Getting Frustrated, HELP! Please.. :)

[esdoody]

Hi there! My name is Emily. Ok, yesturday my aunt was here and noticed a pigeon walking around in our shed. I went to look but didnt see it. This morning my daughter went outside and saw and it came running to tell me. I went and looked and sure enough it was a pigeon. I thought maybe it was injured, I had NO clue what to do at first. I have no bird seed here but I have some guinea pigs, so I put a dish of their food out there for it, but checked back about an hour after and it didnt bother with it. Thats when I started researching online and realised its a baby. I brought it in the house and made a nest for it out of newspapers and put it in an empty guinea pig cage. I had no idea what to feed it, and didnt know how to tell if it was hungry. I knew NOTHING. So, anyhiw, I called the pet store and they told me to bring it in and she would see if it needed seeds or formula. I went there are she told me the pigeon is about 3 weeks old and will need formulas. She gave some and mixed some up there and showed me how to open the birds beak and squirt the food in there. So, fine, I came home. Every 2-3 hours I have been trying(without much success) to feed this poor bird. I dont understand why its so hard? Isnt it hungry? I tried feeding it with the syringe, it does work, but man, it takes forever to get it in its mouth and I get so frustrated. The last time I fed it was at 5. I managed to get about 8ml into it. It is now 10:30 PM, I tried feeding it about a half hour ago but no success. I even tried your "fabric method". Did exactly as the pictures show, but nope. This bird is not interested in eating at all and Im worried. How long can it go without food? Im going to try once more in a half hour then Ill try again tomoorow morning. Can someone please help. What am I doing wrong? Why is this so hard?

[pdpbison]

Hi esdoody,


Yahhhh, sadly, the methods usually recommended tend to alienate and offend the young Bird rather than to be at all inviteing to them.

I would be happy to send you feeding and care info if you would like, but it is too long to put here in this thread. So, if you wish, write to me from your regular e-mail to mine, which is

pdp1@earthlink.net


For now, if you can, have them inside somewhere, and let them be in a cage covered with some cloths so no drafts or airconditioning blow on them, keep them free from disturbances of children or other pets..and, have a heating pad set to 'low' in half the cage so they Bird may be on it or off of it as the Bird may wish...and cover both the Heating Pad and the cage bottom with a light colored Towell instead of useing any newspapers.

The Towell will let you see how the poops are going...which I would like you to describe as soon as you can do so...

If you can post some images of the little one for us to see, please do.

I myself use something called 'webshots' to place images on, which you can 'google' to get to and it is free.

Keep your movements around this Bird 'slow' and soothing...keeo others of any species clear away and out of sight when interacting with the Bird.

Likely with the right gestures, the Bird will come around and let you feed them, and at this age, they will very soon be eating on their own with some gentle guidance.

All of which is deliniated in tiresome digressions and considerable detail in my rough draft primer I will send you if you write me...

Lol...

Good luck!

Phil
Las Vegas

[esdoody]

Thanks Phil.
I dont have a heated blanket, but I have a hot water bottle, Ill put that in the cage with the baby. I emailed you. I hope u have more info for me. Like, how much to feed it and how often. And how can I tell where the crop is? The owner of the pet store said the crop is empty and the bird is wayy too skinny. Poor thing. After I started feeding it, it started pooping. Mostly watery poops. Umm, anything else? Its 11pm here now, Ill be heading to bed soon, Ill try one more feeding first. Ugh Im not looking forward to it.

[AZWhitefeather]

Hello,
Many thanks for taking in this sweet baby.

While food intake is very important, hydration is vital. Please offer the little one some 'rehydrating solution' (to a cup of water, add a pinch each of salt & sugar). I'm sure he is dehydrated & should be rehydrated before any food is offered.

Please check out the thread below, as it describes the basic steps on how to care for an ill or injured pigeon. It also describes the degrees of dehydration.

http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showthread.php?t=11265

Please do keep us posted.

Cindy

[pdpbison]

Yahhhhh...

Initial hydration is pretty important...

Thing is too, to do so kindly in a way which encourages further interest or comfort for the young Bird...

Anyway, info shoud be there ow in your e-mail...

Go out tomorrow to any drug store and t hey should have inexpensive ( $4.50) Heating Pads...and get one. They are usually smallish for that price, about 14 inches by 10 inches or something...perfect for these occasions...

The gestures I outlined have enables me to get a new arrived Bird youngster drinking and eating within usually about five minutes or their getting here, and puts them to happy ease as far as their wishing to do more of it.

The 'Syringe' into the gullet, sadly, while the traditional recourse of so many, is not pleasant or happy for the Bird and will tend to make them distrustful of further dealings with the person trying to do that to them.

For now anyway, at least do the electrolyte part by dissolving a pinch of Salt and a pinch of Sugar into a smallish glass of "tepid" Water, and guide their Beak into it gently with the warm, moist finger tip Beak-Massage and the "oooOOOooo!' invitaition, and they will drink as nice as you please...


Nighty night...

Phil
Las Vegas

[esdoody]

i will try again tomorrow, im heading to bed now, its late here. i hope i have better luck tomorrow.

Originally Posted by AZWhitefeather

Hello,
Many thanks for taking in this sweet baby.

While food intake is very important, hydration is vital. Please offer the little one some 'rehydrating solution' (to a cup of water, add a pinch each of salt & sugar). I'm sure he is dehydrated & should be rehydrated before any food is offered.

Please check out the thread below, as it describes the basic steps on how to care for an ill or injured pigeon. It also describes the degrees of dehydration.

http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showthread.php?t=11265

Please do keep us posted.

Cindy

[esdoody]

ill keep trying, ill go tomorrow to get the heating blanket too. i took pictures of the bird too, ill post them or email them to you tomorrow, im beat.

Originally Posted by pdpbison

Yahhhhh...

Initial hydration is pretty important...

Thing is too, to do so kindly in a way which encourages further interest or comfort for the young Bird...

Anyway, info shoud be there ow in your e-mail...

Go out tomorrow to any drug store and t hey should have inexpensive ( $4.50) Heating Pads...and get one. They are usually smallish for that price, about 14 inches by 10 inches or something...perfect for these occasions...

The gestures I outlined have enables me to get a new arrived Bird youngster drinking and eating within usually about five minutes or their getting here, and puts them to happy ease as far as their wishing to do more of it.

The 'Syringe' into the gullet, sadly, while the traditional recourse of so many, is not pleasant or happy for the Bird and will tend to make them distrustful of further dealings with the person trying to do that to them.

For now anyway, at least do the electrolyte part by dissolving a pinch of Salt and a pinch of Sugar into a smallish glass of "tepid" Water, and guide their Beak into it gently with the warm, moist finger tip Beak-Massage and the "oooOOOooo!' invitaition, and they will drink as nice as you please...


Nighty night...

Phil
Las Vegas

[pdpbison]

Uhhhhh...I hope you do not literally mean 'Heating Blanket'...

Heating Pads are small...many are not very much larger in coverage than a sheet of standard notebook paper.

...electric Blankets are another item altogether...!


Phil
Las Vegas

[esdoody]

Oops, lol my typo. Yes Ill get the pigeon a heating pad, lol NOT blanket
Did you get my email? WONDERFUL news! The pigeon didnt want the formulas because I guess its too old for that? Its happily eating seeds now and I can FINALLY see its crop and feel the seeds in there. VERY cool :-)
I was just sitting on the pc this morning when the bird started squaking a lot, I tried the formula but it didnt want no part of it. For the fun of it I put some guinea pig food in its cage and it went wild pecking at it! I was so excited! LOL Poor baby didnt need the formula after all. I went to the pet store and got it some bird seed. The bird LOVES it! OMG the noise it is making now is unreal, lol. I guess it finally trusts me, YAY! The funny thing is that now as soon as I put my hand near it, it looks for food. It wants me to feed it but I dont know what to feed it. Is that normal behavior? Im just so so glad its eating now What a diffence between today and yesturday. It even looks so much healthier now. :-)

Originally Posted by pdpbison

Uhhhhh...I hope you do not literally mean 'Heating Blanket'...

Heating Pads are small...many are not very much larger in coverage than a sheet of standard notebook paper.

...electric Blankets are another item altogether...!


Phil
Las Vegas

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hi Esdoody,

Sorry to be jumping in late here...but that is very good news that the youngster is starting to self feed

If the store clerk at the pet shop was close in guessing the birds age, then this is possible. Likely the bird is even older than 3 weeks so it should be starting to eat on it's own around this time. It's normal for them to beg still at this early age, because they want the comfort of being fed still by a parent. If the pigeon is eating now on it's own, you've got it made

Please don't let it have the guinea pig pellets, I've heard before that they are not good for pigeons. Continue with the dove/pigeon or bird seed and he/she should do just fine. You may also wish to offer it some grit at this time as well if you can get some

Good luck with this one,

[pdpbison]

Hi Emily,


Oh very good then...

They will squeak at this age while pecking and eating, even though no one is anylonger feeding them. Too, he/she probably would very much still like to be fed, but it would have to be presented in a way that is similar enough to what they wish for or would expect from t heir parents if their parents were present to feed them.

Get them some decent Vitamins-Mineral suppliment to add to their water or food.

You may moisten their Seeds ( say a few days worth at a time) in a light coating of fresh (bought just for this) Olive Oil and this will in itself be good for them, as well as it allows various powders to stick to the Seeds for them to eat as they peck.

If you can go to the Health Food Store and get them some Pro-Biotics ( powder) and also some powdered Sea Weed or Purple Dulce, and some powdered "Super Greens", none of these are particularly expensive, and you put a good heaping teaspoon full of each into a cereal bowl of Seeds moistened with the Olive Oil first, and stirr so it is all evenly distributed...fill their little Seed bowl from this and keep it in the refridgerator untill used up, then make a new batch.

And as brad suggests, forgo the Guinea Pig 'pellets' and feed them nice various "Bird Seeds"...

A good grade of Mina Bird 'pellets' or little disc-shaped things as may be, is fine to also add to their Seeds if one wants, but basically these Birds should eat Seeds primarily when possible.

small whole raw Peanuts are enjoyed also, as is the white Safflower Seeds...these you can get at Petsmart.

Although when I went to day, the Peanuts they had looked poor so I did not get any this time.

If any real 'Feed Stores' in your area, see if they have actual "Pigeon Mix" Seeds which will have lots of dried Peas in it...

Glad to hear they are eating and enthused about it too!


Phil
Las Vegas

[esdoody]

No, I dont give it the guinea pig food anymore, I bought a bag of Dove seed from the pet store and something called a Millet. What is the grit? Can that be bought at the pet store too?

Originally Posted by Pigeonpal2002

Hi Esdoody,

Sorry to be jumping in late here...but that is very good news that the youngster is starting to self feed

If the store clerk at the pet shop was close in guessing the birds age, then this is possible. Likely the bird is even older than 3 weeks so it should be starting to eat on it's own around this time. It's normal for them to beg still at this early age, because they want the comfort of being fed still by a parent. If the pigeon is eating now on it's own, you've got it made

Please don't let it have the guinea pig pellets, I've heard before that they are not good for pigeons. Continue with the dove/pigeon or bird seed and he/she should do just fine. You may also wish to offer it some grit at this time as well if you can get some

Good luck with this one,

[Reti]

You can get grit from the pet store for now, I use the Hi-Cal grit and buy oyster shell grit (also from the pet store) and mix them. But for long term pigeon specific grit is better for them. You could get that from a feed store or order it online.

I am so glad pij is doing better.

Reti

[pdpbison]

Hi Emily,


Yes, 'Grit' and there are many kinds, is either crushed granite or similar or crushed Oyster shells, and it aids their digestive processes. In the wilds, Birds eat small stones.

Having no teeth for mastication, their Food is 'chewed' in an organ called a Gizzard. The Gizzard can grind-chew their food with it's own sectional lineing of horny-plates that it is lined with, but it prefers to have some actual Grit of some kind to do so with.

The Bird also obtains minerals from those kinds of Grit, such as the crushed Oyster shells, which contain minerals.

Get the other stuff too if you can...the Vitamine-Mineral and other goodies for suppliments, may as well feed them the best possible during their stay...!

Phil
Las Vegas

[Trees Gray]

You can get various grits at the pigeon supply houses, some provide calcium and other minerals and others are for digestion.

When you have a moment take alook at the various pigeon products available:

http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com/

http://www.globalpigeon.com/

http://www.jedds.com/

http://www.siegelpigeons.com/