found small pigeon NEED HELP

[victor2006]

We were said we need to take care of it for a couple of weeks, and then let it go.. It lives with us for a day. We have seeds for parakeets and water.. We have no idea what to do, but want to help.

Here are the pictures of the bird

http://homepages.nyu.edu/~vya201/golub1.JPG

http://homepages.nyu.edu/~vya201/golub2.JPG


Here is the cage

http://homepages.nyu.edu/~vya201/golub3.JPG

[feralpigeon]

Hi victor2006,

And welcome to Pigeon Talk, thanks for helping this baby pigeon out.
Looks like you have a young one there who is not yet 'fledged'. The pigeon may also not be eating on its own yet. Has it eaten any of the seed that you offered it, and have you attempted giving it formula? Could be the easiest thing for all concerned would be to feed it soaked and strained puppy chow pushed gently to the back of the mouth.

It will also need to have some free flight time to develop it's flight muscles.
The cage is a bit small for it, but will do for now. It really should be able to stretch its wings fully, however, this one may not yet be a flyer.
Perhaps when you are ready to release it you could return it to the area you found it at and likely there will be other pigeons in that area for the bird to join a flock for its' own protection and survival.
Maybe checking the area for signs of others and when they tend to hang out. Usually earlier in the day is better for the bird being release as it will have time to get re-acquainted w/the flock and find it's "place' w/them.
fp

[Feefo]

Hi Victor,

You have a real cutie there!

Baby pigeons are relatively easy to care for.

He needs to be kept dry and free from draughts. Don't leave the cage in direct sunlight.

Offer him the smaller seeds of the mix, he will toy with them but might not immediately start to feed himself or not take enough food to meet his needs.

You can feed him yourself by soaking puppy biscuits until they are light and fluffy, then gently opening his beak and pushing the biscuit to the back of the throat.

Feed until his crop (which lies below the throat, at the front of the chest) is soft and cushiony.)

Show him where his water is by dipping his beak in it...that might stimulate him to drink.

Watch his poops...the colour, consistency and quantity will tell you a lot about his health. Ideally he should pass 20 to 30 raisin sized poops of the consistency og oil paint. They should be brown topped with a little white cap...but I find that it takes a couple of days for them to get that good.

One chek that we allways do when we find a pigeon is to check the inside of the mouth. It should be pink and clean. Please alert us if you see any cheesy substance, that is not catching but will need to be treated.

Cynthia

[John_D]

http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showthread.php?t=9682

Is a thread on various ways of feeding young pigeons/squabs

You may find this useful

John

[Trees Gray]

Hi Victor,

Hello and welcome.

You have a real cute baby there, I have one that age myself, and he is a real cutie.

He is not at the age where he is going to fly or flap, but he will be in a few weeks.

He is still to young to be interested in picking up seeds on his own. You can generate an interest, but he needs to be fed, as his parents regurgitate food to them.

You can also give the baby thawed out peas or corn, that have been drained. You will have to gently rub the beak and the baby may open his beak or not, Try gently prying open beak with thumb and forefinger, once he knows he is getting food he will be more willing to help.

Would you like help. Perhaps we can direct you to a rehabber in your area, where do you live?

[pdpbison]

Hi Victor2006,


Yes, this is a Juvenile, maybe three weeks old or so...and, in Nature, would not yet have come to eat on his own yet, but would continue to be fed by his Parents for another couple weeks or so, when, having gained enough muscle and other developements, he then would fly with them some short ways, to learn to peck and graze and forrage with them...

So, at this age, when we get them, we need to feed them, more or less as their parents would have. And at this age also, once we are feeding them nicely for a few days, we can gently bring them around to eating on their own.

e-mail me if you like, and I can run you through some of this...it gets too wordy for these threads otherwise...

pdp1@earthlink.net


I just got one in, a little one named 'Jet'...who is a little younger than yours, and who I am feeding, but who shall soon be brought around to self feeding once he has had some chance to enjoy being cared for and looked after in terms he understands, for his weaning transition to have a happy footing...and for him to feel welcome and easy with it all generally.


Otherwise, how are the poops from yours?

Can you describe them? How many so far in what time period?

...and, their appearance?


Best wishes...!

Phil
Las Vegas

[victor2006]

Thank you all very much for helping me !!!

He seems to be eating those seeds and drinking water from time to time. I do not know whether it is enought for him. I can not feed him more: he is afraid of me. He lies still but when I try to move my hand closer he stands up and squeecks. (the picture attached) And I have no idea how to open his beak and feed him at the same time.. I counted I need at least 4 hands.

He is squeeking sometimes, but seems OK otherwise. I took the top of the cage off, he seems to be adquate.. Walked a bit, tried to get out then decided to stay for a while

When I can watch him shall the top of the cage be off, or its better if I do not change whats around him too often? (I do not have a cat or a dog, only 2 more parakeets)

Poops are black and not hard..

I live in 11210, Brooklyn, NY. Anyone knows some organizations around?

[Victor]

Hi victor 2006~

Welcome to Pigeon Life and thanks for your concern with this little one. Do not change too much of its surroundings. best, the less change the better. As far as a rehabber in your area, Trees Gray had asked that question earlier,and I am sure she will supply you with your requested information.

[Feefo]

To feed him spaked biscits you would use your left hand to hold him down,, Circling his head with your thumb and forefinger, then use your thumb and forefinger to prise his mouth open. He really needs to eat.

Hope the New Yorkers in this group can help with a rehabber.

I am sending you a private message with the telephone number of a lovely man who found a rehabber for his three rescue squabs in NYC a couple of days ago, . Maybe he can give you some info on who helped him!

Cynthia.

[Trees Gray]

If you cannot find someone to hold the youngster so you can feed it, you can wrap him in a small towel, not too tight or too loose, just snug enough so he can't squirm loose. then try to feed him.

Here is a list of resources:

http://www.pigeon-life.net/prd.htm

http://www.tc.umn.edu?~devo0028/contactA.htm#il

[victor2006]

Always squeeking.. I see him trying to eat that seed, but seems he can not feed enought..

I can hold him with left hand, and can try to do something with his mounth at the same time, but how exactely I make him open his mouth?

[Pigeonpal2002]

Originally Posted by victor2006

but how exactely I make him open his mouth?

I would suggest carefully inserting a tiny tongue depressor into his beak and make him say, "ahhhh"....LOL.......JUST KIDDING!!!!!

[feralpigeon]

Originally Posted by victor2006

Always squeeking.. I see him trying to eat that seed, but seems he can not feed enought..

I can hold him with left hand, and can try to do something with his mounth at the same time, but how exactely I make him open his mouth?

You can wrap a hand/dish towel or pillow case folded lengthwise and then the wrap around. No need to do it too tightly, just enough to keep the wings at the side and free up both hands. Then w/one hand reaching over the head from the back, hold the beak between thumb and fore fingers. With the other hand, use one of your fingers to gently push up on the upper beak at the tip and this will get the beak open. With the other hand, use the fingers to adjust the grasp so that the beak remains open.

Now you can push the food gently towards the back of the mouth and allow the bird to swallow him/herself.

Good luck,

fp

[John_D]

Originally Posted by victor2006

Always squeeking.. I see him trying to eat that seed, but seems he can not feed enought..

I can hold him with left hand, and can try to do something with his mounth at the same time, but how exactely I make him open his mouth?

If he is wrapped in a towel, I would either

(at first) use right thumb and index or middle finger to hold bottom beak, open top part with left thumb and finger and then use the left hand to keep the beak open whilst popping food into the mouth with the right.

or, open beak just using thumb and finger of left hand, and feed with right

John

(Aha, didn't see your post, fp )

[Feefo]

Hi Victor,

It really is ery easy to open the pigeon's mouth, but if you can't get food into him that way then you could soak dog biscuits in warm water, liquidise or sieve them and feed them using one of the methods described in the link that John posted earlier.

I must stress how important it is to get some food into him now.

Cynthia