Double D
136 posts
Feb 20, 2006
1:26 PM
|
My very first baby pigeon started hatching yesterday. It's been almost twenty four hours that he's been working to get out. He has a pretty good hole going in the egg but he still has a ways to go. He's got one foot out and is poking his beak out. You can see him flexing every few seconds as if he's trying real hard to get out. I'm concerned he's not going to have enough nourishment to retain the strength to get out of the egg. Someone told me on the NBRC site that it only takes about 3 to 6 hours for a bird to hatch. What is your experience? Thanks!
Darin a.k.a. Nervous Granddad
|
motherlodelofts
604 posts
Feb 20, 2006
1:38 PM
|
Leave it alone , some take some time, plus if they aren't strong enough to make it out on thier own they won't be strong enough later.
The only time I help is if the shell gets crushed in it's wakened state, then just take the top off where the head is and never pull them out of the bottom half as they need to suck up the egg yoke.
Scott
|
Double D
137 posts
Feb 21, 2006
12:42 PM
|
It took the little guy (or gal) about a day and half but he's out of the egg now and seems to be doing fine. He's the first bird that will have been raised in my loft. Hopefully he's a good one. 12 more eggs to go this week.
Darin
|
Opinionated Blowhard
14 posts
Feb 22, 2006
10:59 AM
|
Leave the other eggs alone and dont bother the parents by lifting them up while the eggs are hatching, especialy if the parents are young and inexperienced--and especialy if the loft temperature is below 90 degrees F. The baby doesnt need to expend what few calories he has left trying to stay warm. Kevin
Last Edited by Opinionated Blowhard on Feb 22, 2006 11:01 AM
|
upcd
155 posts
Feb 22, 2006
11:52 AM
|
Glad to hear your baby made it out of the egg. I just love little surprizes.
|
Double D
141 posts
Feb 23, 2006
7:26 PM
|
I have six squeakers in the breeding loft now and none of them took near as long as that first one to hatch. I don't know if it has anything to do with it but that first squeak was the only egg in that particular nest. I have four eggs that are somewhat late in hatching in comparison to the rest that have hatched already but that were laid at the same time. They may not be fertile but I'll give them a few days and see what happens.
Darin
|