What should I do when I'm away for the day?

[dcreuter]

I'm only 12 and i found the 2 baby pigeons in our shed. What should I do with them when I go to school? Should I feed them extra before i go and then extra when I come back?Will I need to wake up during the night to feed them also? I go to bed around 9 and get up at 6:30, will I need to wake up or will they starve during the night? If they would I would be more than happy to wake up. Can someone please tell me what to do during the night and also when I'm gone at school and after school activities. Thank You.

[Lin Hansen]

It is so nice to see that you are so young yet so devoted to doing the right thing by these babies...I wish I could advise you, but I cannot, as I have never had to deal w/ baby pigeons... there should be people along very soon to advise you.
If you are worried and want some info right away, pls take advantage of the search feature on this site. If you type in "caring for baby pigeons" previous posts that you can read and learn from should pop up. Good luck w/ the babies....It is so nice that such a young person like yourself is so caring to take this on....Best wishes!!

[Lin Hansen]

Also, you do not have to keep posting new topics...just keep replying to your original post and the conversation will be easier to follow for you and everyone else.

[dcreuter]

Thank you! That's a good idea! Thanks again!

[TAWhatley]

Hi there and thank you so much for your concern and devotion to these young pigeons. Could you tell us your first name, please? It just makes it somewhat nicer and easier to "talk" to you on-line.

No, you don't need to get up in the middle of the night to feed the birds. Feed them right about when you are going to go to bed, and they will be fine until morning. Feed them again when you get up. It would be best if someone in your family could feed them at least once while you are away at school during the day, and then you feed them again when you get home and once more before going to bed.

You don't want to feed "extra" because it may cause their crops to become impacted from too much food to process at one time. If these are good sized babies, you can leave them some fresh water in a shallow or non-spillable container as well as some small seeds such as finch, canary, or parakeet to peck at. If these are older babies, they may be about ready to start self feeding.

Please keep us posted.

Terry

[dcreuter]

Thanks I've been wondering that and I'm glad I was able to get a reply before i go to bed so I'll be able to sleep!! My name is Bryten (Brigh-ten is how you pronounce it)Thanks again!!!

[Lin Hansen]

Hey Bryten (GREAT name by the way...I work in an elementary school, so I have heard them all, but you are the first Bryten I've heard of)

If you use the search option and read the previous posts on caring for baby birds and follow the great advice the moderators on this site give you, you cannot go wrong...Please don't lose any sleep over this...you are going way above and beyond what most middle school kids would do in your situation...Do your thing but my advice is to also keep good records on what you are doing and what happens...This would be a fantastic science project that you can utlimately submit for extra credit in Science or if your school holds a Science Fair...You will be helping the sweet pidgie babies and getting some recognition for yourself as well (which you certainly deserve) Take lots of pictures day by day to show development and keep a log of what you feed, what they do, etc....
Hope everything turns out okay, I am sure it will...and again....congratulate yourself on being such a caring person and good luck w/ the babies.

[dcreuter]

I just fed the babies. They LOVE dog food!I've got them in a box filled with straw shaped like a nest. I've go a heat lamp that I turned on during the night. They're nice and cozy!

[AZWhitefeather]

Hello Bryten, Welcome to pigeons.com
What a fine young man you are.
It is wonderful the time, care & love you have set forth for these sweet pijjies.

You are doing a remarkable job.
Lin's suggestion to document the feedings, growth, actions of the pijjie is outstanding.

There are many adults that could learn well from you.

Please do keep us posted as we will all be eager to hear how things are coming along.
Cindy

[Bryten Loray]

Hi, One thing quick, I'm a girl.
The babies' feathers are growing in well. They are starting to look like adult pigeons (somewhat). They eat a TON of food. They can eat a whole 1/2 cup of moistened dog food! They also drink a ton too! They are getting a lot bigger, and they are used to humans now. I get up at 6:00 every morning to feed them, they can hear me walking down the stairs and start peeping. They're soooooo cute! I love them! I don't know what I should name them though. Any suggestions???? I asked my little sister and she said I should name them Princess and Molly. I DON'T THINK SO!!!

I'll keep you posted on how their doing. Bye for now.

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*~Bryten~*

[TAWhatley]

Hi Bryten .. it sounds as if you are doing a very, very good job raising the babies. If you will search in the archives here at pigeons.com you should find lots of threads regarding what people have named their pigeons or names that they have suggested .. some are pretty darned clever!

Terry

[AZWhitefeather]

"One thing quick, I'm a girl."
My apologies Bryten.

Thank you so much for the update.
You are doing a wonderful job of caring for the babies. It's such fun watching them grow up.

I have a feeling whatever names you choose will be super.

Please keep us posted on how things are going.
Cindy

[Karen 210773]

Hi Bryten, Well done on what your doing that's great news well I have just given you my email address, sounds like you could teach me a thing or two! lol I have handreared cockatiels from couple of day's old but never a pigeon, well did have a try couple of day's ago and no thankfully mum has taken over again. Will be hear to give any advise maybe you know best. Only can offer what we all think! Take care for now. Well done and all the very best to you and yours XX - Karen

[Bryten Loray]

My parents are seperated and I go to my dad's this weekend. He lives in an apartment in Iowa. He told me that I could bring them along and it should be an interesting experience because up until this point I've kept them in my basement. now they're gonna be in my room! I hope they don't make too much noise during the night!! I'm gonna bring my Pedialyte-Water along with the dog food I've been feeding them so they won't have to undergo a change of diet for a few days and then another change when I get home.

I'm gonna wash out a HUGE cage that I had for my Cockatiel and set their bed in it along with a shallow dish of food. They're catching on to eating by themselves now. They pretty much have all of their feathers in except there are a few bald spots, (under their wings, their necks, and their backs.) They are soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cute and friendly.

I'll keep you updated on how they're do but I've go to go for now!!! Bye!

------------------
*~Bryten~*

[dano7]

Hi Bryten,

The only noise you are likely to hear is some preening and the infrequent shaking out of the feathers; I find it soothing once I got used to it and healthy birds preen more
than unhealthy birds.

If your birds can get to a sunny window they will catch up on vitamin A, plus the sunlight can kill some bugs in the feathers, and they will appreciate seeing the outside world. You might lay sheets down if the birds are out and about--the poop will wash out no problem.

Do you have Prime bird vitamin yet? I forget. That's a major step for long term health. Oh, if there is a bathroom where the birds are, you need to leave the lid on the toilet. have fun!