Skye and Sonica are the proud step-parents of a newly hatched chick! This was brought about because Grim needed a fertile egg incubated (hatched and raised, and then returned). Since last Wednesday, they have dutifully kept at their respective roles as partners in the hatching. Giving them peanuts and food thru-out the day hasn't hurt either.
I went out in the coop this morning to catch Sonica feeding the little newly hatched little one. I noticed yesterday the egg had an eruption coming from within, pipping...quite a surpise!!
She grumped at me and didn't want me near though, I moved her to take a look. She is now a mother with responsiblities and is taking them very seriously. I went out noon and caught Skye feeding the little one too. Though the baby hatched earlier then expected, I'm think they have plenty of pigeon milk.
Though both had an extremely hard beginning in life, they seem to know what to do. They never have ever had success with incubating eggs (fertile or dummy)they always gave up before the due date, and they seemed very unhappy with the task. Sonica used to leave the nest as soon as she heard me filling up the pools, for swim time and she would join right in. Skye also used to crawl away from the egg, and end up "nesting" on his porch, rather then on the actual nest. He would look at me, and I would say... " Skye, it doesn't work that way, that is cheating."
I am happyto say they seem to be doing well, and am glad they get the chance to be parents, since they have always played the dependent and needy pets, always getting their way. Hopefully they will feel more like real pigeons now-with real responsiblities, having a small life that is totally dependent on them,... though I dearly adored their utter emotional dependence on me, I'm glad they get to see the other side of the coin.
AND MOST IMPORTANT....I hope to get pictures soon.
Definately.......THAT is important!! Congrats to Skye and Sonica.........I'm sure they'll do a wonderful job. Maybe it's a good thing the egg hatched early. I've had a pair raise babies with success after only sitting on the eggs for 11 days......so I'm sure they'll do fine.
