Found a Pigeon (Burlington, ON)

[SuB-CoNsCiOuS]

Hey what's up? A Pigeon was found in my back yard yesterday and it has a yellow and blue tag. It won't leave and it's pretty friendly, as it approaches me with ease. It waits by the door and seems to want to come inside, but I havn't let it in. I've been giving it food and water. Not sure if it's injured, but I havn't seen it fly yet. And i'm also not sure if it's sick, but it's poop is green and white. It wasn't going to leave so during the night i put a basket over it (and this bird didn't even flinch while i put the basket over it) so that preditors couldn't get at it. It's Grey and white, and it has a green neck. I called the animal shelter and they said it's probably just an exhausted racing pigeon, which will recooperate and fly away in a couple days.

It seems to calmly take a couple steps back when i motion to touch it. So I can't really read the numbers on the tags.

What do i do?

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hi There,

Thanks for helping this pigeon with food/water and a safe place over night. Can you please try to read the band number on it's leg so that we can try to trace the owner? It should be a series of letters and numbers and we need the whole thing.

It is possible that this bird is just tired from a long race but can you also look it over for any possible injuries or bleeding? If it seems ok then I would recommend bringing the bird indoors for a few days. You can place him in a large box with air holes and perhaps cover the top with an oven rack or something similar. Continue giving him food and water and see if he improves to be released or handed back to his owner for pick up.

What are you feeding him by the way?

[SuB-CoNsCiOuS]

Well at first I tried feeding it bread, but it didn't eat it... so then I thought about what was small enough for it to eat (until i get some wild bird seed), so oddly enough I gave it raison bran, without the raisons... just crumbled up the pieces and he ate it. I've also been changing his water frequently. Havn't read the numbers yet, i'll get back to you on that. What's the easiest way to read them? Pick up the bird? And if so, should I wear gloves? And should i stop giving it the bran?

[Skyeking]

Hello,

Thank you for your time and care for this pigeon.

If you could get him some wild bird seed for the time being he would love that.

Maybe with a little seed in your hand, he will let you pick him up. Any kind of bread for pigeons is not good . Wear the gloves if you think you should, but he probalby won't bite.

Here is a website for making a trap if you can't catch him.

http://www.racingbirds.com/ptrap.html

Treesa

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hi Again,

The bran is actually not too bad for him but as Treesa said, bird seed is better. You should be able to obtain a dove seed mix from any pet store and this will do just nicely for now. Things around the home you can use are uncooked plain ole popcorn kernals, uncooked rice, defrosted and thawed peas or corn from the freezer.

Yes, you're probably going to have to pick up the bird if you can and read the band number. You can wear gloves if you feel more comfortable but it's not necessary

[SuB-CoNsCiOuS]

hehe thanks! I didn't pick em up, but I did read the yellow band he has on. I don't think the blue one has anything on it. But the yellow one said:

"CU 2003"
Bluewater 1001

I'm pretty sure that's what it says (the band it upsided down) lol.

Keep me posted! I wanna find this poor little guy's home. He just walks around the back yard, but doesn't fly at all.

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hi again,

I located the Man who owns this pigeon. He lives in Sarnia Ontario so a little ways from you! Can you please bring the pigeon indoors where it'll be safe and place him in a box like I mentioned for now. I left a message on the man's answering machine to see whether or not he would like the pigeon back and if he can pick it up. Hopefully he'll leave a message on my answering machine and I'll post as soon as I hear from him.


Thanks again for helping this pigeon

[SuB-CoNsCiOuS]

Hey it was my pleasure. Might I ask how you found this person?

[Pigeonpal2002]

I contacted the the CU's club secretary and she looked it up for me.

[SuB-CoNsCiOuS]

Ok, well i picked him up and put him in a blue box, I put a oven grate over it... I think he might be injured, the first time i tried to get him, he didn't try and fly away (although he did walk away from me as usual, and i still don't know if he can fly). His foot may be hurt, not sure though.

[SuB-CoNsCiOuS]

oh yeah, and he's inside my house now

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hi There again,

Does he appear to be limping, can you see if there are any wounds on his feet? Can you post a picture of the pigeon and maybe we can see something. I think the bird is just tired and probably lost. In these situations, the pigeon will become very weak and dehydrated and often unable to fly. Hopefully, he'll be ok with food and water. You can also try to give him an electrolyte solution, pedialyte for children is good or you can make your own with water, and a PINCH or salt and a PINCH of sugar. Any and all information you can give us about it's behaviour, looks and if he's eating and drinking would be beneficial to us.

[SuB-CoNsCiOuS]

I only saw a bit of a limp when he was walking away from me, in which case he ended up just kneeling down which is when i picked him up... it seemed as if he knelt down because he knew he couldn't get very far..?? He is still eating the bran i gave him, and he is drinking water occasionally too! I really hope the owner wants him back, it seems as though he's a smart little guy. I don't have a camera on me, so pics are a no no. I'm glad you're trying your best to find his home.

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hi Again SubC,

Ok, thanks for bringing him inside it's MUCH safer for him now. Cats would easily take him or a hawk seeing how vulnerable he is right now. Keep him in the blue box, line it with an old towel or something soft. Try to get the wild bird seed or dove seed mix ASAP and make sure he has lots of fresh water or the electrolyte solution. Keep him calm and quiet and he should perk up shortly if it's just exhaustion and hunger/thirst. I will post a message here as soon as I hear from the owner and let's hope the person wants the pigeon back.

Thanks again for being such a concerned citizen and not letting this pigeon suffer outside.

[SuB-CoNsCiOuS]

Well i went out and got him the wild bird seed. He seems to really like it. Also got some water and put a pinch of salt and suger in it, i'm yet to see him drink it though.. he's too busy with the seeds lol.