Found pet pigeons-need guidance

[ShelbyG]

Hi everyone!

Hope I'm posting this in the right place-I've already emailed to the Pigeon911 Yahoo group and haven't received a response so thought I'd try this forum, which seems pretty active...

Hubby was doing yardwork today when two pigeons (seem to be helmet pigeons) flew into the yard. They're relatively tame, definitely not as friendly as our cockatiel and skittish around people. We have a lot of raptors (hawks, ospreys) buzzing around our place so I think its pretty amazing they weren't eaten during our rescue.

They flew around for a while before we were able to coax them into one of our birds cages (had hastily cleaned the cage out beforehand) using water and food. They never flew very far from us and seemed to recognize people, food and our birdcage. They've been eating and drinking since we caged them and eliminating just fine. They're very striking birds. They seem to be a mated pair and have been cuddling, grooming each other, and started cooing loudly after I covered them for the night. They seem healthy but breathe louder than I'm used to hearing from my little birds. They also coo/growl when we get too close to the cage, which is hilarious.

We brought the cage inside-but away from my own birds-since I don't know what their normal cage conditions should be or how well they tolerate cold.

One bird-I suspect its a male-has a yellow band. The digits as best as we can read are something like: NPA 05 AHA 8 823. The female(?) has a blue band with: NPA 7 06 R(?)HA 1383.

We've looked up the American Helmet Association website (yep-thats them.
Helmets seem to be fancy show birds, not homing pigeons, and they definitely did not seem to have "street smarts" to survive, so I'm glad we corralled them instead of letting them flap around outside.

I plan to call my local bird store and the local avian vet tomorrow morning when they open, hoping someone knows who raises these birds. I spoke with an emergency vet this evening that said they may be able to take them while they search for an owner. I don't want them to go to a shelter where they might be put down. Maybe a foster home with someone who "knows" pigeons?

I'm already attached to them and want to make sure that we get these buddies back to the right home, since I'd be very upset if something similar happened to my budgies/'tiels. Husband has already said we can't keep these lovelies. Any other suggestions for someone in the Tampa, Florida area?
Thanks so much for any guidance.

Shelby

[Margarret]

Shelby,

Thank you so much for taking in these pigeons. Yes, you are absolutely right, they are show birds and have no homing instinct. They probably got out and are lost. They would not survive even if raptors didn't get them. Several of our members are Pigeon 911 people and someone will be along to help you find the owners if possible or to assist in getting these birds adopted or placed in a foster care situation until homes can be found for them. These birds probably came from somewhere near you.

Margaret

[horsesgot6]

Thanks For Taking In These Birds. Yes I'm Sure Someone Will Be On That Can Help You Find There Owner. If No Owner Can Be Found They Can Place Them In Good Homes. There are Afew People In The Florida Area That Can Maybe Take them In Until The Owners Can Be Found If You Can't Keep Them Until Then

[TAWhatley]

Hi Shelby,

I did just respond to you on 911 Pigeon Alert. Yes, you should just hang on to these birds for a day or two while we try to track down the owner. As I posted to you on 911 PA, if you do put them with someone else to care for, please provide us with the contact information for that person. If there is anyway you can, please just hold on to these two lovely pigeons for a day or so. I've already e-mailed the only person I know to contact in the American Helmet Association .. he's been prompt to reply in the past, so I'm hoping he is prompt again.

We do have a Pigeon-Talk member in Largo, FL that might be able to foster the birds, and if you do have to move them, I would greatly appreciate it if you would try to get them to Julie rather than somewhere else. We have a resource list here at http://www.pigeon-life.net/prd.htm .. If you have a look there, you will find Julie in the Florida listings.

Terry

[ShelbyG]

Terry and everyone,

Thanks so much for the quick and informative email! I thought there might be a lag with it being Sunday when we found them. Sorry-we should have given you more time to respond but we were a bit nervous with these guys cooing in the kitchen and wanted some reassurance that we were doing the right thing to keep them.

Hubby has walked around a few times muttering "I think we may have adopted some birds" under his breath but given the number of natural predators and free range cats here, he says the Bird Jesus must have guided them to our yard. <very big grin> We can hang onto them for a day or so.

I will still call my bird store and avian vet this morning-these little guys did not come far. I'll also call Julie to see if there is some way perhaps we can swap them out this week. I'd like to see someone with pigeon experience take them. They're eating a mix of cockatiel food/wild bird seed right now. Will keep you posted.

Thanks!
Shelby

[ShelbyG]

Hello,

Just an update....my local bird store and my local avian vet had no leads on who these pigeons might belong to. I've called and left a message for Julie and am hoping to hear back from her soon.

I'm concerned with one of the pigeons. He's huddled up on the floor now, whereas last night they perched on the bricks I'd put on the cage bottom. The other pigeon had slept on the floor earlier too, but she still seems pretty bright eyed and happy.

This male pigeon is breathing harder, making a noise that's not really a coo but more grunting. He also doesn't scurry away when we approach the cage, as he did yesterday. I'm seriously worried that he's sick. I'm going to try to take him to either my avian vet (North Bay) or Florida Vet Specialists on Busch Lake Blvd.

I was really hoping someone I'd called this morning would have a lead on their owner. Not to sound churlish but I really didn't want to be stuck with a big vet bill for a bird not my own. I'm calling them now to see if we cna work something out. : (

-Shelby

[ShelbyG]

Okay,

Boy Pige is up moving around and cooing. He also pecked at me when I put my hand in with some new food. I'm still not sure how much they're drinking today-they drank a lot yesterday. Now girl pige is sleeping on the floor.

I JUST received an email from the American Helmet Association giving me the contact info for the person who ordered the band. The email also mentioned that my piges are not helmets. If they're not, they could give spy lessons to other pigeons on how to imitate helmets! LOL

I've been in touch with the contact's wife. She said they sell and gift their birds to other people, so they're going to try to check their records to see who nearby might own these birds. Its discouraging because they're obviously not real keen to take back these birds and admitted to me that the previous owner may have been raising them for young and set them loose, or set them loose because one is sick. That makes me pretty indignant and more determined to find them a good home. How could an animal be bred out at age 2-3???

She also asked me NOT to take them to the vet, since they prefer to do their own doctoring. They are going to call me back this afternoon. I'm keeping the pigeons warm, fed and watered. Also away from my other birds!!

Sorry for the frequent updates-I have to get this all out. I may have to learn how to post a picture of my "not helmets".

-Shelby

[TheSnipes]

Originally Posted by ShelbyG

Okay,

Sorry for the frequent updates-I have to get this all out. I may have to learn how to post a picture of my "not helmets".

-Shelby

Frequent updates are great and once you get the pics up, someone should be able to ID them for you. If you have a picture already, email it to one of us and we can post for you. (Email to anyone can be done by clicking on their name in the corner of the post. Pick someone with a "green" light - indicates they're online)

I think maybe the birds were guided to you and you should try to foster them yourselves till you find their owner or a proper new home, or decide to keep them -- let them keep working on hubby

[ShelbyG]

Thanks Snipes for your kind words. I'm going to try to post a link here to Photobucket. Hopefully it comes through.

http://s247.photobucket.com/albums/g...t=DSC03122.jpg

That's at least a few shots of them. I've got to clean out the cage again this morning-they really enjoy drinking from the water bowl, then knocking it over.
One of them sits on the edge of it. I put in a few perches on the ground for them to use instead.

[TheSnipes]

Originally Posted by ShelbyG

Thanks Snipes for your kind words. I'm going to try to post a link here to Photobucket. Hopefully it comes through.

http://s247.photobucket.com/albums/g...t=DSC03122.jpg

That's at least a few shots of them. I've got to clean out the cage again this morning-they really enjoy drinking from the water bowl, then knocking it over.
One of them sits on the edge of it. I put in a few perches on the ground for them to use instead.

maybe they're Nuns? I have a hard time distinguishing Nuns and Helmets. They're adorable though - !!

[Trees Gray]

Hi ShelbyG,

You definitely have Helmets there, someone just put the wrong bands on them. If they need a home, I can take them, as I am running a home for wayward (lost and rehabbed) Helmets.

They seem to be escape artists and active and fast little cuties. Please provide some warmth for them, as the one does look a little off. Make sure they are out of drafts of cold or warm air. I usually cover up cages with towels on all sides except front to give them warmth.

If they are drinking more then just after they eat, then their poops maybe wattery as well. Do you have any apple cider vinegar or human grade probiotics?

Thank you for rescuing them.

[pigeonmama]

Oh, my,
What cuties. I hope they end up at Mama Treesa's home for wayward pigies.
They will be well cared for and much loved.
Daryl

[horsesgot6]

What Super Nice Looking Birds you Have there. You May Have A male And Female That May Be Mating With The Laying In The Corner Of the Cage Was The Other Near The One Laying Down. Give Them Some Time And You May have A EGG This Is just My Guess I'm Sure There Will Be Others Along To Help.

[TAWhatley]

Shelby,

Thanks for the updates and the pictures. My contact at the AHA did e-mail me back saying he had forwarded the information to the secretary of the organization .. looks like he did that and the secretary got right on it. I would appreciate it if you would put the information you received into 911 Pigeon Alert so we have it there in the records (just reply to one of the 911 PA e-mails, and I'll see it come through). Also, if you could send me the name and e-mail address for the secretary for the AHA, that would be great so I can update 911 PA with that info and quit bugging this one poor fellow that I have been contacting about AHA birds

Thank you again for all your efforts on behalf of these two lovely pigeons, and please do continue with the updates!

Terry

[ShelbyG]

Hi again,

I'm definitely interested in the possibility of getting these guys to a sanctuary where they can hang out with other little buddies, should no owner ever come forward. Treesa, if you're still interested, we may have to make plans to road trip from Tampa to see you this week/weekend.

I'm still waiting to hear from the breeder this evening as to who they were sold to but I just have a feeling these guys may have been dumped. Have checked Craigslist and the local papers, etc. No lost birds like these. : (

They're definitely bonded, constantly cuddling up to each other. I may be confused on the genders (thought the male was the darker headed one) but no one needs to be laying any eggs this week!

Can you please tell me about the apple cider vinegar? I do have some. Is there a quantity to add to their water? Frequency? Any other tips? These guys aren't pooping frequently but its solid and there's definitely more volume than with my little birds-and dark green. Does that sound right?

Made a special trip to my pet store today and tried to find some food they would eat-bought additional 'tiel food, as well as some oats and some corn based food that looked like cheerios. My store didn't have any pigeon food. : (

I cleaned out the cage this afternoon. Relocated both pigeons (they hated that!) by hand to a small platform hanging about 18 inches off the floor of the cage they're currently in, then I did a quick paper change, rinsed off the brick perches, swabbed out the food and water bowls. Also added a heating pad set to low heat, covered with a flannel pillowcase, to the side of the cage they like to sleep on. Put one of the brick perches back there on that side, and within 3 minutes one bird was on the brick and the off looking bird was cuddled up on the floor next to it (on the heating pad). They like the heating pad alright.

Also doing more grooming, preening each other, stretching their own wings, hopping around the cage, just generally acting like my own birds do. They seem to be paying more attention to whats going on outside the cage too. I covered them with a sheet and a small flannel blanket and they seem pretty active under it, also peeking underneath to watch us. LOL

Thanks again so much for all of the lovely replies and support. What a wonderful community.