Is it really common to see a small, soft bird, not exactly a fledgling, get disoriented and ask yourself that “What helps now?” For those who have encountered such problems you’re not the only one. Most others find themselves in this situation, not knowing how to proceed. It may be daunting at first to hold a baby pigeon, considering how helpless it looks. However, it is equally critical to understand how to give the baby pigeon the necessary assistance so that it doesn’t die.
In this guide, we will be steering you through all the steps that you need on how to raise a baby pigeon. By the time you finish reading, you will feel confident in your ability to provide the best care for your new feathered buddy. Now, let get moving to this a little more exciting part!
What Does a Baby Pigeon Look Like?
So, you have discovered a small bird and are thinking that maybe it is a baby pigeon. Let us help sort you out!
First off, squabs are usually small and fluffy when they are young but not exactly the most handsome at first glance. They’re sort of homely, with great big eyes and a beak that’s too big for their little heads. When they get older, their feathers start in but won’t resemble the fancy adult pigeons you find in the park just yet. You’ll notice thin, wiry feathers, and a bit of yellow fuzz still hanging around. Their beaks are also more pronounced and hooked, great for reaching in when mom and dad are giving them food, and their eyes are usually dark and wide, making them somewhat awkwardly cute.
Perhaps one of the reasons that many people are not aware of what a baby pigeon looks like is simply that they are so infrequently, if ever, seen in the open. Pigeons can be quite secretive when raising their babies. They mostly nest in concealed locations such as high buildings or some discreetly quiet corner. Thus squabs hardly get seen unless they are ready to fly out and go into the world. The majority of people have come across baby pigeons as a small fuzzy bird at some place that does not expect, if only they have ever seen one of these less-known squabs.
Understanding these key features will help you in recognizing whether you have found a baby pigeon and knowing what they look like is the first step to being able to give them the care they need!
How to Take Care of a Baby Pigeon
You want to help your little pigeon friend— great! First of all, let me tell you that creating a safe and comfortable environment for the baby pigeon is crucial to its well-being. How can you set up in such a way that your new feathered buddy is getting everything he needs?
Setting Up a Safe Environment
First of all, choose a suitable container or box for the pigeon: a small, tough cardboard box or a plastic container. Line it with a soft towel or cloth to give the space comfortable and secure dimensions. Keep in mind that baby pigeons are very sensitive, so you would not want anything too big where they could harm themselves or be slippery at all.
Baby pigeons have a very poor reaction when it comes to the regulation of body temperature. Therefore, they need to be kept warm at all times. You can use a heating pad on low, or even a desk lamp, small and placed a distance away for gentle heat. Just avoid overheating them, but find that comfortable warm spot, like a sunny day when it is cool outside. If you are using a lamp, keep it at a distance to avoid the risk of a burn.
Last but not least, think about where you’ll be placing this setup. You want to choose a quiet and serene spot away from daily hustle and bustle, and most definitely away from all pets and young children. Pigeons, like most birds, are most at ease in a quiet environment where they can rest and recuperate with no startling or stressful incidents happening.
Handling the Baby Pigeon
When it comes to the handling of the baby pigeon, less is decidedly more. The temptation to cuddle or frequently hold the bird may be great, but handling should be kept as minimal as possible, lest the bird becomes stressed. Be gentle when you handle the pigeon. Support its body with both hands and try to make all movements very slow and steady.
The least amount of handling is recommended to reduce stress, but it would also prevent imprinting. During the process of imprinting, the bird learns to recognize you as a parent, thereby reducing their survival chances in the wild. It is for this reason that you should handle the pigeon only when necessary; for example, when you are cleaning its container or feeding it.
You are giving the baby pigeon an opportunity to grow up big and strong by providing a safe and warm environment along with taking gentle care of it. You are doing a good job, and keep up the great work!
What to Feed a Baby Pigeon
Now that you have your baby pigeon settled in his nest, comes the most important aspect of bringing him up: feeding! One must know what and how often to feed a baby pigeon. Let us now explore what you need to do to keep him happy and healthy.
Understanding the Nutritional Needs
Just like all the other mammals and birds, there are various needs required by the baby pigeons so that they can be strong and healthy. They do need a diet high in both protein and fat. These are the nutrients which help in development and growth of muscles, feathers, and maintenance of general health. Unlike seeds and grains that adult pigeons eat, baby pigeons require what is called “pigeon milk,” a nutritious secretion given by the parents. However, since you’re stepping in as the caregiver, you’ll have to offer something similar in terms of nutrients.
Homemade Diets vs. Commercial Pigeon Food
When it comes to feeding your baby pigeon, you have a couple of options: either homemade diets or commercial pigeon food. Let’s break down the pros and cons into which each can offer.
Homemade diets are good in a pinch, mostly when you find yourself needing to feed the sparrow right away. You can make a basic formula with ingredients like powdered baby bird formula or even make a mix with warm water, boiled egg yolk, and baby cereal. The advantage here is that these ingredients are normally easily available at home. These homemade diets, however, might not be able to provide the perfect amount of nutrition for the pigeon always.
Commercial Pigeon Food will be the best assurance that the baby will get all its nutrients. The formula for baby birds or pigeons is usually in pet stores or ordered online. These preparations produce the high protein and fat content that baby pigeons need. The downside? They might be harder to find or a bit more expensive, but it is worth the effort for your pigeon’s health.
Feeding Techniques
Feeding a baby pigeon doesn’t get any easier than just putting food in front of the bird. As a matter of fact, feeding them needs a little assistance from you. How? Well, here is how to do it:
- Prepare the Food: Mix your formula of choice, homemade or commercial, to a smooth creamy consistency. It should be at a warm temperature, but not hot, much similar to the means a baby’s bottle is prepared for.
- Feeding Tools: You will need a small syringe without the needle or an actual feeding tool called a “crop needle”. The syringe is really great because you’re able to control the amount of food given.
- Feeding Process: Gently hold the pigeon with one hand to keep it steady. With the other hand, take the syringe and slowly squirt in the food into the side of the mouth-not straight down the throat-of the pigeon. This is how they would be normally fed by their parents, and it prevents them from choking.
- Frequency and Amount: If the baby pigeon is very young-less than a week old-feed about 5 to 6 times a day, reducing to 2 to 3 times a day as it grows. A good rule of thumb is to feed them until the crop feels full but not overly tight. You’ll learn to estimate this by feel after several feedings.
- Overfeeding/Underfeeding Signs: Observe signs, such as an always full crop. You are looking for a nice balance wherein the bird should be plump but not stuffed.
What Do Baby Pigeons Eat?
Feeding a baby pigeon is more than just offering any old bird food. These little guys have specific dietary needs that change as they grow. Let’s go over what’s safe and nutritious for baby pigeons to eat at different stages of their early life.
First Week: Liquid Diets and Special Formula for a Baby Pigeon
For a week-old baby pigeon, it is all about the liquids. They cannot eat any solid foods yet, so they need something really easy to go down. If in the wild, they would be living off “pigeon milk,” a rich nutritious secretion that comes out of their parents. As for you, you will want to use a special formula for baby birds that can usually be found within most pet stores. It’s made to give them all of the proteins and fats they need to start growing strong.
If you can’t find any formula in a pinch, you can always do a makeshift mix with warm water, baby cereal, and adding in some boiled egg yolk to thicken and give them extra protein. The mixture should be slick and creamy, like a milkshake, making it easy for them to take down.
Two to Four Weeks: Soft Foods and Seeds Introduction
By the time your baby pigeon is two to four weeks old, it will be time to start introducing it to other foods aside from these formulas. Introduce soft and easily digestible pieces of food, such as soft peas or small pieces of soft fruits and vegetables. In addition, you may start providing tiny seeds, such as millet, mixed in with the formula. This is a gradual process to wean them off an all-liquid diet onto something a little more ‘solid’.
Mist 娛 at specific times of the day. At this stage, you’ll want to pay close attention to how well they can tolerate these new textures. If they experience discomfort, add more formula into the soft food to make it easier on their stomach. Always ensure any foods given as solids are small and soft enough never to present the risk of choking.
Four Weeks and Beyond: Gradual Transition to Solid Foods and Adult Pigeon Diet
You may start giving them a wider variety of seeds and grains, with additions of small fruits and vegetables. Secondly, at this stage, one should start reducing the formula or soft food as they get accustomed to eating solid food by themselves.
Sudden changes to their diet could upset them in the stomach. Watch the droppings of your birds and adjust accordingly.
Foods Not to Feed and Diet Mistakes
You should avoid bread, milk, or the intake of processed foods with components of salt or sugar. These can cause digestive problems or provide inadequate nutrition.
Also, be very cautious not to feed them any big seeds or hard gains before it’s too early. Their digestive system is still developing, and therefore, feeding them the wrong type of food may result in serious health issues.
Guided by this, and at the right stages of development with the proper foods, you will be able to help your baby pigeon grow into a healthy and happy bird. Remember, it is all about patience and gradual changes; your little pigeon is counting on you to get this right!
Conclusion
Taking care of a baby pigeon may be an overwhelming experience but is quite achievable. In this article, we have gone from identifying a baby pigeon and setting up a safe environment to understanding its particular nutritional needs and how to feed it correctly. Remember, you want them to grow up strong and healthy either for release into the wild or to be with you a bit longer.
If you found this guide helpful, then help others who may be stuck in such situations by sharing it on social media. Interested in reading more about birds? Take a look at our other article on the Top 5 Birdwatching Spots in the USA for when you want to enjoy more of nature’s beautiful feathered friends. Thanks for reading, and happy bird caring!
People Also Ask
We know you might still have a few questions on how to take care of a baby pigeon, so let’s get the most common ones sorted out for you:
Nope, as much as their beaks would love them, bread is a no-go for baby pigeons-just like for most birds. It doesn’t provide the nutrition they require and can actually be harmful to their digestion. Stick with the diets recommended in this article!
Depends on the age. The young ones should be fed around 5-6 times a day; in fact the old ones can be given less frequently.
This depends on both where you live and what kind of pigeon you have. Most places consider it totally acceptable to keep common pigeons (a rock dove) but always check local wildlife regulations.
