A good start in life is vital to all plants and animals - it is essential to young domestic pigeons. Therefore, the parenting qualities of stock birds should be a prime consideration.
Hen birds which are regular layers, that is they lay within about 14 days after being paired and lay slightly above average sized eggs, are the ones to retain.
Fertility is the highest priority in cock birds. Young cocks in particular often fail to fill their first round or two of eggs. This is very often the case where early breeding (Jan - Feb) is attempted and this does have to be tolerated. Cocks which fail to fill eggs in the warmer months, or are inconsistent in this matter, should not be retained.
Given an ideal period of incubation, the eggs should be chipping on the seventeenth day after the laying of the second egg and the hatch should take place on the eighteenth day. A good clean hatch with two nicely fed squabs is what the fancier hopes to find when, with the back of the hand under the brooding parent, the parent is gently eased up to reveal the nest's content. If all is well, leave well alone for a few days.
A further check is then needed to establish that the young are well fed and that the nest is clean and dry. In the event that one youngster has died, early intervention is far better than allowing it to foul the nest as it decomposes. At this stage the young are still being fed 'crop milk'. This is a growth hormone rich food which ensures rapid growth. At about ten days old the young are ready to 'ring' and at this point it is important to change the nest bowl, providing a new one with sawdust or a clean liner overlaid with clean straw. This provides warmth and cleanliness for both the squabs and the still brooding parents. This positively encourages the parents in this regard - they do not like a dirty nest.
When the young are ten days old the parents will start to feed undigested hard seed to them. A good rearing mixture, sold as 'Breed and Wean' is ideal. This, together with mineral salts, grit and clean water will ensure the young continuous quick growth and feathering.
