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The pigeon chick, like the chicks of other birds, hatches from an egg laid by the female. However, pigeon cubs have significant differences from the chicks of other birds.
What is the name of a pigeon chick
The dove is the most common bird in the world, ancient and one of the first tamed by man. The bird can be found everywhere except for desert zones and areas with a cold climate. Pigeons are native to South America and some European countries. Pigeons live for about 7 years, domestic individuals up to 15 years and more. These birds are bred for various reasons: for some it is a serious hobby for life, for others it is a way to earn money. Undoubtedly, pigeon breeding continues to develop and there are more and more lovers of birds.
Accordingly, there is an interest in the chicks of pigeons. Many people wonder: what does a chick look like, why no one sees them, and what is the name of a dove chick. A small pigeon chick is a dove that is born by hatching from an egg and until a certain age is under the vigilant care of a caring parental couple.
What do pigeon chicks look like
Pigeon cubs are born weighing about 10-12 g. For the first few days they have no sight and hearing. The body of newborn pigeons is disproportionate: they have short, weak legs, a small head and a large beak, so they cannot get up at first. This saves their lives, as they sit quietly in the nest and do not attract the attention of predators. During this period, babies are constantly sleeping.
On the fifth day, the eyes of the babies open, hearing is formed. Thin tubes appear on the body, which then turn into full-fledged feathers, the first fluff appears. Chicks feel warm or cold. If they move away from the mother a little, they immediately try to hide back. During this period, they are surrounded by the care of their parents.
Where are the pigeon chicks
Pigeons incubate their offspring in nests. Future parents are serious about building a house. The male collects materials, and the task of the female is to build a nest. Arrangement begins during the mating period. Pigeons always build their dwelling in one place and do not leave it. On the contrary, with each laying, the nest becomes larger and warmer, as the pigeons constantly strengthen and insulate it. This is due to the lack of plumage in newborns. The parents do their best to keep the pigeons warm.
And yet, if we compare the nest of pigeons and other birds, we can conclude that the builders of them are unimportant. Their dwelling is more like branches felled in a chaotic manner. Pigeons collect material half a kilometer from housing. For construction, they need branches, straw, dry grass, shavings. Arrangement lasts about 10 days. It turns out it is round in shape, with a slight indentation. And if it does not scatter with the wind immediately after the construction is completed, then the structure can be considered strong.
Often pigeons try to disguise the nest, make it as inconspicuous as possible. To do this, after the construction is completed, they cover it with leaves, twigs, grass. This helps not only to hide the nest, but also to protect the pigeons from falling out of it.
Why can’t we see baby pigeons
Despite the trusting attitude towards humans, pigeons prefer to hide their chicks securely. Therefore, no one can know for sure what happens in their nests. In addition, until reaching the age of one month, pigeons do not leave their homes.
In cities, pigeons make nests in places that remind them of rocks – on the roofs of multi-storey buildings, under window sills. Birds perceive them as hard-to-reach rocks, caves. Outside the city, pigeons prefer to nest in trees among foliage, in hollows.
Pigeons make nests in very secluded places, inaccessible to prying eyes, and even more so to predators. By their nature, pigeons are defenseless and therefore equip their home where nothing threatens them. Thus, pigeons manage to save all their offspring.
When doves hatch chicks
Pigeons hatch their chicks almost throughout the year – from early February to November. With good fertility of the parent pair and favorable conditions, pigeons can have up to 8 clutches per year. Among all breeds, the rock dove has the highest reproductive function.
The ability to breed for a long period of time is explained by the fact that pigeons have certain features of feeding chicks. Until a certain age, the female feeds pigeons with goiter milk, which has valuable nutritional qualities.
In some breeds of pigeons, for example, the vihar, the time of mating and hatching of pigeons occurs exclusively in the spring, so on average they have up to 3 clutches per year. Based on this, the time of appearance of chicks depends on the breed of pigeons and living conditions.
How many doves hatch chicks
It is impossible to unequivocally answer the question of how long a parent pair of pigeons hatch chicks. On average, this can last from 16 to 20 days. It often depends on the weather conditions. In cold and windy weather, the process is delayed; in the heat, the chicks hatch faster.
Pigeon chicks are especially interesting in winter.
As for breeding thoroughbred pigeons at home, breeders prepare a couple for incubation for several months, providing them with the right diet, a secluded place for nesting and preparing material for a future home.
How pigeons hatch chicks
Pigeons are distinguished from other representatives of birds by a highly developed parental instinct. The chicks are incubated mainly by the female. Her partner replaces the female so that she can find food and warm up. As a rule, the male is in the nest strictly from 9 am to 16 pm, the rest of the time is the expectant mother.
The hatching process takes from several hours to a day. Initially, a small crack appears on the shell, then it grows, others appear until the egg falls apart. Chicks may appear one at a time or at the same time. Sometimes babies need help, parents carefully release them from the shell.
How long does a pigeon chick grow
Immediately after the appearance of the baby from the egg, the female hurries to feed him with colostrum. This happens in the first hours of his life.
The female secretes colostrum from her beak, and its chemical composition is very similar to human milk. Thanks to him, pigeons gain weight very quickly. Colostrum is formed immediately after laying, when certain enzymes begin to form and secrete in the body of the female. After 19 days, the composition of saliva changes in the female and colostrum begins to stand out. It helps the chicks quickly gain weight and turn from a clumsy baby into a beautiful individual with strong immunity.
Important! Pigeons grow rapidly, it is almost impossible to control this process. A monthly pigeon chick is no longer different from adults.
Pigeon chick – photos by week can be seen below.
Newborn babies.
The end of the first week of life, eyes opened slightly, feathers were outlined.
The end of the second week – a meaningful look, the first plumage.
The end of the third week is already confidently standing on its paws.
A month from the date of birth – you can fly!
When the dove chick starts to fly
Usually, a pigeon begins to fly on the 30th day after birth. By this time, he looks like an adult pigeon chick, already very similar to a full-fledged individual. At first, the cubs stay together and continue to beg for food from their parents. As the pigeons grow stronger wings, they master the area and begin to lead an independent lifestyle. Young birds sometimes form flocks and go in search of food and water.
As for domestic pigeons, the breeder needs to place the young at the age of one month in a separate room so that they quickly adapt to living outside the nest. After a few days, after they get used to the new environment, they can be released outside. It is necessary to accustom young birds to flight gradually, directing them to a flock of adults.
Caring for domestic pigeon chicks
The main task of the pigeon breeder after the appearance of new inhabitants in the flock is unobtrusive supervision of the parental couple and newborn chicks. Since pigeons are very caring towards their pigeons, the breeder, most likely, will not have to feed and nurse the babies. Therefore, all that is required during this period is to gradually accustom the kids to yourself. At first, it is better to come to the dovecote in the same clothes. Regular feeding will help to establish contact. When the chicks begin to calmly respond to the owner, you can try to feed them from your hands. Toddlers for the rest of their lives remember exactly the first impressions of the outside world. Often, positive moments in communicating with a breeder shape the behavior and character of pigeons.
During feeding, young birds should be examined to assess their health level. A healthy chick is characterized by activity, good appetite, no mucus in the beak and eyes, even pupils, clean skin, formed, soft stools. If the appearance of the chicks occurred in the cold season, then the pigeon breeder should support the immunity of the chicks with vitamins and mineral supplements and timely vaccinations.
Conclusion
A pigeon chick immediately after birth is a small, unsightly creature, with a disproportionate, weak body. Only thanks to the vigilant care of loving parents, by the age of one month, he turns into a beautiful, noble bird with a peaceful character.