Use this chart to estimate the age of a baby pigeon (squab) by comparing it with photos of real squabs from hatching to 30 days. As a quick guide: a pink, fluffy squab that cannot hold up its head is a few days old; one with pin feathers and fluff is one to two weeks; one that is nearly fully feathered is three weeks or more; and by about four weeks it can fly.
The photos are of Turkish tumbler squabs, kindly provided by Arif of mumtazticloft.com. Other breeds grow at a similar rate, though very large or small breeds can differ a little.
| Age | Photo |
|---|---|
| 1 day |  |
| 2 days |  |
| 3 days |  |
| 4 days |  |
| 5 days |  |
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| 30 days |  |
Key milestones
| Age | Milestone | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Hatch | Weighs about 20 g, naked with yellow fluff, eyes closed | CCAC |
| 2 days | Roughly double its hatch weight | CCAC |
| 0 to 3 days | Fed only on crop milk | Vandeputte-Poma (1980) |
| About 4 days | Weight doubled again | CCAC |
| Day 3 or 4 | Eyes open (woodpigeon) | RSPCA protocol |
| Day 4 or 5 | Wing quills appear (woodpigeon) | RSPCA protocol |
| About day 9 | Feathers break out of the quills (woodpigeon) | RSPCA protocol |
| 3 to 4 weeks | Weaning; 20 times hatch weight | CCAC |
| About 4 weeks | First flights | CCAC |
| 35 to 37 days (can be 25) | Feral pigeon squabs leave the nest | RSPCA protocol |
| By 28 days | Parents have almost stopped producing crop milk | Vandeputte-Poma (1980) |
| 7 to 8 weeks | As big as its parents | CCAC |
How to age a squab you’ve found
- Check for feathers. Mostly fluff means under a week. Pin feathers (like small quills) means roughly one to two weeks.
- Check its eyes. Closed eyes mean a very young hatchling.
- Look at its posture. Young squabs sit flat and wobble. Older ones stand and flap.
- Compare with the photos above.
If you’ve found a baby pigeon
A squab of any age without feathers should not be on the ground. Keep it warm, dark and quiet in a box, do not feed it or give it water, and contact a vet or pigeon rescue. Full steps: how to take care of a baby pigeon. For what each stage looks like, see what does a baby pigeon look like.
When to see an avian vet or contact a rescue
Get help if a squab:
- is cold, weak or lying on its side
- has a leg sticking out sideways (see splayed leg)
- has yellow lumps in its mouth (see canker)
- has an empty crop and is not being fed
FAQ
At what age do pigeons leave the nest?
The RSPCA protocol gives 35 to 37 days for feral pigeons, sometimes as early as 25 days.
How old is a pigeon before it looks like an adult?
Squabs are adult size at seven to eight weeks, though young birds keep a softer look for a few months. For a rough idea of how a pigeon’s age compares with ours, try our pigeon years to human years calculator.
Is there a pigeon-to-human age calculator?
We could not find a scientific basis for one. See how long do pigeons live.
Sources
- RSPCA Wildlife Rehabilitation Protocol: Pigeons (2013, PDF)
- Canadian Council on Animal Care: Pigeons and doves (care guide)
- Vandeputte-Poma (1980): Feeding, growth and metabolism of the pigeon, duration and role of crop milk feeding
- RSPCA: Injured pigeon, what to do and how to help
- Mumtaztic Pigeon Loft (photos)
Last reviewed: 21 October 2026
Last updated 21 October 2026 · Baby Pigeons