So a while ago pigeons laid eggs on my balcony. On 8th of April only one egg hatched. I've been keeping track of the progress of development of the squab. I've done research on forums like these and also watched YouTube videos of squab growth. It's been over 5 weeks now and I'm concerned that the squab's development has been stunted. Size wise he look like he's half the size of his father, his adult feathers have come in but he still has yellow fluff on his head and body, he is still being fed mouth to mouth by hid dad and doesn't appear to stretch his wings. I've read about canker and I'm worried that he has it. His fences is really watery. The father doesn't seem to show much interest in him. I see him feeding him time to time but it doesn't seem like he's trying to get him to feed on seeds on his own. Am I overreacting or do some pigeons develop slower than others? Or is this still normal behaviour for a 37 day old squab?
Needadviceforsquab
Can you post pictures of the baby? They are still fed by parent because they are still in the nest at this point. He should be fledging soon.
Looks like about 3 weeks. If the feathers don't come in around the face and throat then I would suspect canker.
He may have canker, but those pics are not all that clear. He shouldn't have feathers missing around the face.
I know it's not clear in the photos but he does have adult feathers in his head as well as some yellow fluff (he doesn't have any feathers missing). I'm glad to report he's finally learnt to eat seeds on his own I've only noticed him successfully doing it today (as in he's eating them not picking them up in his beak and dropping them). The last few days I've been putting barley seeds out on the balcony and the father has been coming to eat it and I think he's learnt from watching his father. He seems to be more energetic now and I've seen him stretching his wings and grooming himself although he doesn't appear to be interested in testing them out. The only time he flaps them is out of excitement when he sees his father. I was thinking I might go to the supermarket and buy wild bird seed mix. I've read somewhere that you can put some deworming liquid in a water bowl for the pigeons to drink and that will kill any parasites he might have. I really hope he fledges soon he's about to be 6 weeks old in a couple of days. I'm scared that the father might give up on him at some point if he doesn't start looking after himself more.
You said he isn't missing feathers, but the pictures show that he is missing feathers on his face, under chin, and on the face near his eyes and side of beak. He should be feathered there if 5 weeks old.
They also shouldn't be wormed until a few months old. So unless sure that he has a problem with worms, then you don't want to worm him. Dewormers are toxic.
They also shouldn't be wormed until a few months old. So unless sure that he has a problem with worms, then you don't want to worm him. Dewormers are toxic.
Regardless the squab is 100% no doubt over 5 weeks ago nearing 6 at least. I know this because I literally saw it as a new hatched squab on the 8th April and I did the math. I know it seems underdeveloped which is why I started this thread. So 100% hatched on or even maybe a day earlier on April 8th. The age is not in question. I'm concerned because it looks underdeveloped.
You are not listening to me. I am not arguing the age. I am saying that at this age, the feathers should be filled in on his neck, and on face near beak and eyes. You can see in the pictures that they have not filled in yet. That is a symptom of canker.
Can you take more, clearer pictures? Even missing more than he should be on chest.
Can you take more, clearer pictures? Even missing more than he should be on chest.
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