babies in flowerpot

A pigeon laid eggs in an unused flowerpot outside a window (no nest,
right on the soil), which hatched about two weeks ago. The parents
come by several times a day for what looks like feeding, but I thought
I'd put out some water. If I put a large bottlecap in the pot and
fill it with water, sometimes they will peck at it, but when I come
back later it's got a some droppings in it.

Then I tried putting a larger dish in the next flowerpot, I thought
maybe they could get their beaks in the dish but not the other end.
Turns out I was wrong about that, I found droppings in the dish and a
bird with its rear end hanging out over the dish.

Are they intentonally doing it in the water or are they just doing it
everywhere?


Next question: right now all they do is stagger around the flowerpot,
they can't get out yet. Is there a stage where they'll be walking
into the house if I don't close the window, or do they fly away before
that happens? If they do get into the house, how do I catch them
without harming them?

Lastly, there is room now, but if they grow as large as the parents
before moving out, it's going to be very tight. If I put them in a
larger pot on the same windowsill would the parents freak? Or maybe
the babies will do that on their own? Sometimes the parents seem
totally confused when a window isn't in the same position that it was
last time, so I don't want to scare them off entirely.

p_almoni.DeleteThis@hotmail.com wrote:

> A pigeon laid eggs in an unused flowerpot outside a window (no nest,
> right on the soil), which hatched about two weeks ago. The parents
> come by several times a day for what looks like feeding, but I thought
> I'd put out some water. If I put a large bottlecap in the pot and
> fill it with water, sometimes they will peck at it, but when I come
> back later it's got a some droppings in it.
>
Initially, the parents feed the youngsters on a special nourishing
substance called "pigeon milk". It's not really milk but it somewhat
resembles milk. At any rate, it gives the babies all the water they
need as we as nourishment.

> Then I tried putting a larger dish in the next flowerpot, I thought
> maybe they could get their beaks in the dish but not the other end.
> Turns out I was wrong about that, I found droppings in the dish and a
> bird with its rear end hanging out over the dish.
>
> Are they intentonally doing it in the water or are they just doing it
> everywhere?

I don't know what pigeons "intentions" are but I doubt they would
intentionally foul in their drinking water. So I'd guess they're just
"doing it everywhere."

>
>
> Next question: right now all they do is stagger around the flowerpot,
> they can't get out yet. Is there a stage where they'll be walking
> into the house if I don't close the window, or do they fly away before
> that happens? If they do get into the house, how do I catch them
> without harming them?

Eventually the pigeons will be able to fly around. They'll be able to
walk around before they're able to fly. I'm not sure from your
description if they'll be walking around outside the flowerpot or not.

If the birds do get into the house, then the simplest way to catch them
is to use a large towel (or even a sheet) and slowly sneak up to them
and throw the towel over them. Doesn't harm the animal at all. It's
like using a net.

>
> Lastly, there is room now, but if they grow as large as the parents
> before moving out, it's going to be very tight. If I put them in a
> larger pot on the same windowsill would the parents freak? Or maybe
> the babies will do that on their own? Sometimes the parents seem
> totally confused when a window isn't in the same position that it was
> last time, so I don't want to scare them off entirely.

They should not get as large as their parents before they leave the
"nest" so I wouldn't worry.

--
Onorio Catenacci