Hi everyone,
This is the story of Egbert.
The beginning of this year I rescued a baby (ish) pigeon from the ocean. The plan was to let him dry off, eat a bit and fly back home. It turned out the pigeon was quite young, still had that awkward looking face, yellow fluff and possibly only just learning to fly? If not quite there yet. I'm not a pigeon keeper, wasn't too sure.
So, Egbert stayed a while. I had him in a bird cage and then transferred him to my chicken coop so he could learn to fly in that space, and eventually go home. Egbert bonded immediately with the chickens, and when it came time to 'fly the coop', he stayed.
Egbert lives a pretty good life, he cuddles with the rooster at night (his bff) and is let out with the chickens everyday. He follows his chicken gang, mimicking their behaviour. He also flies around, but always within eyeshot of his rooster. Egbert is quite friendly, I've caught him sneaking inside onto the couch a few times, he'll hang sociably with us while we are outside and he particularly likes to bathe in the dog bowl.
I felt guilty that he wasn't getting any pigeon socialisation, so when a friend rescued another baby (ish) pigeon, I took it on to give Egbert a mate. However, Egbert thought that pigeon was the most terrifying creature he'd ever laid eyes on and proceeded to run/fly away whenever it came too near, and hide behind his chicken friends. Unfortunately, that baby had been in the water too long and died a few days later (its stomach looked a little infected, I realised afterward).
Anyway, Egbert is officially a pigeon-chicken.
Everyone loves Egbert, he's a real character. However, Egbert had been acting a little weird lately. I thought it might be those 'spring' vibes. As it turns out, Egbert now identifies as Egberta.
Egbert has decided to join our clucky hens, create a nest and lay an egg! *She* is quite besotted with her little corner in the coop and super aggressive towards us and the dogs, understandably.
Help me! I've never had pigeons before or had to deal with this, is it similar to chickens? Can I just remove her egg and she'll get over it? I'm concerned that if I do so, she'll nest outside the coop perhaps. Our chickens free range during the day, so I can't exactly prevent her going elsewhere. I also read that pigeons co-parent, so I've been putting down feed next to her. Should I be concerned she'll burn herself out on a nest without a mate 'helping'?
Do pigeons lay eggs without having a mate? Because I don't think I've seen another pigeon in the area (I live out of town on property, the small pigeon population is in town by the beach). But she is out everyday so I suppose it couldn't be entirely ruled out. I think it is unlikely though.
What is the kindest thing to do here? Should I give her a fertilised pigeon egg if I can source one? Should I remove her egg? Should I let her sit and see what happens? Also, she's nesting on the ground. Not entirely smart if there were a baby, although the other chickens love her and she does peck them if they get too close to her egg.
I appreciate any advice, I've only had chickens or ducks. I don't thiiiiink we would want another pigeon, as Egbert fits so nicely into the family. I'm not sure if another pigeon would ruin that dynamic. (if Egbert wasn't terrified of it).
I've attached some photos bellow. I have some funny video, too, but not sure if I can add that to this.
Cheers,
Britt
Here she is with some of the gang:
(This is her usual sleeping arrangements)
Her rooster BFF and one of the hens
Her current predicament:
This is the story of Egbert.
The beginning of this year I rescued a baby (ish) pigeon from the ocean. The plan was to let him dry off, eat a bit and fly back home. It turned out the pigeon was quite young, still had that awkward looking face, yellow fluff and possibly only just learning to fly? If not quite there yet. I'm not a pigeon keeper, wasn't too sure.
So, Egbert stayed a while. I had him in a bird cage and then transferred him to my chicken coop so he could learn to fly in that space, and eventually go home. Egbert bonded immediately with the chickens, and when it came time to 'fly the coop', he stayed.
Egbert lives a pretty good life, he cuddles with the rooster at night (his bff) and is let out with the chickens everyday. He follows his chicken gang, mimicking their behaviour. He also flies around, but always within eyeshot of his rooster. Egbert is quite friendly, I've caught him sneaking inside onto the couch a few times, he'll hang sociably with us while we are outside and he particularly likes to bathe in the dog bowl.
I felt guilty that he wasn't getting any pigeon socialisation, so when a friend rescued another baby (ish) pigeon, I took it on to give Egbert a mate. However, Egbert thought that pigeon was the most terrifying creature he'd ever laid eyes on and proceeded to run/fly away whenever it came too near, and hide behind his chicken friends. Unfortunately, that baby had been in the water too long and died a few days later (its stomach looked a little infected, I realised afterward).
Anyway, Egbert is officially a pigeon-chicken.
Everyone loves Egbert, he's a real character. However, Egbert had been acting a little weird lately. I thought it might be those 'spring' vibes. As it turns out, Egbert now identifies as Egberta.
Egbert has decided to join our clucky hens, create a nest and lay an egg! *She* is quite besotted with her little corner in the coop and super aggressive towards us and the dogs, understandably.
Help me! I've never had pigeons before or had to deal with this, is it similar to chickens? Can I just remove her egg and she'll get over it? I'm concerned that if I do so, she'll nest outside the coop perhaps. Our chickens free range during the day, so I can't exactly prevent her going elsewhere. I also read that pigeons co-parent, so I've been putting down feed next to her. Should I be concerned she'll burn herself out on a nest without a mate 'helping'?
Do pigeons lay eggs without having a mate? Because I don't think I've seen another pigeon in the area (I live out of town on property, the small pigeon population is in town by the beach). But she is out everyday so I suppose it couldn't be entirely ruled out. I think it is unlikely though.
What is the kindest thing to do here? Should I give her a fertilised pigeon egg if I can source one? Should I remove her egg? Should I let her sit and see what happens? Also, she's nesting on the ground. Not entirely smart if there were a baby, although the other chickens love her and she does peck them if they get too close to her egg.
I appreciate any advice, I've only had chickens or ducks. I don't thiiiiink we would want another pigeon, as Egbert fits so nicely into the family. I'm not sure if another pigeon would ruin that dynamic. (if Egbert wasn't terrified of it).
I've attached some photos bellow. I have some funny video, too, but not sure if I can add that to this.
Cheers,
Britt
Here she is with some of the gang:
(This is her usual sleeping arrangements)
Her rooster BFF and one of the hens
Her current predicament:
