Found Fledgling in SF - Need Advice :)

[Lady Tarheel]

Danielle, we often get in fledglings with tail feathers that look like that. I have always thought it was the result of malnutrition that caused the feathers to not come in as they should. It is almost always the tail feathers that look like this. Not sure if I can describe this adequately but a feather looks ok except there is a break in the middle where there is nothing. They often will break off at that spot too. About the only thing we do is just give them time to grow them back in.

Treating for mites/lice always is beneficial but it seems to me you could see them and they also damage other feathers as well as the tail feathers.

I went back and looked at Cole's last pictures and his tail feathers look like what I'm (trying) to describe. I know you're feeding him well so it will just take time. He sure is a cutie.

[feralpigeon]

Could be malnutrition, except this one fell from the nest and so went from
parents to Danielle. That's why I was thinking the fall in part could be responsible for the kinks in the shafts that I saw. The fraying at the ends
is why I'm also thinking mites as this bird is a bit young to have that quality
to the tips of the feathers. If lice, yes, visible, but mites aren't always readily
seen on the feathers. I normally hold them to the light and look for signs
of damage, as it isn't always noticable otherwise.

fp

[Lady Tarheel]

fp, yeah, I know it is always difficult to tell about these things but he was a pretty good sized baby when he fell out going by Danielle's first post. Those we get also go from the parents to the ground, although in varying sizes, but most of them that come from the bridge that are the size Danielle described usually have this tail feather problem.

[feralpigeon]

Well, I see several tail feather 'issues' although I don't think them to be
a big problem. The ones that have the split I would indeed believe to be

nutritional , Maggie. The ones that have been bent over w/kink in shaft I
frequently see in falls, though they too can be nutritional. The fraying or lightness in the feathers at the extreme ends Scalex would help.

Guess whether or not she pulls or waits on severely damaged ones is kind of
dependant on whether she is trying to release or not. If Cole has become
a member of the household, then of course, no need. If Danielle is thinking
about releasing him, it may not be in Cole's best interest to wait.

fp

[Lovebirds]

Nope, that's not the molt.........that's damaged feathers. I'd go with the lice/mite treatment first.

[feralpigeon]

Well, I may get a closer look as Danielle asked me if I would take over the
care and release for Cole. As long as this is still in the cards towards the end
of the week, then Cole will be shifting residences.

fp

[dlgilbert4]

Yes, as mentioned above, I will be transferring Cole to fp for the completion of his rehabilitation. I am unable to allow him much free inside flight-time and have no other pigeons with which to acclimate him. It seems like the best thing for his long term happiness is to be released after a more formal growth-and-learning process.

As much as I want to keep him, I have to be realistic. I have always wanted a bird, but my apartment doesn't have the space necessary to accommodate a large enough cage for a pigeon. He also seems happiest when alone, rather than in my hands, so he would probably prefer to be wild.

Thank you, everyone, for your words of support and advice. I am greatly indebted to you all.

Danielle

[feralpigeon]

An update on Cole who has innocently enough transformed into Colette. When Cole came in, she was pretty hot to the touch, very skinny w/sharp keel, lots of bare spots, and some very irregular looking tissue in the mouth and esophagus though I wouldn't call this classic canker by any stretch. The droppings were very sour smelling though and there seemed to be a specific hot spot at the base of the crop. The 'lump' on her foot for want of a better description had the whole area enflamed/swollen and it has decreased in size within a few of days of initiating the anitbiotics.

There was definitely evidence of mite damage to the feathers when I held them to the light, though this bird was probably not getting it's nutritional needs met by drinking the formula from the bowl, so both were issues for Colette.

I decided to wait on the seed segue and tubed KT Exact instead...twice a day...I also left the seeds out for Colette just in case. She got a bath and mite treatment, Scatt, and I put her on Enrofloxan and Carnidazole.

Her bare spots that had no growth before are sporting pin feathers now and she has put some meat on the old bones but she still has a ways to go on that issue. She's quite the little sweetie and likes to sit on my hand or anywhere on me for that matter, so even once she is better and the feathers are up to snuff, this will still need to be looked at. Hopefully the guys here can teach her some 'tude'

Here's a link to Webshots and her folder w/some pics I took today, sorry I didn't take them within a day or two of her arrival, but they will still tell a story.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2...66604705gXXAFr

fp

[TAWhatley]

Colette is lookin' pretty good, FP. Thank you so much for taking her in and doing all that you have for her. She surely does look a bit "ragged" around the edges to say the least, but I know she's looking better than she did when she arrived.

Thanks for posting the treatment you have given as it will be helpful to others with similar cases.

Terry

[mr squeaks]

Colette has sure been through some rough patches! Bless her heart.

I'm sure that she will do just fine but will still send WARM HEALING THOUGHTS, HUGS and SCRITCHES!!

Wishing her all the best! I know you will keep us updated, fp...many thanks!!

[Trees Gray]

Hi fp,

I'm sure Colette is doing well under you care, can't wait to see more updates.

Thanks for taking the time to update us with details of her care.