Help rearing a baby pigeon please!?

Question

I acquired a baby pigeon this morning, about 3 days old I reckon, eyes not yet open. I've hand reared a thrush before and seen some other birds handreared, but this one is not acting like other birds and it's confusing me! I also cannot find out how often you're supposed to feed the things, some sources say 2-3 times a day, some say 'at least 5' so I'm guessing it'll be closer to that as the bird is so young. Another source said the nutrition the bird got from it's egg will see it through 'the first few days'.

So - am I over or underfeeding it? I've had it 11 hours and fed it 4 times - the first two times with 0.1ml glucose water, the second two with about 0.2ml Tropican (parrot rearing mash). I honestly don't get if it's desperately hungry or desperately trying to get away from the food - once it's in its beak it goes calm and swallows it well, but otherwise goes mental when its touched, squeaking and squirming  - I know it sounds silly but it seems more angry than hungry!

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Here's what you can do if you'd like. Just follow the directions on this page: 

http://pigeoncote.com/vet/feedbaby/feedbaby.htm

If the youngster already has feathers about 3/4 grown, he may even be able to feed himself somewhat. Put some small seed on the table - the roundness will help set off his pecking instinct. Big thing is water, he needs it in a cup or bowl at least an inch (2.54 cm) deep. Pigeons drink by suction.

If you don't have time to tube him, you can even just hand feed him (his beak is large but soft and not any sort of a threat to anything at all.)

Yes, adult pigeons feed a type of food called pigeon milk (however DO NOT feed the bird cow's milk or any other mammal milk. - it ain't the same thing and the bird has no lactase to digest the milk sugars and it will make him sick)

ariana · Answer

Yes, I had a baby pigeon once,  but it wasn't quite as young as yours. But he wasn't able to eat by himself, I think I fed him like every 3-4hrs. The squirming is probably cause he's hungry. I gave him moist  cat food since there was a lot of nutrition in it, well he did fine with that. As he got older,and was eating on his own, I fed him  pigeon food. 

Be prepared that when he's old enough to release him, he won't want to go, I threw mine up in the air and said Goodbye,
 he flew around and came right back to me. I just couldn't get rid of him, haha.
So he just stayed around the house.

Please keep us updated
Good Luck

boxinbabe72 · Answer

You will need to feed the baby when it has an empty crop.How many times you feed it will depend on the size of its crop right now. Its crop is the bag-like thing hanging on its neck. As you can see when you feed the bird it fills up and slowstarts to empty. You can tell by its crop how full it is too.
The baby is probably very angry right now. It is used to its parents feeding it when suddenly it was taken from everything it knows. Give it some time to get used to you and your scent.
Good luck!

Anonymous · Answer

i ought to take the great care of the mothers and fathers and enable them take care of the toddlers. they're going to do a miles extra positive interest then we may be able to as they're going to feed them what they want. be effective to furnish loose determination to water, feed and grits 24/7.

mslucy22033 · Answer

please contact a licensed wildlife rehabber in your area to care for the bird.  you should have left it where you found it.

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Help rearing a baby pigeon please!?

5 Answers