Bos little brother/sister

[Athalie]

Greeting everyone! I checked on both birdies this morning,some of the seeds were gone from the dish think they had some but the water was still untouched. I am more than 100% that it was either a magpie that injured her or she bumped it when she fell. If it would have been a cat or dog there would have been more then one injuries (I’m assuming) rather then just one small wound on her wing. Also when I found her she had no signs whatsoever of saliva on her,not even as much as two feathers stuck together. The wound was barely visible even after I noticed a bit of blood on my hand,and the position of it was unusual aswell,right on the top bit of her wing like the armpit.What made it look worse is the antiseptic, until then there was very little blood but when I sprayed it on it dissolved it I think and just stained the whole top of the wing. I will take them both outside for a feed as soon as the parents come.I can hear the dad’s call but I can’t see them yet. I haven’t noticed any change in their behaviour towards the babies, they are very good parents they feed them every time the little ones are outside.They are used to me now,they don’t fly away when they see me bringing the babies.I will do my best to take them to the sanctuary at 11am if not I can only get there at 2pm. I will make sure the parents feed them before we set off. I would very much like to keep Peggy but not as a pet.She is flying very well and I think in a few more days she will go. I could keep Xena too if it turns out her injurie isn’t serious. These magpies worry me a lot. I feel like getting my rifle out sometimes.There’s a gang of 6,7 of the and they just gang up on the pigeons that come to eat. There are other birds nesting in my garden aswell, sparrows and two blackbird families. They make one hell of a fuss. Hope they wont hurt the parents

[nikku-chan]

I think as long as you watch the babies, and make sure the magpies don't come near, you should keep them with you. The parents are feeding them, and that is very good...to take them to a sanctuary means they won't get their parent's food...or guidance.

take them to the sanctuary still, to ask about the antibiotics and wound care, but i think you should take them back home with you once you've got some advice and medicine if it is needed.

They're very close to fledging anyway..and once they can fly well, you can release them and their parents will help them, i'd assume, as long as you keep up with you daily visits so that they recognise them still.

[Athalie]

Hello Nikku! Thanks for putting my mind at ease, I felt awful having to separate them from their parents. I just brought Peggy back in she’s been fed twice but I was watching the whole time and the parents were shoving her how to peck at seeds. She kept running up to them but the just guided her back to the seeds, it was very sweet. I’ll take Xena out too before we go, the parents flew off now. I take them out at least 4 times a day both of them and I watch them closely. I only took them out together once but Peggy seemed to be hogging all the attention and Xena got left behind so now I take them out one at a time so they both get fed. Peggy is flying now,quite well but she still has a few days to learn. I’m just glad she’s used to me bringing her in or I’d definitely have my hands full chasing her I will post just before we set off to the sanctuary and as soon as we get back to let you know what was decided. Thanks for everyones help and support.
BIRDIES RULE!

[cyro51]

Hi Bernadette,

I agree with Nikku-Cahn. Good luck at the sanctuary.

I have just been called out to pick up another collared dove, she had been cat caught and kept for two daysm fed on bread and milk. Other than being cat caught she is much in the same state as Consuelo, legs to weak to walk, weak wings and pipey tail feathers. I have put them together for company even though they didn't come from the same place, because at that age I think they need dovey companionship.

Cynthia

[Athalie]

Hello Cynthia! Hope the little dove will get better. We couldn’t find the sanctuary, spent more then an hour looking for it, nobody we asked knew where it was. I phoned a family friend and he’s bringing his sat-nav over first thing tomorrow morning so we will take them in as soon as we get it. They are doing great, Xena is thriving she’s walking about the bed now, looking around cuddling up to Peggy. Didn’t like being in the box, might have been the noise of the car or something. They’ve only been fed three times today, this morning at around 9 then before we set off at 2 and again at around 5. I didn’t get a chance to post ha some trouble at home. I took some lovely pictures of them cuddling I’ll have to find a way to post them. I’ll check on them again before bed. Thanks for the help n support! Birdies rule

[cyro51]

Hi Bernadette,

My two are snuggled together, their wariness of each other soon wore off.

Please remember that the sanctuary might ask for the babies to be signed over before medicating. You don't have to sign them over. The antibiotics are a precaution because of the puncture wound, but ideally having them fed by the parents and releasing them into their home ground is best.

Can they both walk and stretch their wings properly?

Cynthia

[Athalie]

Hi Cynthia! We just got the sat-nav in I’m waiting for Carl to come home from work so we can go. The weather is foul over here, just brought the two sweeties in from feeding,it was the most beautiful sight, both parents were there and both babies grooming and bonding They can both walk and strech their wings well, Xenas’ injured wing seems shrunk a bit on top but she can move it quite well now. She got from the bed all across the room under the radiator today, I found her there when I took her out. The gel pack must have gone cold. She was so sweet, she just curled up on the carpet under the radiator she seemed very proud of it too. They are both producing some nice big poops and seem very comfortable. They are used to me handling them don’t try and run away any more. Even the parents know when I bring them out bless them,I can get quite close to them and they don’t fly away. I’m happy that they are coming along so well. Hope your babies will get better soon. Best wishes!

[cyro51]

Hi Athalie,

Xena is a clever baby! I am not quite clear on whether your two have the same parents. I think it is wonderful that they are being fed this way.

Cynthia

[nikku-chan]

yes well done.

I tried getting my 2 babies fed by their parents, but they take no notice of them, and won't come down. They are very wary of me too. They basically never land in the yard, unless it is a boy trying to find nesting materials.

Apparently there used to be a much larger pigeon flock in my date palm, but the previous tenants had a dog who would eat them when they came down to the ground, and he reduced their size to only a few.

They're building up again now though
not that a date palm is the best place to nest...since 2 babies have fallen down within just a few months of eachother.

I'm glad the babies are doing well. Keep putting the antiseptic cream on xena's wing.

if you want to post photos, get an accound at photobucket.com or some place like that, and then you can upload them very easily, and once they're uploaded, take the image code (It'll be just below the pictures in th album), and just paste it into here!

[Athalie]

Greeting everyone! Sorry I couldn’t post sooner, had an emergency. We had to leave Xena at the sanctuary yesterday, her wing was broken and the bone was sticking out We didn’t need to take Peggy, I phoned before we set off and a very nice lady said it’s best if the parents keep feeding her. She has been fed twice today so far, if the parents come back I’ll take her outside again. Hope Xena will be better. I have to phone n see how she is. I’ll keep posting on Peggys progress she will be flying soon, she’s grown quite a bit since I found her.
Best wishes to everyone and A VERY HAPPY EASTER!
Bernadette

[Birdmom4ever]

I'm glad you were able to get Xena to the shelter. I didn't realize from your previous posts that she actually had a compound fracture to her wing. It's good Peggy is doing well and her parents are still feeding her. It sounds as though she is maturing just fine with you supervising to make sure the magpies don't harm her. It's kind of the best of both worlds, safety from you and food from her parents.

[cyro51]

In view of the fracture I am very glad that you contacted the sanctuary. Have you asked them what will become of her if she is unreleasable? I know that they keep unreleasable pigeons, but I don't know what provision the have for doves.

Cynthia

[nikku-chan]

If she is releasable, maybe they will give her back to you to release in your backyard.

If not...maybe you could have a pet?

Keep calm now, bernadette

[Athalie]

Greeting everyone! Just looked in on Peggy she was curled up on the teddy bear, think she misses her sis I would never have thought that the wing was that badly damaged, she seemed ok, lively and moving about. I miss her. I asked if they were going to put her down, cause if they were I wasn’t going to leave her, but the gentlemen there said that if the wing heals well she will be released if not then they will keep her there in an aviary. I hope he didn’t say that just to get rid of me. I asked if she couldn’t be released could I bring her back home but he said it’s illegal to keep wild birds without a license guess I can go visit her. Hope she’ll be ok, I miss her terribly. I know Peggy does too. I’ll phone tomorrow, in fact I’ll harass them every day till they get tired of me phoning and they’ll give her back just kidding. I will make sure she is taken care of though. Looking forward to seeing Peggy fly off soon, she seems in good shape. I try not to disturb her too much. I’ll keep posting on her progress.
Best wishes n happy Easter!

[cyro51]

I hope he didn’t say that just to get rid of me.

I wouldn't think so. Lesley from Salford took one of her unreleasable pigeons there and she has visited it to ensure it was OK...it was. Her other pigeon was severely damaged by Paramyxovirus so they couldn't take him but he came to me. It would be nice if you met Lesley some day. She is the one that went and caught the Middleton pigeons that had their beaks cut off. She is really special.

Cynthia