Found Fledgling in SF - Need Advice :)

[dlgilbert4]

Cole gets *very* excited when I feed him now. I spread out a towel, put some seeds on it, and then get Cole out of his box and put him on the towel. It's the same routine I've been doing since the beginning. Now, as soon as he is on the towel and if my hands are anywhere in his sight, he will run up to my hand squawking continously (a much louder, insistent sound than his normal squeak) and pecking my hand all over, looking for food. Then he will hit my hand/arm with his wing, then peck my hand some more. It takes me a while to refocus him. I "peck" at the seeds and say "Cole, eat your seeds" just like I have been doing, but he prefers pecking at my hand than at the seeds.

Also, I am worried that I have spoiled him by letting him drink formula. I started doing it because he was eating only seeds and not really having any water and I was worried about him getting dehydrated. He still won't have more than a few sips of water and does the behavior described above (pecking, squawking, and wing fu) until I give him the formula to drink. But he sure loves it! As soon as he sees the bowl with the yellow formula he runs right over and starts to sip. Only with the formula will he eat until his crop is full. With only the seeds he seems to lose interest.

I am currently handling the situation by feeding him out on the towel with seeds and formula twice a day and putting some seeds in his box for him to eat without supervision three times a day. He must eat the seeds I put in his box since they've always disappeared by the next feeding time, but I worry that he's not getting enough water so I result to the formula.... what should I do? Is it bad for him to be favoring the formula so much?

Danielle

[relofts]

Danielle,

It sounds as if Cole is a happy little spoiled pigeon, you did say that you were considering adopting him and keep him as a companion didn't you, I hope so as he thinks you are his mommy now.

The formula will not hurt him, it is very nutritious for him, he will drink the water as he will not go thirst, as he get's older you can treat the formula as a treat to train him to do different things, I have a 2 year old African Gray that will still act like a baby when it comes to getting a little formula, she loves it and I still give it to her, I don't think it is any different then us drinking those souped up drinks with vitamins for humans.

Good job.

Ellen

[dlgilbert4]

Cole is still doing well. His right ankle joint is a little swollen and he is favoring that foot, but it looks as though his toe is rotating back to a normal position.

I have a question about grit. I purchased Kaytee Hi-Cal Grit and have added a little to his seeds so he learns to eat it as well. What happens to the grit in his crop? Is it dissolved by acidicity, or does it just pass through intact? Does it hurt him when these small rocks are passing through?

Danielle

[Trees Gray]

Pigeon grit is dissolved and digested. My birds have two kinds, one that is like a picking cake that the hens really go for because it is oyster shell and more, it definitely is digested and utilized for calcium uptake for eggs. The other is the red pigeon grit also used for crushing the seeds in the crop and also a caclium source.

The youngsters don't really pick at it until they are completely weaned.
You should keep the grit in a seperate dish from seed, as they go to the grit when they feel the need.

If he didn't fall and hurt his ankle, you might want to get a fecal done and find out what is going on. It is possible he may need some Baytril or something else.

[dlgilbert4]

Help! Cole's ankle is very swollen! Have you seen this before?

From Wed. April 4th until two days ago, his toe was crooked and he favored the foot a little bit (see the pictures in the previous posts). Yesterday and the day before, his ankle was a little swollen and he favored the foot a lot. Today, it's very swollen, but he's not favoring it at all - the toe has also returned to a more normal position. What is going on? Is it possible he broke it in the presumed four-story fall out of his nest on Wednesday the 4th and it's just now swelling and healing?

Originally Posted by Trees Gray

If he didn't fall and hurt his ankle, you might want to get a fecal done and find out what is going on. It is possible he may need some Baytril or something else.

Treesa: his mouth, crop, and fecal samples tested normal as of Saturday, April 7th.

[feralpigeon]

Hi Danielle,

I was initially concerned when you found Cole, because I've found that usually the ones that are sick are the ones that 'fall' from the nest. It isn't always a
given, but in my own experience it's been the rule of thumb. I believe your
vet tested for parasites, fungus and Trichomoniasis.

Originally Posted by dlgilbert4

I got a call from his vet. The mouth, throat, and fecal samples were all negative for fungus, worms, and protozoans (no canker - yay!).

I don't think that any tests for abnormal viral or bacterial activity were done.
I would test for Bacteria, you may need to run a course of Baytril. For now,
I wouldn't stress out on the self-feeding mode and instead, keep a good eye
on his food intake. If he seems to be not taking in enough through-out the
day, I would augment w/formula or seed pops.

If the vet does find Bacteria and puts him on Baytril, then you should
pull the grit as it will bind w/the medication reducing it's efficacy.

fp

[dlgilbert4]

Originally Posted by feralpigeon

I believe your
vet tested for parasites, fungus and Trichomoniasis.

She also said that the observed bacteria were normal in number and type....

[dlgilbert4]

Cole and I went to the avian vet this morning to have his toe checked. The vet palpated the area, noting that the swelling was very firm and not warm to the touch, nor was it painful upon palpatation. Her best guess (with which I agree) is that the toe was broken at the joint either before he fell or because of the fall and that the break is healing now. The swelling is new bone growth that is serving to stabilize the break. Her conclusion makes sense to me, especially since his foot was very painful during the three days of the toe rotating back into position and the swelling developing, but it has not been painful at all since then. I could have had a radiograph taken to be sure of the cause, but it was prohibitively expensive.

On another note, I took Cole to feed with a local flock as Phil recommended. Instead of eating the seeds I had spread out, Cole chased each bird, squeaking to be fed. Some of the ones he was chasing threatened to hold him down and/or peck him, so I quickly scooped him up and put him back in the carrier.

Here is a picture of Cole taken last night. You can see that the area on his cheek is starting to grow feathers.

[flitsnowzoom]

I'm so glad Cole is growing up so nicely. What a great mom you are! Love the fancy crystal bowl he has
Please keep us posted. It's nice to see success.

[feralpigeon]

Hi Danielle,

Glad to hear that the vet thought his toe is on the mend and he's doing
well. He is really adorable in the picture and yes, the feathers continue growing
in around the lower mandible and chin. I am curious if you've decided to release
Cole after all, I guess so, it sounds as though you are working on a 'soft release'. Look forward to your updates!

fp

[dlgilbert4]

Do teenage pigeons grow through a stage where they lose their baby tail feathers and grow adult tail feathers? Cole's original tail feathers seem to be falling out.

Thanks,
Danielle

[Lovebirds]

Originally Posted by dlgilbert4

Do teenage pigeons grow through a stage where they lose their baby tail feathers and grow adult tail feathers? Cole's original tail feathers seem to be falling out.

Thanks,
Danielle

When they molt, the tail feathers fall out and grow back one by one. They start with the middle feather. Don't know how old Cole is,,but he seems a bit young to be molting tail feathers already. Have you notice him loosing his flight feathers?

[feralpigeon]

Danielle, I thought Cole seemed a bit young as well. I'm sure you can pick up
a bottle of Scalex Mite and Lice Spray for Birds and treat for mites/lice w/this
product. I use the cut off end of a sock--the toe part--as a hood when I'm
spraying to ensure that the spray doesn't get in the nares, eyes, mouth. Spray
under the wings, rump, and flip over for the other side. I extend the wings when spraying for better coverage overall.
Hope you're both doing well otherwise.

fp

[dlgilbert4]

Originally Posted by Lovebirds

When they molt, the tail feathers fall out and grow back one by one. They start with the middle feather. Don't know how old Cole is,,but he seems a bit young to be molting tail feathers already. Have you notice him loosing his flight feathers?

The long stiff feathers on his wings (which I take are the flight feathers?) haven't been falling out or showing signs of degradation at all. And yes, his tail feathers have been falling out from the middle. Here are some pictures of his tail. It almost looks like it was injured somehow, where the lighter grayish line is - maybe he got hurt before I found him and the feathers are just now falling out since he is just now actually using them for flight? What do you think?

[feralpigeon]

Danielle, looks like a combination of some mite or lice damage ( I'd suspect mites)at the very ends of the tail feathers and trauma to the feathers as I can see that in a couple of the feathers they are bent w/a kink in the shaft. I would still treat w/Scalex and what to do about the tail feathers? You can wait for a molt or gently and firmly grasp the
feather shaft at the base and give a slow pull to the shaft, pulling it out. This will enable a new feather to replace it which usually takes 4-6 weeks to grow out. If you decide to pull out, just do a couple a day so that it's easier on Cole
overall.

fp