Pigeon-Talk banner

Baby pigeon - stunted growth?

232 Views 10 Replies 2 Participants Last post by  Marina B
4
I got a baby pigeon from a breeder to be a companion for myself. She/he is an indian fantail and the parent birds are lovely and healthy. When I got the baby she was 15 days old. Full crop and well fed by the parents. I picked up Kaytee Exact, Applesauce, ACV and pigeon prebiotics incase of crop issues while hand feeding. I've been giving her Des Moines 18% Squab seed mix with a little millet and Versele Laga Black Label.

So now my baby is 33 days old and I feel as if her growth is stunted. Every pigeon growth video I've seen by age 30+ they're fluffy and fully feathered and basically the size of an adult. She feeds herself seeds once in a while if I leave a bowl down for her and she is very curious and likes to explore. But she looks to me to be at the stage of what a 17-22 day old pigeon would be. The breeder told me sometimes babies lag behind on growth but will catch up and there's nothing to worry about. But I guess I am worried. She seems a bit too skinny also for a baby and I can easily feel her pelvic bone. She doesn't appear to have canker but I am treating for it currently just in case. I know most treat possible sour crop with Nystatin but I have no idea how to get any of it without a prescription.

The baby is at the point now where during hand feeding she rejects the food if it has formula in it. So now its just seed and water. I sneak a little formula in her water though so when she drinks she still gets something out of it. She's very healthy and lively but these are the things I've noticed about her:

1. She doesn't like to eat too much. She use to eat til she got a full crop but now she only likes eating until its half full and won't eat more than that. But she has a healthy appetite.

2. I noticed she holds her tail to one side all the time and tends to walk in circles a lot. I was a bit confused about why she does this. Not all the time but often enough to notice.

3. Her feathers are coming in kind of scrungly. I've also noticed stress bars on her tail and feed.

I've attached pictures I've taken of her over the past 2 days. I will try uploading a video of her circling onto YouTube and link it here when I can.



Bird Beak Comb Galliformes Chicken
Head Bird Eye Beak Galliformes
Pink Fawn Window Snout Feather
Bird Green Comb Beak Chicken
Head Bird Eye Beak Galliformes
Bird Beak Comb Galliformes Chicken
Pink Fawn Window Snout Feather
See less See more
1 - 5 of 11 Posts
It's normal for a baby to start rejecting formula when they are weaning. Can you post a photo of her droppings? Are you giving vitamins? Lack of certain vitamins (I think B vit) can cause neurological issues.
You can give her some Vit B. The lack of feathers around the head is also not normal. My pigeons dont like garlic oil on the seed, so she might not be keen on eating them. You can mix the Kaytee powder with a little bit of water to form a soft clay consistency. Then make small peasized balls and handfeed to her. To this you can add a pinch of vitamins. Just put the ball deep inside the beak over the tongue and she will swallow.
She looks fine to me, interested in what's going on around her. If she ever starts keeping the head upside down, then you might be dealing with paramyxovirus. But you got her from a breeder, so surely his pigeons must be in excellent health.
1 - 5 of 11 Posts
Top