Hatching
The first egg will begin to pip after 17 days. The squeaker uses an egg tooth to hammer his way out of the egg. One day later, he will crawl out of his shell. After the first one is hatched, the second one will begin to pip his shell.
The cock and hen will both feed the squeakers pigeon milk. Pigeon milk is partially digested grain which forms in the parent’s crops. The squabs grow fast. By the time they are 5 to 7 days old they will be covered with quill feathers and are ready to band.
As the days pass, they will reduce the amount of milk and feed the squabs more and more whole grains. The parents also will be eating more and more, so be prepared to increase their feed ration.
In 5 weeks, they will be ready to fly and the parents will be back on another set of eggs. The squeakers are now ready to wean. Just move them into your young bird section. They will be eating and drinking as well as the adults in a few days.
Back to the Beginners Handbook
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Nesting
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Culling the weak
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Hi John, as you said “wild” birds can not touch the babies as the parents will reject their young. In pigeons, there’s few. Especially if the parents are not trust you. You must create a good relationship with the parents so that you can touch their babies. And, please don’t try to touch the babies if the parents don’t trust you coz there’s possibilities that the babies will be rejected…Enjoy breeding!!!…c”,)
Hi Spiderman.
Thanks for the advise.
My birds are about 2yrs old and I have only had them for a couple of weeks now, so as far as trust goes, I don’t tink they trust me yet, and don’t know if older birds ever will..??I hope they will.. But, every feeding I whistle them and shake a food container of their mixed feed and it does get their attention in a positive way.As I put the food in their feeder I am constantly talking to them and trying to settle them that way.I have started giving them some peanuts, but their not quite sure what to make of it, as it is new to them.Little by little though,with some patience I hope they will not fear me.
Cheers Spiderman!!
John
Keep it up John…Patience is one of the key in our hobbies and sports..someday you will be rewarded by doing that.
Good luck!!! (“,)
Can an owner touch and clean the nests while there are eggs or squeakers in it without disturbing the cock and hen?
I know with most “wild” birds you can not touch the babies as the parents will reject their young. Is it the same with racing homers? I have my new loft built and have a few breeders which I will pair up soon. I have never raised babies, much less pigeons before, so all this is still quite new to me.
Thank you.
Regards,
John
John, don’t try to touch and clean the nest if you don’t know the proper way of handling the eggs or squeakers. Of course, you will disturb the cock/hen inside the nest unless the cock/hen is outside…. : )