After more than 10 days of incubation, the crop of the parent pigeon begins to change. When the chick hatches, the parent is able to produce pigeon milk, a highly nutritious substance rich in fat, lecithin, protein, vitamins, and other essential nutrients. The young pigeons feed by mouth-to-mouth from their parents.
Within six hours of hatching, if the chick’s crop does not feel full, it may indicate a problem. There are two main causes: either the parent is not feeding the chick or the chick is not being fed properly. If the parent isn’t feeding, gently guide the chick’s beak into the parent’s beak several times to encourage feeding. If the parent still refuses, it might be sick, and should be isolated for observation or treatment. In such cases, another pair of parent pigeons can be used to feed the chick. If the parent is unwell and refuses to eat, the chick may starve. A sign that this is happening is when the parent repeatedly pecks at the chick’s beak, trying to stimulate feeding.
As the young pigeon grows, the type of food provided changes. For the first 1–4 days, the parent feeds them very dilute milk. From day 5 to 9, the milk becomes thicker. By day 9, they start to receive semi-digested food mixed with digestive juices. The young pigeon will extend its beak into the parent’s mouth during regurgitation. At this stage, the parent’s diet should include peas, along with small amounts of brown rice, hemp seeds, sorghum, salt soil, and green feed. If one parent dies, manual feeding is required.
By day 13, the young pigeon starts eating whole grains, which can lead to indigestion and crop impaction. If this occurs, the chick should be fed with a lactating mother or given a small amount of the mother’s food to aid digestion.
As the young pigeon grows rapidly, by day 20, it is nearly the size of an adult pigeon and may even weigh more. They typically remain in the nest and rarely leave unless there's a reason—such as curiosity, discomfort, or illness. If a chick runs out of the nest, it should be carefully returned. If it keeps escaping, it may be sick, and treatment with a combination of morpholine, terramycin, and oryzanol should be considered.
During this time, it’s important to monitor the flock for aggression toward the young. In group breeding, new nests should be provided to avoid conflicts. If the parent pigeons are still laying eggs, they may continue to hatch while feeding the chicks. If the parents are overburdened, some eggs can be removed to allow other pairs to hatch. Ensuring rest and health for all pigeons is crucial during this period.
When the next batch of chicks is about to hatch, the older pair should no longer be allowed to stay in the nest. They should be encouraged to leave and live independently. At this stage, the young pigeons also begin to seek their own food, and the breeder takes on more responsibility.
To prepare pigeons for market, fattening usually begins 5–7 days before sale. The selection criteria include a large, healthy bird weighing over 450 grams, free from disease or disability. Pigeons older than 30 days or with dark red skin are not suitable for fattening. Fattening methods include manual or mechanical feeding, using pellets or soaked grains like corn, beans, and brown rice, which are poured directly into the crop.
A bucket feeder is a simple and effective tool. It consists of a funnel or bucket connected to a rubber hose, hung on a sliding hook to control the flow. This system is ideal for larger farms due to its efficiency and capacity.
Anesthesia Breathing Circuit Sterilizer
Anesthesia Breathing Circuit Sterilizer,Hydrogen Peroxide Disinfection Machine,Hydrogen Peroxide Sterilizer,Anesthesia Machine Ventilator
JIANGSU JIANLAIBANG MEDICAL EOUIPMENT CO.,LTD , https://www.jsjlbmed.com