Misty is brillant!

[Izzy]

Ok, I'm probably biased, but I think she is anyhow, lol!

This morning I decided to work with Misty for awhile to try to teach her to peck at some seeds. I used my finger and poked at the seeds I had laid out on a white dish towel. She immediately followed my finger and pecked on the ground, but didn't pick anything up. She then pried her beak inbetween my fingers, she does this alot, and opened her beak wide. I was able to push my hand down a bit until she had her open beak on some seeds. She managed to get a few tiny ones in her mouth. Viola! I thought once she got "one" in her mouth, she would figure it out, but this was not the case. I think she must believe the food somehow comes outta my fingers or something.

Next thing I did was pick up some seeds and shower them down in front of her face, she watched them fall onto the towel and went for two seeds. I thought it was kind of funny, she saw the seed, but pecked just a little off of where it actually sat. I can imagine it must be difficult when you have eyes on the side of your head to be able to see things right in front in you.

I did this for the next half an hour, picked up seeds, sprinkled them down in front of her path and she would go for them. She FINALLY was able to peck right on the seed, the next problem was each time she got a seed, it would slip outta her beak, as she tried to pick it up with the tip of her beak and push down too hard, so the seed would go flying. We kept this up for another half an hour and oh my gosh, if she didn't finally eat two seeds, woohoo! I was sooo very proud of her!

It's still very slow going, but it was so much fun! I'm glad she's a little older now, not sleeping ALL the time like she was before and we are able to hang out and learn stuff together, lol! She officially 19 days old today and I think doing amazingly well!

Mel is getting tiny seeds put into him thickened formula now, I still don't think he's quite ready to start pecking, as he's not on a complete seed diet yet. But, I'm hoping in the next week that we can start that also.

Wow, who knew two little pigeons coming into my life would be such a cool thing! It's warm outside today, so I plan on seeing if Misty wants to try a lukewarm bath, that should be interesting, lol!

Izzy

[ZigZagMarquis]

How long until pigeons are "full grown" young birds??

[maryco]

WOW! That's excellent news Izzy

Misty sure is Brilliant and at 19 days old she is doing really well.
What a great start and keep up the practice!

Pigeons are usually 25-30 days old when they are full grown but can fly out of the nest so they are considered as "young" pigeons still but fully independant.

[Feefo]

LOL, Izzy, would you have thought 19 days ago that you would become an expert on raising hatchlings, coping with crop problems, dealing with splay legs and teaching babies to eat? Because that is what you are!

You have gained a lot more experience of baby pigeons in 19 days than I have in the past 4 years! And you have made such an excellent job of it!

There will be many members in the future that will benefit from your advice and support so you must promise to stick around!


Cynthia

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hey Izzy,

I second and third that motion, wow!, That is such fabtastic news on Misty starting to peck seeds I loved your link too about pecking and pigeons behaviour, where did you find that!?!?!?! Great find. I'm very happy to hear your updates today and that things are progressing so nicely. You're doing such an incredible job with these two chicks. Just like Cynthia mentioned with all the set backs and unforeseen problems, you've still managed to work with these issues as they come up and give Mel and Misty the best care anyone could under the circumstances. Wonderful, splendid, and bravo to you



Brad

[Izzy]

Awww, such wonderful compliments from all of you, thank you so very much!!

I NEVER would of been able to handle this without all of your support, patience and vast experience though, so please, please...never forget that! If I hadn't lucked out and found you here, I really have no idea how Mel and Misty would be today, so THANK YOU from us.

This site, along with you members are saving lives. I'm sure there are people who don't post about every single tiny detail, like I do, lol, but still greatly benefit from all the information that is contained here.

Another cool thing is how I notice pigeons outside so much more. In the grocery store parking lot, hanging out on telephone wires, etc. I never really paid much attention to them before, but now I see them differently and really respect what they have to go through to survive.

I've always been excited about learning new things, just never expected it would be about pigeons, lol! I do value all I've learned and plan on hanging around here, long after Mel & Misty are full grown pigeons, if I can help others, like all of you helped me, that would be super! I still have a lot to learn though, but it's a very fun journey for me.

Thanks again for taking me in so quickly and holding my hand on a daily basis. Brad, Cynthia and Mary, most especially, I want to thank you for being there morning, noon, night and inbetween, lol! You calmed me when I was freaking and guided me so patiently, it's something I'll never forget.

Izzy

[Izzy]

Oh, Brad, I'm trying to remember how the heck I found that site, lol! I know it came from Google, my all time fav search engine, but I don't remember what I typed in there. I've got a lot of pigeon places bookmarked, trying to read up as much as possible about these little guys. It was one that I found more valuable than others I've found, I love reading about the psychology of things and stuff, heh.

I'm just thrilled I found something that others will be able to use and happy I posted it here! Honestly, I figured you all had probably read it before, I haven't made it through ALL the posts on this site, so I wasn't sure.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. It's beautiful here today, mid 70's, sunny and Misty took her first bath!

Izzy

[Feefo]

Hi Izzy,

Posting about every tiny detail is wonderful because so many others can learn from what you observe.

Cynthia