35 & 37 days old Pigeon

Question
I have 2 pigeons. One is about 37 days old. The other is about 35. I had them since they were about 5 & 7 days old. The younger one always squeak when he/she sees me. I thought he's hungry when he does that but when I try to feed him the baby formula, he wouldn't take it. Though they are pecking good on seeds now and they always have seeds around. The older one is growing up evasive, kind of a snub but he still takes the baby formula when I feed him once in a while. Are the snubbing and squeaking characteristics just like humans? I am worrying about the squeaking. What does he want?

Answer
Hi Jo

You have nothing to worry about. The behaviour that your pigeons are showing towards you is completely normal. In the wild, or in captivity when the parents are allowed to raise their babies, the babies are always happy to see their parents because they regurgitate seed and crop milk to the babies, and the babies love this! The babies think that you are their mother and they squeak because they are happy to see you. At about a month old, the babies start to wander from the nest and the parents slowly detach themselves from them, getting ready to breed and make nest again. The babies still squeak because that's what they've always done, even if they don't want food, but the parents ignore them. If he squeaks when he sees you, doesn't want the formula, and is eating 100% seeds, then don't offer the formula because he is growing up. That is what is going on with your youngest one.

Some pigeons are less attached to their parents than others, and this includes your oldest baby. Unlike your youngest one, his attitude (snubbing, elusive) says he is ready to grow up, even if his body (still taking formula) disagrees. People often say that the best behaved bird is the one given away. This means that birds often behave a lot better around the people that didn't raise them. The raisers are considered the parents and growing birds, just like teenagers, are always more rebellious and naughty around them because they feel comfortable enough to express themselves. A bird in a new home considers it's new owner as a friend or even a mate and is usually better behaved. I'm not saying to give your birds away, but this is your oldest bird's attitude. Just don't take it personally and continue to care for him.