Brooklyn: tagged coop pigeon found

[ZigZagMarquis]

Well... I've got homers and it looks like your found-pigeon is some sort of fancy breed... but, yes, they will nestle their head down on their chest like you say... yes, they'll sleep with their eyes closed... and yes, they'll perch on one foot too when sleeping.

When I hold my guys, I'll stroke their breast or backs litely or scratch their necks a bit... although, I'm not sure they really "like" it.

[mr squeaks]

I can sure relate to your experience with your new one! Even though Mr. Squeaks was a squaker when I found him, I thought he would hate me his whole life! Of course, his injured wing might have contributed to his grouchiness because once he healed, he then turned to me as his mate! However, this turn of events took WEEKS! And things have never been the same since! I now have ONE SPOILED BIRD!

He loves to be scratched on his neck and chest and petted down his back. Actually, he seems to like being touched just anywhere. Of course, he DOES have his moments, but very few...

As others have said, patience is the key. He probably never had anyone who cared before! Some just take longer than others...I look forward to your post that he/she is HOME and loves to be handled! Also look forward to a name...of course, finding out if you have a male or female helps!

BTW, anyone have any comments on whether a male or female generally takes longer to "tame???"

[Lady Tarheel]

Shi, I used to think that the males were the sweeter of the two until my Simon came on the scene, and completely changed my mind. Of course we gave her the wrong name but it suits her and she almost responds to it.

The winter we got her I deliberately tried not to pay her much attention, knowing that we would release her come spring. It made no difference, she became my baby, always on me (and still is), kissing me, preening me . Naturally, we kept her and she is just a joy to be around. Her mate, Onslow, is one we raised from day one and he is just as sweet as Simon. It is wonderful that they chose each other. The odd thing is they don't seem to want to raise babies. I think Simon has probably laid only 2-3 eggs in the years we've had her. I don't know if the bonding with me has caused that or not.

Maggie

[Birdmom4ever]

He's a gorgeous bird and I hope you'll be able to keep him. I don't know anything about the temperament of that particular breed, but some are shy and standoffish and it's just the way they are. For instance Archangels tend to be that way; their skittishness is a breed trait. We've had some for two years. They growl and wing-box whenever I go near them and are very difficult to catch.

I've also found that pigeons that weren't raised as pets (i.e. lots of handling and affection) tend to be wild and stay that way. But with a single bird you may be able to win him over with time, patience and treats.

I do recommend you get some pigeon grit as it contains minerals especially for pigeons. You can order it from one of the pigeon supply houses (along with feed, if need be). I'm guessing there aren't many feed stores in your area.

[ReluctantFlier]

Well, anyone who's been following this story, I think that I've found the potential "defect" in this fellow. Seems he can't fly. He's not injured in any visible way whatsoever, but after watching him spend the past several days in his box and not leave (it's open), and then after watching him sit on his perch until I went to feed him, and watching him almost fall when I came near, I gave him a little soft toss over my bed. He flapped his wings, but sadly, dove chest-first into my down comforter! I went out, thinking suddenly that this guy can't fly. I came back and gave him another try over the bed with the same results.

His tag is marked 99, so he's survived until now, but I'm fairly certain that at age six, he should be able to fly.

So does anyone know about birds that can't fly? Is this a strange congenital problem, or could he be hurt? He really doesn't look injured in any way, and his wings flap fine. And as you can see from the photos, he's very healthy-looking.

Can one train a guy like this to fly?

I'm bewildered and I feel really bad for him!
(It does perhaps indicate why an owner would abandon him, though, unfortunately.)


m.

[TAWhatley]

Hi Max,

It is quite possible that the bird has an injury that is keeping it from flying. You need to give him some time to rest and recuperate and see what happens. At age 6+ and being a New York Flying Flight, I'd have to assume that he did fly at some point. If not (perhaps due to a very old injury), then you won't be teaching him to fly at this stage of his life. However, if it's a recent injury and the bird recovers, then he may be able to fly just fine.

I'm sure you will love and care for him regardless of his flying ability or lack thereof, so this is one lucky pigeon to have found you.

Terry

[ReluctantFlier]

OK. I'll keep an eye on him and watch what he does. Thing is, his wing flapping seems fine and normal, he just doesn't seem to be able to stay aloft (he kind of just dive-bombs forwards!)

Poor guy.

[TerriB]

Perhaps he has an injury which causes pain if he were to try to flap hard enough to stay airborne?

[Trees Gray]

Originally Posted by ReluctantFlier

OK. I'll keep an eye on him and watch what he does. Thing is, his wing flapping seems fine and normal, he just doesn't seem to be able to stay aloft (he kind of just dive-bombs forwards!)

Poor guy.

I wouldn't encourage the bird to fly or make the opportunity available to him(as already mentioned), and your good supportive care, as well as taking him to the vet for a complete check-up, will do.

[Lady Tarheel]

Max, I would take a poop sample to a vet and get it analyzed. Disease can sometimes cause them to not fly. Also, if he is sitting with his head stuck into his chest, that is another sign of illness, not contentment.

In 2003, we picked up a bird at our "bridge" - listless, wouldn't eat, fly or do much of anything except sit with her eyes closed. We started her (Bert) on the usual, Bactrim, Nystatin, Metronidazole, some improvement. Put her in our small aviary and she could fly about a foot off the ground. Took a stool sample to the vet and found she was absolutely loaded with coccidiosis. Wound up treating her with Amprol (and everyone else in aviary) and today she is one of our "keepers". We had another rescue (Cookie) that same year that initially we thought was fine only to discover a small hole in her crop. For the couple of days that it took for us to see the hole (feathers completely covered it) she couldn't fly either.
Wound up having surgery and she, too, is one of our "keepers".

Maggie

[Birdmom4ever]

Yes, lots of things can keep them from flying, from unseen injuries to illness. It sounds like this bird needs a thorough vet check.

[pdpbison]

Hi ReluctantFlier,


If it was me, I would definitely have a way for this Bird to be warm, and quite warm, not just whatever the indoor temps may be.

Get an electric Heating Pad, lay a small towell over it, and set it up highish somewhere where the Bird can find it, and see if she perches on it for the warmth.

If you get a Cage, set the heating pad up similarly, with a towell that covers it and the whole Cage bottom, so she can be on the Heating Pad or off of it as she likes, and drape the sides and top and back also with cloth so no drafts can move through. At night, drape the front also so the whole cage is covered well.

Contact that Brooklyn Pigeon Suuply house again and see about their recommendations for a friendly Pigeon Vet, and get the Bird examined, and when you do, bring a tablespoon full or so of her most recent poops.

What do the poops look like so far?


Best wishes...!

Phil
Las Vegas

[phyll]

Max,
How's the pigeon doing today?
"Kaytee Supreme Fortified Daily Blend" is a good pigeon mix. On the front of the package you will see a purple circle which reads, "Colombes, Dove, Palomas."
Split peas, lentils, some black oil sunflower seeds & a pinch of safflower seeds (a favorite) can be added to the mix.

Phyll

[ReluctantFlier]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all the input. I guess that this thread should probably be moved by now!

Well, I called my friend the rehabilitator today, and he told me much the same thing that some of you said: the bird may be sick. His stool was watery and small and green. I looked just now while speaking on the phone with my friend, and I noticed that the stool is in the shape of tiny, bird-seed sized pellets. My friend also told me that I probably needed to get a stool sample done. The problem is that this is New York, and some but not all of you may be aware that a vet in this city is going to be extraordinarily expensive. I'm in my first year of grad. school, and I'm also approaching my first semester finals, so it's just a heavy but urgent worry for me.

My friend recommended a place that he said only asks for suggested donations, so I'm going to see if I can go there and check him out. I'm not going to just leave him to suffer, but I do have to worry about school and my future, and this is just very difficult. At least it's really warm right now, so transporting him via the subway in a box shouldn't be too much of a worry. My roommate did say that he saw the guy wandering about on the ledge out of the box, which I think is a good sign. He seems to have zero interest in flying, though, so at least he's not trying something that will tax him more.

The person who recommended the extra warmth--what is that for? I really have very little experience with avian behavior, but I generally have a good touch with animals, so I'd like to get a bit of a better understanding.

Oh yeah... he bit me twice this morning when I went to take him out of the box to replace his food, water and bedding. But no blood drawn!

Thanks again for the help, all,

m.

[pdpbison]

Hi m.


The 'warmth' is for the Bird to feel comfortable while ill, and to not have to expend extra calories trying to keep itself 'warm' in what may be cool ambient indoor temperatures, because, the Bird is likely ill, possibly injured also, and needs whatever energy it has to be fighting it's illness/infection/injury.

Birds body temps run about 105, so if your appartment is say 70 degrees, then you have a differential of 35 degrees which the Bird's metabolism must generate the heat to make up for.

If you have the Bird on a 100 degree Heating Pad, the differential is 5 degrees.


Now, Brooklyn had a great many Pigeon People and Pigeon clubs.

They, or the Supplliers from whom they buy their Seed and other supplies, could likely recommend an Avian Vet they know of who is an "Avian" Vet, rather than say a 'poodle' Vet or a whatever Vet. In other words, a Vet who actual Pigeon Peiple and thric Clubs know of for when their Birds may need particular Medical attentions.

Make some calls, find some contact numbers, and call them.

Too, there are going to be many individuals who as pragmatic practioners and Pigeon raisers, racers, fanciers, breeders, will likely be able to say, "Oh, yes, when mine get those little broken snake pale green poops in thin watery syrup...I treat them with...blahh-de-bloooo, and I do so in the following way..."

And they can tell you.

Try for more than one such opinion of course.

Take some good clear j-pegs of the poops even, in case you wish to e-mil such to someone.

But find a Vet or practioner who knows Pigeons, and their illnesses, and or who will do a fecal exam AND a food exam of the Bird itself to look for punccture wounds, abcesses, or other signs of injury or trauma, and who knows what to look for, WITH Pigeons.

A Poodle Vet will not be much help, no matter what they charge.

This might be Coccidiosis which has gotten the better of the Bird, it might be a Salmonella of some kind, it might be something on top of an earlier injury or infection, or on top of some trauma that grounded the Bird untill weak, it acquired some illness from a diminished immune system and cold...or it might be any of a hundred other things.

Regular Vets, 'expensive' Vets and so on are no substitute for someone with successsful practical Pigeon experience, whether that person IS a Vet or not.


Warmth will help you Bird a good deal...and aides in supporting their internal processes, digestion, immune functions, circulatory system, elimination, comfort, etc., to be less compromised with trying to KEEP warm.


Good luck!



Phil
Las Vegas