The pigeon has a highly developed parental instinct; parent birds do not need human help when caring for the chicks. But it happens that domestic pigeons remain orphans, and wild pigeons fall out of the nest. In these situations, a person has to become the feeder of the chicks. Baby pigeons are weak and dependent, it is extremely difficult to get them out, you need to know not only what to feed an orphaned pigeon chick, but how to do it correctly, what tools to use.
What do the parents feed the pigeons?
In the first stages of life, chicks receive from their parents a liquid substance called “pigeon milk”. This substance is secreted from the pigeon's crop, both parents, but especially strongly from the female. At the stage of hatching eggs, the crop of birds noticeably expands, and the glands that synthesize milk swell in it. When the chicks hatch from the eggs, they feed on milk mixed with semi-digested food regurgitated by the parents from the digestive tract.
The density of the milk changes due to the work of the ring-shaped muscles. In the first days after birth, pigeons are fed a liquid porridge-like substance. After about a week, the ring-shaped muscles relax a little, the ducts expand, allowing larger food particles to enter the milk.
Somewhere on the 10-12th day, the parents stop feeding the chicks milk. To feed their offspring, they soften regular food by thoroughly soaking it in water. Gradually, parents reduce the amount of water used to soften food, thereby accustoming the pigeons to a normal diet.
What to do if a pigeon chick falls out of the nest
It is problematic to release a pigeon chick that is orphaned or has fallen out of the nest. In most cases, the baby pigeon dies, and there are two explanations for this:
- In the first day after birth, feeding with goiter milk is extremely important for the formation of the chick’s immunity. Not a single type of milk, not a single milk substitute is suitable for feeding pigeons.
- Little pigeons are completely helpless, they cannot see, they cannot rise to their paws due to the disproportion of their physique and too large head. At the same time, they need abundant and frequent feeding.Due to non-compliance with feeding rules and careless human manipulations, pigeon chicks often die.
But successful feeding and nursing is possible. The following rules must be observed:
- extremely carefully pick up a chick that has fallen out of the nest;
- Conduct a careful examination for skeletal injuries and skin wounds;
- if injuries are detected, take the foundling to a veterinary clinic;
- if there is no damage, take the chick home and feed it immediately;
- arrange a nest for the baby pigeon;
- regularly monitor his well-being, but do not touch him with your hands;
- Continue feeding until the chick grows up and becomes independent.
What to feed a pigeon chick at home
When feeding a small pigeon, you should remember the key rule: the food must be well ground. It must be ground in a blender to a puree-like consistency. The range of products suitable for feeding a pigeon is wide, but most products can only be used when the pet is 2 weeks old. The main task of the guardian is to teach the little pigeon to absorb food on its own, otherwise, upon returning to its natural environment, the pet will not be able to obtain food and will die from exhaustion. Since the small chick does not know how to grab food, you will have to help him using the following tools:
- 5 ml syringe;
- rubber pacifier;
- pipette;
- bowl for preparing feed mixture.
A chick that has not received parental milk has low immunity, so it is necessary to create the most comfortable and safe conditions for it. The temperature near the nest should be 40-42 °C. You can line the nest with hot water bottles. Sudden temperature fluctuations and drafts are unacceptable.
First week
It is in the first week that the chick’s survival depends on proper care and feeding. Feeding a newborn pigeon must strictly follow the rules. But even this does not guarantee the orphan's survival.
The baby pigeon is fed raw chicken yolk. It is dried and ground into powder. Before feeding, dissolve in water, heat, but do not bring to a boil.
For feeding, a nipple is pulled onto the tip of the syringe. It is cut at 45° so that the chick can stick its beak inside. This way he will learn to absorb food on his own. But in the first stages, they do not cut off the pacifier; they insert it into the pigeon’s beak and slowly squeeze out the pulp. The main thing is to carry out the manipulation carefully, since there is a high risk of injuring the beak of a small pigeon. Also on the first day, instead of a pacifier, you can use a pipette. The volume of one serving is 10 ml, later - 15 ml. The daily number of feedings is at least 6. If a pigeon chick remains alive on the first day, it is highly likely to survive.
Second week
A pigeon chick that has lived through the first week is already strong, with developed auditory and visual organs. Feeding him is now easier. The diet is supplemented with steamed barley, millet, millet and pea grains, ground to a powder consistency. You should not give your pet buckwheat and rice. Little by little, natural honey is added to the grain mass to strengthen the immune system.
To prevent the little pigeon from developing skeletal problems, calcium sources are introduced into the diet.You can grind pharmaceutical calcium tablets into powder and add them to the feed mixture. Or you can grind eggshells or chalk (feed chalk, not writing chalk). The temperature near the nest is reduced to +25 °C. The pigeon is fed 5 times a day.
Third week
From the third week, pigeon chicks eat whole grains soaked in boiling water for 15 minutes. The owner, holding the pet tightly, carefully opens the beak with his fingers and pushes several grains into the oral cavity. Having closed its beak, the chick, obeying the reflex, swallows the food. Several such feedings, and the pigeon chicks eat on their own.
You should absolutely not feed your pigeon dry grains. They will clog the upper digestive tract, and the bird will die from suffocation. A filled crop indicates that the chick is full. The diet includes sources of calcium and vitamin-rich, finely chopped greens. The daily number of feedings is 4-5.
From the third week, the pigeon begins to water. First, water heated to room temperature is poured into the oral cavity with a pipette in small portions. Next, the pigeon is taught to drink on its own by plunging its beak into the drinking bowl. The main thing is that the liquid does not flow into the nostrils, otherwise the pet will not be able to breathe.
Fourth week
From the fourth week the diet is supplemented with:
- wheat bread, softened in water, molded into lumps;
- boiled crumbled egg;
- boiled, grated carrots;
- unsalted millet porridge boiled in water;
- broad beans.
They feed the young pigeon, still pushing food into its beak. Raw cereals should not be given. During the period of flight training, the diet is adjusted, the portion of cereal feed is reduced, and broad beans are added (lentils, peas, vetch). To strengthen the baby's immunity, fish oil is added to the feed mixture (a few drops twice a day).
A grown-up pigeon chick drinks plenty of water, thereby improving its digestion. The water poured into the drinking bowl should not be boiled. When boiling liquid, beneficial microorganisms die, which have a positive effect on digestive function.
Feeding the grown chicks
When the feathered teenager managed to emerge, he reached the age of one month, he is gradually, over the course of a week, transferred to adult food. In the diet, the portion of eggs and bread is reduced, cereal feed is increased, and ground pea and corn grains and sunflower seeds are included.
To maintain the pigeon’s immunity, it is necessary to feed it daily with vitamin-rich chopped greens (lettuce and cabbage leaves, clover, dandelion, alfalfa), grated carrots, and barley sprouts (without the grain itself). It is advisable to drip a few drops of unrefined oil into the greens. An older pet should be cared for as if it were an adult bird.
Vitamins and minerals
The optimal sources of minerals for baby pigeon are crushed shells, shell rock, and bone meal. These supplements reduce the likelihood of rickets in a young pigeon.
Vitamin preparations are introduced into the pet’s diet from the 2nd week of birth. The bird should receive:
- retinol (A);
- calciferol (D);
- tocopherol (E);
- B-group (B1,B2,B3,B5,B6,B9,B12).
Vitamin preparations for birds are sold in pet stores. When using them, the dosage must not be exceeded, otherwise the pigeon will develop hypervitaminosis, which negatively affects the development of the body and immunity.
What to do if the chick does not eat
Pigeon chicks are usually reluctant to take food offered by humans, and force-feeding can injure the pet.
In this situation, you can cheat: before giving food, lightly touch the chick’s head with your fingers. This action will cause the baby pigeon to reflexively open its beak. In nature, pigeons, signaling deaf and blind chicks that they are ready to feed, gently knock on their heads with their beaks.
If after such a trick the chick still does not open its beak, then you will have to grab the pet’s head, open the beak with extreme caution with your fingers, and put food into the mouth with the other hand. It is advisable to carry out feeding and care every day in the same clothes, so that the pet gets used to the feeder and does not experience stress when he appears.
What is forbidden to give
The following foods will harm the pigeon chick and should absolutely not be included in the diet:
- nightshade crops (tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, potatoes);
- citruses and other exotic fruits;
- dairy products;
- black bread, rye grain;
- meat fish;
- salty food;
- any insects and larvae.
A pigeon chick that has fallen out of the nest and is left without parental care will not survive on its own, so the person who discovers it cannot pass by. If you do everything strictly according to the rules, then even a weak pet can be turned into a strong and healthy pigeon.
