I can't wean my squab

[Ahab]

I am raising a fan-tail pigeon by hand, but I can't wean it off of the formula. Any tips? Thank-you for your help.

[Lovebirds]

Originally Posted by Ahab

I am raising a fan-tail pigeon by hand, but I can't wean it off of the formula. Any tips? Thank-you for your help.

How old is the baby? May I ask why you are hand raising it? What happened to the parents?

[Ahab]

I hand raise them so they like me. I have done it many times before, and they end up being like pets. The bird is fully feathered and can fly easily. I do not know how old it is because I got it from a breeder who did not know how old it was

[Lovebirds]

Originally Posted by Ahab

I hand raise them so they like me. I have done it many times before, and they end up being like pets. The bird is fully feathered and can fly easily. I do not know how old it is because I got it from a breeder who did not know how old it was

Ok. I'm not being sarcastice here........just asking a question. If you've done it many times before, what's this bird doing different from what the others did? If he's fully feathered and able to fly and is healthy, there's really no reason for you to still be giving him formula. Has he ever picked up a seed or seen a bowl of seeds?

[re lee]

Originally Posted by Ahab

I hand raise them so they like me. I have done it many times before, and they end up being like pets. The bird is fully feathered and can fly easily. I do not know how old it is because I got it from a breeder who did not know how old it was

How long have you been feeing it. You should putt some grain and water out for it Or put it with your other pigeons so it can learn to feed its self.

[Ahab]

ok thanx
i have had a bad experience with putting young birds in with the rest of the bunch... they picked one young bird till it bled before i caught on and removed the poor thing. I will do it again and watch it more closely.

in response to lovebird's questions.
i have never seen this bird pick at the feed in its cage at any time. and yes, i have done this before and have always had some trouble with weaning my birds before, but never such a hard time as this time.
The bird is quite healthy to my knowledge

thanx so much for your help,
ahab

[Lovebirds]

I also would be very careful about putting a young bird in with a bunch of adults birds.
Try this. Get a few seeds and actually open the birds mouth and place one seed at a time in his mouth and let him swallow it. Once he gets the taste of seeds, he'll be more likely to try them. I've done this with hand raised pigeons and had them self feeding at 16 days old.
Sprinkle some seeds around on a piece of paper towel or carpet and "peck" with you fingers. Once he gets the hang of picking them up and swallowing, you'll be ok.
After you see him take a few seeds and swallow them, then it's time for you to cut back on the formula and let him get a bit hungry. Not starving, but hungry and he'll begin to eat.
Can you post pictures? We LOVE pictures.

[pigeonperfect]

all you have to do is allow the young bird to SEE others feeding. they don't have to share the space with each other. i raise babies all the time and within no time...less than a day, they are eating on their own.
renee