Content
- 1 What is the name of a pigeon chick
- 2 What do pigeon chicks look like
- 3 Where are the chicks of pigeons
- 4 Why do we not see chicks of pigeons
- 5 When doves hatch their chicks
- 6 How many pigeons hatch chicks
- 7 How doves hatch their chicks
- 8 How long does a pigeon chick grow
- 9 When a dove chick starts to fly
- 10 Conclusion
A pigeon chick, like the chicks of other birds, hatches from an egg laid by a female. However, young pigeons have significant differences from the chicks of other birds.
What is the name of a pigeon chick
The dove is the most widespread bird in the world, ancient and one of the first tamed by man. The bird can be found everywhere except desert zones and areas with cold climates. South America and some European countries are recognized as the homeland of pigeons. Pigeons live for about 7 years, domestic individuals up to 15 years and more. They are engaged in breeding these birds for various reasons: for someone it is a serious hobby for life, for someone it is a way of earning money. Undoubtedly, pigeon breeding continues to develop and there are more and more bird lovers.
Accordingly, there is interest in the chicks of pigeons. Many people ask themselves the question: what does the chick look like, why no one sees them, and what is the name of the pigeon chick. A small chick of pigeons is a pigeon 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
Cubs of pigeons are born weighing about 10-12 g. 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, babies' eyes 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 a little away from the mother, they immediately try to hide back. During this period, they are surrounded by the care of their parents.
Where are the chicks of pigeons
Pigeons incubate their offspring in nests. Parents-to-be are serious about building a house. The male collects materials, and the female's task is to build a nest. The arrangement begins during the mating period. Pigeons always build their dwellings in one place and do not leave it. On the contrary, with each laying, the nest becomes more and more voluminous and warmer, as the pigeons constantly strengthen and insulate it. This is due to the lack of plumage in newborns. Parents are trying their best to warm the pigeons.
And yet, if we compare the nest of pigeons and other birds, then we can conclude that the builders of them are unimportant. Their dwelling is more like branches dumped in a chaotic manner. The material is collected by pigeons half a kilometer from the house. For construction, they need branches, straw, dry grass, shavings. The arrangement takes about 10 days. It turns out it is round in shape, with a small depression. And if it does not fly away with the wind immediately after the end of the construction, then the structure can be considered strong.
Often pigeons try to disguise the nest, to make it as invisible as possible. To do this, after the completion of construction, 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 do we not see chicks of pigeons
Despite the gullible attitude towards a person, pigeons prefer to safely hide their chicks. Therefore, no one can know for certain what is happening in their nests. In addition, until the age of one month, the 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 the foliage, in hollows.
Pigeons build their nests in very secluded places, inaccessible to prying eyes and even more so to predators. By their nature, pigeons are defenseless and therefore equip a home where nothing threatens them. Thus, pigeons manage to preserve all their offspring.
When doves hatch their chicks
Pigeons hatch their chicks almost throughout the year - from early February to November. With good fertility of the parental 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 offspring for an extended period of time is explained by the fact that pigeons have some peculiarities of feeding chicks. Up to a certain age, the female feeds pigeons with goiter milk, which has valuable nutritional qualities.
In some breeds of pigeons, for example, the vikhar, the time of mating and hatching of pigeons falls exclusively in the spring, so, on average, they have up to 3 clutches per year. Based on this, the time of emergence of chicks depends on the breed of pigeons and living conditions.
How many pigeons hatch chicks
It is impossible to unequivocally answer the question of how long a parental pair of pigeons incubates their chicks. On average, this can last from 16 to 20 days. Often it all depends on the weather conditions. In cold and windy weather, the process is delayed, in hot weather the chicks hatch faster.
Pigeon chicks are especially interesting in winter.
As for the breeding of thoroughbred pigeons at home, the breeders prepare the pair for incubation in a few months, providing them with the right diet, a secluded nesting place and prepare material for the future home.
How doves hatch their 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 stays in the nest strictly from 9 am to 4 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 can appear in turn 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 baby emerges from the egg, the female is in a hurry to feed him colostrum. This happens in the first hours of his life.
The female secretes colostrum from its 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 female's body. After 19 days, the female's saliva changes and colostrum begins to be secreted. It helps 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 month-old pigeon chick is no longer different from adults.
Pigeon chick - photo by week can be seen below.
Newborn babies.
The end of the first week of life, eyes opened, feathers were outlined.
The end of the second week - a meaningful look, the first plumage.
The end of the third week - already confidently standing on its paws.
One month from the moment of birth - you can fly!
When a dove chick starts to fly
Usually the pigeon starts flying 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 keep together and continue to beg for food from their parents. As the wings grow stronger in pigeons, 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 plant the young at the age of one month in a separate room, so that they quickly adapt to living outside the nest. A few days later, after they get used to the new environment, they can be released into the street. 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 to unobtrusively look after the parental couple and newborn chicks. Since pigeons are very caring towards their pigeons, the breeder, most likely, will not have to feed and care for the babies. Therefore, all that is required during this period is to gradually accustom the kids to themselves. At first, it is better to come to the dovecote in one dress. Regular feeding will help to establish contact. When the chicks begin to calmly react to the owner, you can try hand-feeding them. Kids for the rest of their lives remember exactly the first impressions of the outside world. Often the positive aspects of communicating with the breeder shape the behavior and character of the pigeons.
During feeding, young birds should be examined to assess their health. A healthy chick is characterized by activity, good appetite, lack of mucus in the beak and eyes, smooth pupils, clean skin, formed, soft stools. If the appearance of the chicks happened in a 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, it turns into a beautiful, noble bird with a peaceful character.
