New pigeon mom questions

[sasha008]

Hello everyone! I've recently became a pigeon mom and while looking for info found this wonderful forum. I work at an animal hospital and a little while back someone brought in 2 pigeon babies, found in a store parking lot. They were recently hatched and even came with an eggshell. They are now about 8 weeks old. There were a couple problems but now they're doing great. Muffin, the younger one, started to splay at about 2-3 weeks of age. The vet put a little bandage on and I put him in a donut. It only took about 4 days or so for his legs to straighten out. Misty, the older chick, developed a candida problem a 2 weeks ago and was on Nystatin and doing much better.

It's funny to see that they both have such different personalities, even at this young age. Misty is quiet, easy going, affectionate, and learns things fast. Muffin has a little bratty streak lol. If he wants something he'll run to me, stamping his feet and screaching at the top of his lungs ME!ME!ME! He sounds like a crow. He was being resistant to feeding himself too the little stinker.

A week ago they had their first bath. As soon as I set down the basin of water they knew right away what it was for. Misty hopped right in and sat down. Muffin got all excited as usual and ran around the basin squeaking, then ran to me and sat down. So I had to help him to get in. He then did the "wash under one wing, then under the other wing thing".

This forum answered quite a few questions I had, but I still have a few.

I have cockatiel grit with oyster shells and charcoal. Is this grit ok for pigeons? They eat it and their poop seems fine, no undigested bits or anything.

I've been feeding Kaytee supreme blend for doves and pigeons. It seemed like a nice mix. I also add extra cracked peas, safflower, cracked corn, millet sprays, as well as offering a variety of fresh foods. They seem to like the little pellets that are in the Kaytee blend the most, and will pick them out first. Then they look for the large round red seeds(millet?). The rest of the grain doesn't seem to interest them too much. They pick at it here and there. I don't really see them eating the corn or cracked peas. They love fresh peas though. How do I know they're getting what they need? I'm still hand feeding them baby bird formula once a day. Is the dried peas and lentils for soup you buy in the supermarket ok for them? What about wild or brown rice?

I have no idea what gender they are. If they are 2 males would they possibly get along since they grew up together? Or is there a high chance I'd have to separate them? What if they are a male/female pair. Would I have to seperate to keep them from breeding too early? I hope I don't have to separate them

[TheSnipes]

Hi new bird mom

I think your babies should be kept together, they have never known the world without one another. They'll probably always be buddies.

I feed mine a similar mix, I have used the dove/pidgie mix but lately I go for a generic wild bird seed and supplement the same way you do, the dried peas/beans I get at the grocery store.

I do use lentils and they seem to love them. They'll also eat the peas and I recently started adding yellow ones which they ignore - so far. I think they have to get used to something new first, so keep offering them a variety. I also include brown rice, which they have not developed a taste for, and pearled barley. Mine like the safflower seeds the best, the millet (those are the teency round beige colored ones) and brown rice are tied for last place. If I leave food in there long enough that's the only things that will be left. I tried that once just to see.

They also like peanuts, but I've had a hard time getting the crushed up bits and the halved ones are just too big for most of them to eat.

Fresh greens are good; mine go crazy for kale, and I have made them mixed veggies with cooked elbow macaroni (what the heck i feed it to my parrots) and what they didn't eat they enjoyed playing with

Send pictures!

[maryjane]

They sound like they're thriving, can't wait to see pictures. They may grow up and decide to mate with each other, as many siblings do , but it won't be for awhile and you can always switch their eggs with "dummy" eggs if you don't want babies. Thanks for taking these little guys in, they're quite lucky!

[george simon]

HI SASHA008, Peas,Lentils, Brown rice all are good brown rice is a very good feed for the birds as it has many amino acids that the birds need,but be sure you feed brown rice and not white rice.White rice is void of all the good aminos,minerals and vitamins,when the brown braned is removed. .GEORGE

[fallenweeble]

hi there new bird mom,
what lucky little pijies! thanks for taking these babies in and giving them a fabulous home. i too am new to the pigeon world and it has been quite a trip so far! i can tell you that i've received really excellent advice here on pigeon-talk - you have come to the right place for sure
good luck and keep posting updates on your fids.
-weeble

[mr squeaks]

WELCOME! WELCOME! WELCOME!

Others will be along to add their helpful information too.

Squeaks definitely has his likes and dislikes. I tried the peas and lentils (yes, the ones for soup) and he finally ate some. Before I knew that greens were good for pijies, I accidently dropped a piece of lettuce while making a salad. Squeaks make a dive and gobbled it down. Now, I will tear small pieces and drop them to him. He never misses!

Would hesitate on the peanuts. I know some give them to their birds, but there have been some negative reports about them. Better safe than sorry. For a treat, Squeaks gets Canary Song Bird Mix, Safflower and Hemp seeds.

Instead of cracked corn, whole kernals are better, the more yellow, the better. There are various probiotics, vitamins and ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) that can be given also. But I will let others discuss the hows and whys.

Sounds like your little ones are quite the characters! BTW, Squeaks not only takes baths but I put him in the shower too. We pretend it's rain...

I, too, hope they can stay together. Squeaks was a "croaker" before he gained his "big boy" voice! He sounded sooo funny, but did NOT appreciate my laughter!

Hope to see pictures too...

Hugs and Scritches to Muffin and Misty

Shi & Squeaks

[sasha008]

Thanks everyone for the replies and suggestions. I bought some brown rice and lentils today and will pick up some kale too. And maybe some popcorn. I had to clear out a closet in the kitchen for all the variety of pigeon food I have now

Right now they are in the flight cage in the backyard. It took them a week to get used to the outdoors, but now they love it. At first they would only come out of the cat carrier with me there. If they heard a strange noise like a plane or a loud bird they would march right back into the carrier, which I leave in the flight cage for a shelter. Now they love it out there, taking baths, sunning, doing wing exercises.

I will try to post some pictures. I don't have a digital camera so I use the one time use ones. I have a couple that needs to be developed though.