Gun Dog Forum

Well I finally had a bird lay 2 eggs....when to check on them today and they had hatched but both birds were dead...how common is this? This would be the bird first hatch....since i haven't been using the birds i have been free feeding them...ive been real busy and been about a day or 2 overdue for checking their food when i went to add feed and water the feed was out couldn't have been out for long but could the hen not have been able to make the milk if she didn't have food right when they hatched? there still was grit and water....had a little cold snap too if that could have anything with it but the eggs were in a next box with straw.

Very likely the feed caused your problem. The birds need to be cared for every day. If you can't do that there needs to be some sort of a self-feeder that will keep enough feed and keep it clean for a few days. The cold shouldn't have bothered if both the hen and cock are taking care of them. I also think sometimes the first hatch of a new pair are at risk.

I have noted with my birds that they always feed after they eat and drink so I make sure that they are cared for everytime I feed the dogs. All part of the chores if you are going to keep them confined.

Ezzy

I agree with Ezzy. Cold should not be a problem what so ever. I have some new chicks right now and the temp just got down to -10. I wish the pigeons would stop laying in the cold months.

Food and water are critical when you are hatching eggs. If the parents are hungry/thirsty they won't be taking care of the young. When it's cold the babies don't last very long without the parents body heat to sustain them.

Your problem is more then likely Paratyphoid or Canker.Do you medicate your birds each year? I doubt very much it had anything to do with lack of food for that short time.Paratyphoid will cause chick death in the egg and also in the nest usually within a week or so after hatching.Canker will also cause chicks to die.I medicate with MedPet 4 in 1 once a year.It takes care of Paratyphoid,Canker,Cocidiousous,and e-coli.You should medicate your birds yearly the same as dogs gets their booster etc.

Water is very important. Probably the problem especially if your birds are nice and fat. Also if the parents think they are not getting enough feed and water they will choose to let them die. Mother nature tells them they have to survive no matter what to produce other babies even if these have to be sacrificed.

Birds had plenty of water food was out probably for 1 day 2 at the most but i know they eat more than they need since i have been free feeding them so it know it wouldn't hurt them. ( I keep pigeon grit out and feed a scratch that is corn, and other grains)...they are nice and fat im not really using them right now...I have not medicated them. I use a chicken feeder when i am free feeding them and usually keep about 5 days worth at a time so they cant dirty it up. So when do you think they will lay again...I also going to get about 4 or 5 more adult birds to see if i can get some more to pair up. where can i get the medicine for pigeons?

I'd be surprised if letting them go without feed for a few days wasn't the culprit, but here's a link to the source of meds I use http://www.globalpigeon.com/. Their worm, coccidia and canker "multi-mix" is actually the only medication I've found need for over the dozen or so years I've kept pigeons - knock wood - and I only use it when birds from an outside source are introduced to the loft, when birds are wasting (getting thin), or a time or two a year "just in case".

Others' mileage may vary.

I have never had a disease problem with my birds but in recent years I do medicate them occasionally just to make sure. However, when you say they may have been out of feed a day or two but its no problem since they are free fed other times just doesn't make a lick of sense to me. I am free fed as is everyone else on here and none of us go a couple of days without food because someone just doesn't bother to feed us. And if we did, we would still be just as hungry no matter how much we had available the day before. And us fat people would be just as hungry as the thin ones. Granted we aren't going to starve to death but I am sure it would effect me trying to feed the kids especially if I didn't know if I would ever be able to get out of captivity and find food again. This will also effect their homing since they return because they like their home.

This may sound harsh but it really bothers me when people keep animals captive and then don't take care of them whether it is our dogs or our birds.

OK, I am off of my soap box. and I'm sorry if this is too harsh but we need to take responsibility for all the animals we have that are no longer free to live in their natural state.

luke0927 wrote:Birds had plenty of water food was out probably for 1 day 2 at the most

There is your problem. Adult birds can live on body fat for a day or three. What are the young ones who have stupendously high metabolisms supposed to live on?

slistoe wrote:

luke0927 wrote:Birds had plenty of water food was out probably for 1 day 2 at the most

There is your problem. Adult birds can live on body fat for a day or three. What are the young ones who have stupendously high metabolisms supposed to live on?

So the birds have to have food that day to make the milk...is it just regurgitated food? I must have been a few days of i hadn't though the eggs were hatched yet.....Guess i know better now...how long till that bird will lay again?

Your birds need to have access to food every day. Same with clean water. If you are going to be gone a few days just load them up. They will only eat when they need to. They have to have food and water every day when nesting. They should relay eggs in a few days. I have a neighbor kid that will check on mine when out of town for a few days.

They will normally lay again in about 2 weeks.

Ezzy