3-4 Week Foundling: Weaned?

My son brought home a baby pigeon today, and we're trying to find out the best way to care for her. From comparing her to pictures, she looks to be between 3 and 4 weeks old, flapping but not flying. My quandary is this: from what I've read, this is the age that babies start getting weaned. Should we try hand feeding her, or go straight to grains/seeds for her to eat? What is the best way to go about this? We've had her for roughly 2 hours, and she has successfully found her water, but I want to be prepared for when she gets hungry. Any advice you can give will be helpful!

Seeds yo, ok ok ok. They might tell you to go get some Baby Formula , Because usually the babies need xtra feeding even tho they can eat on there own still. Tap your fingers on the ground where some seed are. He will eat them for sure, pretend your eating the seeds with your finger. He will be intrested and eventually eat the seeds. I had younger then 25 days doing this. Think he was only 18 days old actually

Adinrob wrote:

My son brought home a baby pigeon today, and we're trying to find out the best way to care for her. From comparing her to pictures, she looks to be between 3 and 4 weeks old, flapping but not flying. My quandary is this: from what I've read, this is the age that babies start getting weaned. Should we try hand feeding her, or go straight to grains/seeds for her to eat? What is the best way to go about this? We've had her for roughly 2 hours, and she has successfully found her water, but I want to be prepared for when she gets hungry. Any advice you can give will be helpful!

Hi Adinrob,

Is the youngster feeding by herself alright? The method Splizzlahsavage suggested works well, encouraging them to pick up seed if they have already learned that from their parents and just need a little encouragement. This may well be the case, as she already knew how to drink by herself.
But if you are in any doubt, you may want to try giving her defrosted frozen peas and corn. The method is explained here:

http://www.pigeonangels.com/t585-how-do-wean-a-baby-pigeon-what-method-do-you-use

Good luck!

And if he does eat on his own , There is always a chance he wont eat enough which baby formula would be a excellent back up method in case he needs food, or Id just give a bit every night, Good bounding experience hand feeding them

How is the baby doing, Adinrob? I hope he's progressing well.

Just a reminder for furture found fledglings, They usually have a parent bird still feeding them even if they are out of the nest. best to leave them there so they can get fed if not in danger, otherwise they go with out food while the person who took them is scratching their head wondering what and how to feed them.

nitty nottie wrote:

Just a reminder for furture found fledglings, They usually have a parent bird still feeding them even if they are out of the nest. best to leave them there so they can get fed if not in danger, otherwise they go with out food while the person who took them is scratching their head wondering what and how to feed them.

That's a good idea, except when the baby is out of the nest because the parents have rejected him or are ill. I understand the concern about wondering how to look after a baby bird, but most pro-bird forums have extensive information about it, including this one:
http://www.pigeonangels.com/f16-baby-pigeon-illnesses-injuries-and-hand-raising

PS. Love your profile pic!