Squabs

[diamondlil]

Baby's dropped wing has strengthened up and straightened out! Just waiting for it's tail to grow a bit more and it'll be able to direct it's flight a bit better and not crash-land in a panic. It's about half and half on feeding itself now, and both are nicely filled out around their keel-bones.

 

[Nanci]

Great news! Will there be a flock for them to join up with at the place they get released?

 

[diamondlil]

Oh crikey yes! There's a park quite near us with large gardens backing on to it, near the train station. The resident flock always look healthy, being fed by the children and office workers using the park, as well as an every morning handout from local asian business's and families (a cultural tradition for people of Gujarati origin), and nesting on the building ledges in the local high street.
I've chosen there rather than the nearer flock because of the handouts! Most of the pigeons there are semi-tame, and will take food out of your hand, so my tame babies will fit in well.

 

[Pasodama]

It's nice that you have a good place to release them.
The people will help out, in the food department, and the resident pigeons can teach them to be ... well ... pigeons.

 

[diamondlil]

I was going to release the squabs today, because baby can now feed independently and fly properly. Foiled by the weather now, rain all day today and snow showers predicted for tomorrow:uhoh:. Then there should be a couple of dry days, so I'll shoot for a Saturday morning release.

 

[hartsock]

I was going to release the squabs today, because baby can now feed independently and fly properly. Foiled by the weather now, rain all day today and snow showers predicted for tomorrow:uhoh:. Then there should be a couple of dry days, so I'll shoot for a Saturday morning release.

what a nice thread! It was something to brighten up my day as I start it. I hope all goes well with the release and let us know! I admire the time you put into these two birds that most people would right off and just say they aren't worth it, too many already.

 

[diamondlil]

Thanks! I've lost count of the birds I've raised and released since childhood. You can't save them all but when you can it's brilliant! Stood me in good stead when one of my zebra finches rejected every white fledgling as soon as their feathers grew in. If I hadn't had practice with sparrows etc I'd have been more daunted by hand-raising the finches. Starlings are about the most fun because they will mimic your whistles and have a really plucky personality

 

[diamondlil]

Weather forecast here changed, it's a bright and sunny morning, so I'm going to bite the bullet and release the squabs today.

 

[diamondlil]

Release successful, the eaglets have landed! First I packed the squabs in a pillowcase in a shopping bag and took them to the park. As usual the fat and tame flock there were easy to approach and came over for breadcrumbs.

 

[diamondlil]

First out of the bag was baby. I let him watch the flock from the safety of the bag before he walked along the bench, then joined them!

 

[djfreebase]

ahh, nice one Janine.

 

[diamondlil]

Then I had to persuade the bigger squab to do the same. He wanted to stay in the bag at first. I fed the flock and watched for a while until I couldn't tell which were my released babies, then came home. Mission accomplished!

 

[Plissken]

Nice one, Janine! I have rescued a few birds in the past and it is such a great feeling when they fly away fit and healthy.

 

[diamondlil]

Thanks Wayne, Becks!
(I'll just point out, the white bread was just some leftovers to entice the flock over. The squabs were thoroughly spoilt, progressing from their eggy porridge mix to pigeon mix and multi-grain granary bread while they were with me. They had the organic 'finest' stuff when it was on offer, prompting protest from my middle boy that they had better quality food than us!)

 

[Pasodama]

Good deal.

Nice to see the photos, of their release, too.

 

[Rich in KY]

Great job, Janine!! :dancer:

 

[ZoologyMajor]

Nice thread and great job! Makes me miss my old quaker parrot. I don't miss the mess he made though. I wish I had a raven for a pet. Unfortunately my can't wouldn't agree.

 

[Nanci]

Yay!!! They look like such babies compared to the flock! When are you going back to check?? I wish that was my backyard...

 

[diamondlil]

Slight problem, Nanci! You know how clever pigeons are, and I don't want the babies to try following me home because of the cats! I know this flock gets fed every day without fail, so it's the best chance I can give the babies to succeed.

 

[diamondlil]

:angry01:I was noodling along the high street when I saw an evil child chasing and kicking a squab. I told her it was wrong, she said 'I'm just trying to make it fly'. The parents did catch up then and tell her off, then I caught the squab and brought her home. She was just outside my new trendy hairdresser's shop, sp the cutting crew all came out to wish her well.
Poor Scruffy has a bald head, and a prominent keel, but no signs of wing or leg injuries. Force fed her some pigeon mix and settled him into the cat carrier, next to my bed. I'm away for the weekend, so the boys will feed the baby until I get back.