Taking care of a baby pigeon requires special attention and knowledge. Here are some guidelines to help you:
Ensure safety:
Create a safe and warm environment for the baby pigeon. Keep it away from other pets and predators.
Warmth:
Baby pigeons need to be kept warm. Use a heating pad set on low or place a warm water bottle wrapped in a towel in their nest or enclosure. Maintain a temperature between 95°F (35°C) and 100°F (38°C).
Feeding:
If the baby pigeon is very young and cannot eat on its own, you will need to hand-feed it. Pigeon-specific baby bird formula can be obtained from pet stores or veterinarians. Follow the instructions for mixing the formula, and use a small syringe or a spoon to feed the baby pigeon. Be gentle and make sure it swallows the food properly.
Feeding schedule:
Feed the baby pigeon every 2-3 hours during the day, including early morning and evening. As the bird grows, you can gradually increase the time between feedings.
Hydration:
Baby pigeons can become dehydrated easily, so it’s important to provide water. Use a small, shallow dish or a bottle cap with fresh water. Make sure it’s easily accessible but not deep enough for the bird to drown.
Enclosure:
Provide a comfortable enclosure for the baby pigeon, such as a large cardboard box with ventilation holes. Line the bottom with soft bedding material like paper towels or cloth.
Cleanliness:
Keep the enclosure clean to maintain good hygiene. Replace the bedding regularly and clean any droppings or spills to prevent the growth of bacteria.
Taming and socialization:
Interact with the baby pigeon regularly to help it become comfortable around humans. Handle it gently and talk softly to create a bond. However, avoid excessive handling as it may cause stress.
Gradual weaning:
As the baby pigeon grows, introduce soft pigeon feed or birdseed soaked in water to encourage independent feeding. Gradually reduce the frequency of hand-feeding until the pigeon can eat on its own.
Consult a professional:
If you’re unsure or encounter any difficulties, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator or avian veterinarian for guidance. They can provide expert advice and assistance.
Remember, raising a baby pigeon is a demanding task and requires a commitment of time and resources. It’s important to prioritize the bird’s well-being and consider its long-term care and eventual release into the wild if possible.
There are many reasons why people choose to keep baby birds. Some people enjoy the challenge of raising baby birds because it is a fulfilling feeling to know that they have raised their children.
Here Are Some Ways How To Take Care Of A Baby Pigeon
1. Feeding
There is a lot of information online on raising baby pigeons, but the information is cryptic at best. Everything you need to know about raising chicks has been done before, so in this article, I will try to give you some hints and tips on how to take care of your baby pigeons. The following is a list of guidelines that will show you how to take care of your baby pigeon:
Feed Them When they hatch, you should start with some seed as soon as they hatch. This should be changed to game bird crumbs as soon as they are a few weeks old. This will give them the iron that they need to develop bones and feathers.
If you feel that the chick is not getting enough food, you can add some water until it gets used to it.
2. Housing
When you get your pigeons, they should be housed at a temperature that they are comfortable in. The best temperature is somewhere between 60 degrees and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. You can change the house’s temperature depending on what you want the pigeons to do.
Two tubes will help keep their wings out of the way when sleeping and give them space to fly around. When they are young, you can put a heat lamp over them at night to keep them warm.
3. Food
Feed them a well-balanced diet of pigeon crumbs, seeds, and fruit. When babies, you should feed them as much as they need to get them through their first month. You should also add some water to their food regularly at this age.
Once they are growing, it is important to feed them the right type of food. It is not good for baby pigeons to have too much protein or unsaturated fat in their diets because it can cause their kidneys and heart problems.
4. Hatching
You should start the hatching process around 10 days after the birth of your baby pigeon. The hatching process is the hardest part of raising baby pigeons.
You need to know the right temperature to hatch the baby birds and use them for the incubator. Warmth is important for them to hatch, around 100 degrees Fahrenheit if possible.
You should put four pigeons in an incubator that needs to be turned every half hour and then turned off so they can dry out after a few days.
You will want to use something deep but wide enough to get out all at once when they hatch.
5. Caring for The Baby Pigeon
You should contact someone at a game farm that is breeding pigeons to get tips from them on what to do with your little ones.
Your baby pigeons may need to be force-fed for about a week before they learn how to eat independently.
Ways to Identify and Treat Sick Baby Pigeons
Sick Pigeon
The first thing for a baby pigeon is to check for common ailments such as anemia, diarrhea, and a breathing problem.
If the baby pigeon isn’t breathing or has any of these problems, that pigeon should be treated immediately.
Broken Leg
When a sick bird breaks its leg, you should use the best plaster and shape it with your hands very carefully to put the broken pieces back in place.
Broken Wing
One of the most common problems a baby pigeon will have is broken wings. When a pigeon breaks its wings, it needs to get some rest and be taken care of.
If you see that they are trying to fly, they cannot help them back into their cage or put them on a heating pad to stay warm and recover.
Holding On To The Water
When the temperature drops at night or in the morning, some babies can freeze to death if they cannot get warm. You need to be able to tell if your pigeon is too cold by looking for some of these symptoms:
- Pulling in chest feathers
- Unusual standing motion
- Not moving around much
- Cold hands and feet
- Blue lips or nails – If only one is showing, it can be a sign of frostbite.
Ticks and Lice
These are quite common for pigeons, so you will want to use an anti-parasitic to kill them off if you see them.
Feather Mites
When a baby pigeon has feather mites, it might look like some skin condition that makes its feathers not grow out evenly.
You can find feather mites where the bird’s head meets its neck, the face, or around the bird’s vent area, which is near its tail.
Conclusion
Raising Baby Pigeons is something you can do, but the process is hard and requires patience, attention, and time. It would help if you did it not to stress you or your little ones.
Baby pigeons will stay healthy as long as you keep their diets properly balanced and provide them with all the right care. Thank you for reading this article.
