another found pigeon

[pserah]

one of my co-workers brought me an adolesant pigeon (looks about 20-23 days old) that she found in the gutter outside of our work. he won't eat, i haven't seen him drink. all he does is make this "squee" sound at me whenever i open up his box (i placed him in this large cardboard box filled with shredded newspaper and towels).

he seems physically 'ok'. seems to have some thinning feathers on the back of his neck and under his wings, but this could be due to his age....

i guess my concern is how to feed and "water" him...
i work in a REALLY bad area in the city, and am really concerned about possible diseases this bird might be carrying... i've worn rubber gloves everytime i'm touched him.. so far.

i've provided him with a shallow bowl of water and a shallow bowl of soggy cat food in his box... what else can i do????

[pdpbison]

Hi psera,


Thanks for helping this wayward youngster!


Hmmmm...well, just wash your hands before handleing him, and, after, and you will be fine. Nothing more there, and in fact infinitely LESS to worry about than with human children.

Now, this Bird likely has never eaten on it's own and up-to-now has been fed by his parents, so it will fall to you to feed him and hopefully, in some way he will like.

I can tell you about all of that if you like, if you write me from your regular e-mail, to mine, at pdp1@earthlink.net

Someday when I have it polished up more it will get posted here somewhere for easy reference.

For now also, can you see if the youngsters little butt is at all soiled with any poop-feathers? and if so whether they are yellowish and or smelly or both?

Too, likely, this Bird has NOT eaten in some time, and would appreciate two things for starters

One, make a box with a small white towell in it and set that on a heating pad on low or maybe medium, so that the Bird may have some warmth. Make sure it is not TOO warm, but just some kid of warm for him to not have to burn calories he may not have to BE warm.

Make sure it is not in any drafts from air conditioning and keep any pets or children or routine household clatter and ruckus away from it so it may feel secure and safe.

Two, once you are satisfied the Bird has had a chance to be warm, and or if the Bird is active and aqueaking as you metion, offer it some electrolyte in the following manner :

Dissolve a pinch of Salt and a pinch of Sugar into a regular medium glass of warm, body temperature Water...

Set this near the Bird and have the Bird on some flat surface or table top on a towell...

Moisten your finger tips in the warm water and from the front, slowly, gently, massage the Bird's Beak while you say, in a medium low slow voice, "ooooOOOooo! - oooOOooo!" and...

sSince your Bird is already 'squeaking' he will likely then 'nuzzle' to be fed also. His squeaking is asking TO be fed, and if he nuzzles your fingers or hands with his Beak, he is asking YOU to feed him...so for now, let him then have a drink of the electrolyte by gently guiding his 2/3rds of his Beak into the full glass, and keep your finger tips on the sides of his Beak when you do so.

Otherwise, as for my own advice and methods, it goes on from there as for food and how-to and what, so write me if you like, and I will send...

If you do this part as mentioned, the rest will be easy if done gently and with calm affection.

Good luck and best wishes to you both!

I stay up late if you want to feed him tonight...which he likely would welcome!

Let us know?



Phil
Las Vegas

[Trees Gray]

Hello and welcome to pigeons.com

Thank you for helping this youngster.

Click on this site and check out the REAL FACTS about pigeon diseases:

Click on Rock doves, then on public health and then REAL FACTS:

http://www.urbanwildlifesociety.org/

[cyro51]

Hello,

The baby is begging you to feed it, that is what the "squee" noise means.

This is a link to various methods of feeding young squabs:http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showth...referrerid=560

You can feed Kaytee Exact, chicken flavour baby food or even soaked and liquidised dog biscuits at wrist temperature. Feed until the crop (the bag at the front of the cjhest) is soft and cushiony.

Cynthia