Sick squeeker

Ella · August 14, 2005

I'm new here and new with pigeons. I have my first two squeekers. but one is not doing well. It is almost five weeks old and has no interest in seed and grain and the parents have stopped feeding it.

I have it on a formula so it has perked up. BUT. . . It fell out of the nest and now is not moving it's leg. I think it is deficient bcause of not enough feeding- and it is very weak. I want to save it if I can- any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

Do I keep it warm? Is it OK to have it in the house while I nurse it? HELP!

Ella

August 15, 2005

Give it honey or sugar water to drink through a dropper and open its mouth and drop small grains into it mouth every 2-3 hours. It will consume more liquids than solids if it has broke a leg keep it as still as possibe packed with straw and with luck the leg will heal in two to three weeks. Very good luck you will need unfortunatly if it does die from shock you will have done your best.

August 15, 2005

PS yes keep it warm.

August 15, 2005

There is something very odd about this. 4/5 weeks old and the young bird should be fending well for itself, eating & drinking. If parents shun one of their own, it usually happens much younger (say up to 10 days old). In 'nature' it is because it is a weakling or has a weakness which will prevent it surviving in its natural environment. Also, a 4/5 week old young bird doesn't fall out of the nest or suffer hurt, it should be feathered and strong enough to leave the box and fly to the floor, naturally 'breaking' its fall. If it has fallen like a stone, then there is something far wrong with it. And now with the fall, it may also have internal injuries too. My guess is that rather than being injured in a fall, one of the older birds has attacked it on the floor and what you are seeing is concussion in the bird. Try isolating it for three days, making sure it drinks and eats (seed, smalls) to see if it comes round. If it doesn't then I think it is best put down.

Ella · August 17, 2005

Yes, I think it's a runt or something. He is eating like a pig now and the leg looks better. Thanks for the help!

Ella

August 17, 2005

Glad to hear it. Been thinking a lot about this one. When you split some youngsters from their parents, they don't like it one little bit and go into a major sulk, refusing to eat or drink. This one's obviously come out of it - big time!!

samantha · August 22, 2005

Hi ella, Im new to pigeons too, only got 4 I had a similar situation a tiny runt the parents wouldnt feed and I found it on the floor twice in one day, so I watched from a distance, it was desperately trying to get a parent to feed it and falling off the edge in the struggle, so I nailed on a small piece of ply to act as a safety rail, and tried to feed the bird myself, It was before I had found this forum so I was at a loss as to what to feed, I soaked some food in water and put it in its mouth, it was well feathered and its sibling was having a bit to food, but it died later that day, too little too late! glad your bird made it, did you get the formula from a pigeon supplier, what is it called? thanks Samantha

August 22, 2005

Samantha, I'm really sorry you lost your pigeon. When you are breeding from your birds again, probably next year, try feeding the parents in a gallipot in their nest box. From the time their eggs are due to hatch, I have food in their gallipot for them 24/7. I also instal an old jar for their water, with a brick for the bird to stand on which also hold the jar of water jammed against the nest box wall in the corner opposite and away from the nest bowl.

Now this all helps in a number of ways. The parents always have food and water before them. This helps the hen especially as she sits 15 hours a day and some are so keen on sitting their eggs or youngsters that they are very reluctant to leave their box even to drink. She can now hop off and on all night having a nibble or a sip and that helps stop her getting run-down. When the youngsters are about 10 days old they watch everything their parents do. When they start walking and wandering around the box, they see their parents eating from the gallipot and drinking from the jar - and copy them.

If one youngster isn't getting enough to eat from its parents, its also not getting enough to drink as it gets its water from its parents in the form of soaked grain. Having food and water available in the box helps 'the runt' (at least gives it the chance to fend for itself) but it also helps get the youngsters independent a lot faster too.

Hope this helps Ella for future too.