HAND RAISING ENGLISH SHORT FACED TUMBLERS and OTHER BABY PIGEONS

The purpose of this page is to show some of the techniques/ways to hand raise ESFT.

Babies in the Brooder and Bill overwhelmed at feeding time

HOME MADE BROODER

(PHOTOS BY Bill)

A baby chick heater element was mounted in the top of the box. The top can be easily removed for access to the heater element.  The box can be divided in the middle to separate larger birds from the very small ones.  Cedar shavings are used in the bottom.

There is a heat selection dial on the front of the heater element. Thick plastic is hinged on the front for visual into the box. Holes are drilled in the plastic and at locations around the box for some air intake/outlet. It is very easy to clean and has raised many ESFT.

FOOD/MIXTURES

The EXACT packet on the left is for the McCaw , is very rich with fat and minerals etc. I use this one mixed with pellets that have 19% protein and the birds do very well. I am not feeding right out of the shell babies, as you would use the EXACT  for this using the dilution rate as shown on the back of the packet. The reason I have the pumpers on the pellets (other than they are very good for the babies) is when I take them in to hand feed, the feed I am giving is very close to what they have been getting. This prevents a problem when you change the feed on a baby.

The EXACT packet on the right is a baby bird feed as the other feed, but does not have the same amount of fat content. Both are excellent feed formulas for raising baby birds

When it comes to how I do the mixtures, it just depends on the age of the bird as to how thin I mix the food with water. For the small babies I use warm water to do the mixtures. As the babies get older, I use just water out of the tap.

After feeding so many baby birds, you get a feeling on how to take care of the little critters. I fed 19 ESFT at one time. I don’t recommend learning how to do it with so many mouths to feed. It was a job I will never forget, as they were all over me wanting to be fed first.  One thing about handfeeding….The birds will be very friendly throughout their lives.  When you raise your first ESFT this way, there is a great sense of accomplishment.

                              SYRINGES

Syringes come in all sizes. Depending on the size of the baby, I use the small syringe for the small baby and as they grow and the demand for food increases, the size of the syringe increases.    I use super glue and glue a short piece of surgical tubing over the tip of the syringe. I have also used a drill and bored out the tip to make it large and easier to use. I put glue on the syringe tip and using needle nose pliers, open the rubber tubing and insert it over the syringe tip. It will glue tight.  (This is what works for me when handfeeding baby ESFT. Bill)

NOTE: If you have some input on the subject above, please send me the information on what works for you and in the future, I will add it to this page.  (Bill) email: Esftumbler@tampabay.rr.com