Mom pigeon has 4 babies.........

[chickenzoo]

I thought at first she only had 1, then 2, then 4! I'm sure someone else laid eggs in her nest..... they do sometimes, but rarely ever hatch them. She has 4 babies and all seem to be being fed well. Is it possible for her to raise all 4 ?

 

[shelleyd2008]

They should be okay, but if you're worried and have another pair with babies of similar age you can give the other pair one of the babies so both pair have 3. But they should be able to raise them okay, though you might want to consider giving them a break before they hatch anymore.

 

[Okla-doodle-doo]

If at all possible I would foster at least one off. Four will be quiet a challenge when they get a little bigger. Not impossible but not the best scenario.

 

[nzpouter]

what breed? most of my feeders can feed 4 chicks easy as long as there's food available...

 

[chickenzoo]

I think momma is a fantail mix. All the babies seem pretty fat and happy at the moment. I don't see another pair sitting as of yet, they are all in together in a big long aviary until I move into my new place.
I am keeping an eye on them and I will see what happens. I have a pair of white fantails that are great parents, you can move them anywhere and they will find their babies and feed them... if she starts sitting again I've give 2 to her.

 

[Mary Of Exeter]

They can do it, but it is very stressful for the parents and each bird will not get fed as much. Usually there will be one or two big squabs and one or two will be stunted considerably. I do advise helping the parents out by fostering one or two. Or at least going in there at feeding time and handfeeding them to lighten the load a bit.

 

[chickenzoo]

yes i am watching them and as soon as I get moved next week if not sooner i will try to foster them with another pair if possible. Right now they all seem to be keeping full crops and about the same size, although one is bigger but it hatched first.....

 

[birdboy508]

they should be ok.

 

[seminolewind]

Every time the pigeons that live in my coop lay 2 eggs, I replace them with golfballs. I thought they only laid 2 at a time?

 

[chickenzoo]

Quote:
they do, but I think another pair got lazy and decided to let someone else raise their kids this time.......

So far so good, their are 2 bigger ones (original babies) and 2 smaller ones.... ( misplants) but all seem to have nice full croups. I don't have any sitting on other nests yet, but once these 2 bigger babies get a little older I may pull them and feed them so the parents can care for the younger 2.