to not grow? It was pooping fine normal colored. I ended up taking it inside and my dad and I fed it whenever its crop emptyed. It even gained a few small gray feathers but was 1/2 to 3/4's the size it was supposed to be. after about a week to a week and a half it had a "seizure" like episode and died.

The other baby was just fine and grew up normally, as have all others from that pair (in fact its the same pair with the 4 eggs)

[TAWhatley]

Congratulations on all the new babies!

Being only a few days different in age, I don't think you will have much difficulty when it comes time to wean them. Pigeons, like people, are individuals, and I have had baby pigeons start to feed at just past two weeks of age and others that don't start until 4-5 weeks of age. Usually when the first one figures it out, the others catch on very quickly.

As to the small baby that failed to grow and thrive, it could have been paratyphoid (salmonella). If that was the case, the parent birds need to be treated with Baytril to solve the problem.

Terry

[Trees Gray]

Hi Falcon-Rider

Welcome to pigeons.com

WOW! 4 eggs in one nest!I have had 3 in one nest, and ended up supplement feedings for them.

With 4 babies you will definitely have to help the parents out. If the parents have already fed the older ones for their first two or three days, then you should supplement feed the older ones and let the parents feed the new, more vulnerable ones.

s the they all get older they will require bigger feedings. You should then rotate them, so everyone gets formula as well as parent food. That should work out well.

I think it shouldn't be too difficult to get them started on seeds when they are ready. Once they see the older babies eating the younger ones will learn from them. Start putting them in their own little pen for an hour at 14 days ( a nursery), and let them play with the seeds and show them how to drink. I have done this successfully. Within a week they are picking up seeds pretty good. Put them back with the parents after an hour until they get older.

I don't know what the problem was with the little one, but you should treat all your birds for cocci, canker, and worms before breeding season, and after. A lot of babies have been saved by following simple preventive maintenance.

Also, have your birds been immunized for PMV, and Paratyphoid?

Treesa

[Falcon-Rider]

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll deffinitly try rotating them. How often do you think I should do that? And how often should I feed the older ones?

What should I get to immunize the birds for PMV and Paratyphoid?

On an aside note I only had 10 birds till october... by early january I had 18 >.<

[Trees Gray]

The older babies need to be fed whenever their crops are empty, every three hours.

Make sure your new babies get meals from mom and pop only until they are at least four days old.

By rotating I mean, once all the babies are older, feed two by hand and the next feeding, feed the second two. Rotate them each feeding. That way everybody gets the best mom and dad have. Mom and dad can only handle feeding two at a time.

It will work out, but your days will be busy for a few weeks. Make sure the crops are full after each feeding, Like a balloon, but not to stretched!

I will see if Mary can post a picture of one of the babies with full crop, so you know what it looks like.

The pigeon supply places have the immunizations. Jedds, Foys, Siegels, and Globals. I would suggest you find a local pigeon club in your area and ask them advice on PMV and Paratyphoid, and Pox immunizations. They will give you the information you need, some people are very helpful. If you don't want to administer the vaccinations yourself, ask someone in the pigeon club to show you how.

I use to have them do my vaccinations when i only had 4 birds, but I have way to many now.

Yes, population increases quickly if you don't use "dummy" eggs.

Treesa

[Trees Gray]

Here is the website pictures of the runt babies, one with the crop highlighted. She will soon add a picture of a baby with "full crop" so you will understand what it should look like after being fed.

With Mary's permission....
http://community.webshots.com/album/131657719SpwMfd

Treesa

[maryco]

Here are some new pics I took:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...47164196bQhBHD

And here you see the crop of the pigeon on the right is empty and on the left his sibling just got fed and notice the full crop!
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...47164212pyMJMc

Hope that helps!

Mary

p.s If anyone wants to use the pics to explain the crop area or how a full crop looks then please go ahead and use them

[Falcon-Rider]

Thanks for the pictures! It helps a lot! The two older babies (the oldest is quite alert and is chirping right now) are inside. The younger two are outside. The biggest baby is about 5x the size of the smallest the 2nd to youngest at least twice its size.... luckily its a three day weekend so it'll be easier to feed these little guys on a schedule.

I, unfortunatly, don't have a pigeon supply store to my knowlege in my area....(I get my feed from one of two general farm/feeder/supply stores~whatever they are called -_- . Though, I think I have someone I can ask about immunizations (the guy I got my birds from... and gave 7 of the babies to). I'll get his number from my dad when he gets back sunday.

I also have another question... at what age do they start feeding the young birds seeds mixed in with the "milk"?

[This message has been edited by Falcon-Rider (edited May 28, 2004).]

[This message has been edited by Falcon-Rider (edited May 28, 2004).]

[maryco]

Well, my baby bird that I'm caring for got a full crop of seeds and pigeon milk at about 2 days old, That was odd and I was so worried because it didn't look normal but thank God it passed and he was ok.

I believe the birds get some seed with the crop milk as early as 6 days old and when they are about 10-14 they start getting just seed from the crop.
When the squeaker is about 16-19 days he can be trained to eat on his own.

Mary

[Falcon-Rider]

Hmmm... I was wondering cause these two (and the other young one) apear to have seeds in their crop from the last feeding they had from their parents... both have pooped and the crop has emptied a bit..... Perhaps I should just hand feed the young one? I don't know if a day old pigeon would be able to handle seeds...

[dano7]

Matthew Vriends agrees with Mary: parents will mix seed with the "milk" at 6 days.

[Falcon-Rider]

If anyones wondering, the 4 day old is still alive and seems to be doing well, if a tiny bit small(which can prolly be attributed to his lack of food thurs till i got home from school and again friday, I'm hoping my dad will feed it at least once while I'm at school for the next few days...). He opened his eyes for the first time today and was extremly active (and vocal) during all his feedings so far today!


[This message has been edited by Falcon-Rider (edited May 31, 2004).]

[Falcon-Rider]

The remaining pair with eggs babies didn't make it, so I placed the youngest baby with them and they have spoiled him rotten . All four have at least a bunch of pin feathers, the oldest is almost completly covered with either feathers or pin feathers.

They are all doing well, except the 3rd youngest got out of the nest and was pecked today.

Thanks for all the help!