'Two pigeon chicks have hatched in my makeup bag'

A pigeon, sitting on a nest, in a bathroom, next to a makeup bag. A white wall is behind them. You can see two chicks underneath the female pigeon. Twigs and straw are in the nest.

A pigeon who made a nest and laid eggs in a woman's makeup bag has hatched two chicks.

When Mimmy Stranger returned to her Bedford home after a short trip, she discovered the bird had built a new home, complete with twigs and sticks, in the bag on a shelf in the bathroom.

Stranger called her surprise house guest Pidgey, and soon two "feisty" chicks, christened Pluck and Norris, "came out kicking". Pidgey is now raising her brood in the bathroom with the help of her mate, named Keith.

"It's been lovely, it's been nice company. I was considering a pet, but just not these," she said.

A selfie-style shot of Mimmy Stranger, who has long blonde hair, and glasses. She is standing in a white bathroom in front of a set of white bathroom shelves. On the top shelf, there is a pigeon sitting on nest of twigs built in a makeup bag.

Stranger, 30, who works in the music industry as an artists and repertoire representative, said the chicks were now "really big" but got "easily spooked".

She said the duo, named in honour of US martial artist and Hollywood action star Chuck Norris, stayed in their nest while their parents, Pidgey and Keith, flew in and out with food for them.

They regularly made a "bit of a mess", she added, so she covered the area with pads to keep it clean and make it easier to tidy up.

Stranger, who describes herself as an animal lover, confirmed she had still been able to use her bathroom, but now showered at her gym to give the pigeon family some privacy.

"It's been nice to have them, they are so gentle. I don't know why people have a problem with pigeons."

Two newborn chicks, with brown fluff on them and pink heads and bodies. They are resting on a nest.

Stranger is now hoping that within a few weeks, Pidgey, Keith, Pluck and Norris will all fly out the bathroom window to pastures new.

"I'll be sad when they go, but it's comforting to know there's something there [in the bathroom].

"Pidgey has been the best house guest.

"She doesn't make any mess, she has been so happy in her nest, even when I've been in the bath, she's so chilled.

"It was only when the babies arrived, so did the mess.

"It's been an adventure I had not planned for."

A bird on a shelf that has made a nest in a makeup bag. There is an ornament in front of her. Twigs are in the bag and there are bottles behind her.

According to the RSPB, it is illegal to remove an active bird nest.

"Instead, you must allow the chicks to leave the nest before taking any action to remove a nest or block an entrance to it," the wildlife charity said on its website.

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