HELP - A baby pigeon refuse to eat!

[HitchHiker]

Hi,

Please see attached some photos I took now. I have a few questions:
1. In picture 003 you can see a big area under his chest which is not covered with feathers. Is that normal?
2. In picure 006 you can see the area under his wings is almost completley bold. Is that normal?
3. When and how is he supposed to learn how to fly? find food by himself? leave home?
4. Is it ok that I keep him closed in a small box in a quiet part of the house all day, with short breaks for feeding? What is the ideal place for him?

Thanks.

[AZWhitefeather]

He looks to be a bit fluffed in the first & last pictures. His eyes don't appear to be bright & clear, as a healthy bird's would be. It's possible he may have an underlying problem.

Unless I've missed it, I didn't see where providing some supplemental heat has been suggested.

Their body temperature needs to be at a normal level & maintained that way. It's possible his isn't.

I would suggest placing the little one on a towel lined heating pad, set on low or place him under a low wattage lamp for about 20-25 minutes to see if he livens up some.

Here's the link to the Basic life saving steps thread, which is a great guide on how to begin caring for an ill, injured or orphaned pigeon or dove.
http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/f25/sa...teps-8822.html

Wishing you both the best.
Please keep us posted.

Cindy

[HitchHiker]

Hi Cindy,

Thank you for your reply. I live in Cyprus where the temperature is about 30 degrees celsius (roughly 86F. at home it's probably somewhat lower). Anyway, I don't think heating is the problem... Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[AZWhitefeather]

Originally Posted by HitchHiker

Hi Cindy,

Thank you for your reply. I live in Cyprus where the temperature is about 30 degrees celsius (roughly 86F. at home it's probably somewhat lower). Anyway, I don't think heating is the problem... Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm always concerned when I see a bird fluffed & not moving about much, whether it be an adult or baby.
When a bird is compromised, for whatever reason, their body temperature drops. In order for them to digest food properly, their body temperature needs to be, & maintained, at a normal level. Supplement heat helps to provide that.
Unless they're outside in very cold weather, it's not normal for a pigeon or dove to be fluffed.
I also look at their eyes. They should be bright, not dull appearing.

I may be totally off base, but I just don't think your little one is feeling well.

Shi & I just rescued this little guy yesterday. He seems to be about the age of yours, maybe a little younger & he found being fed from a human baby bottle nipple was grand.
http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/f23/im...gry-29427.html
This might be another feeding option for you to try.

Cindy

[cyro51]

I agree with Cindy, if he is fluffed up then he is probably feeling cold. Lack of food and body fat will make them feel cold even when the weather is good and the tempreature is high. By providing him with a heat pad or lamp you will enable him to preserve his energy instead of using it to keep warm.

I was watching a programme about Freddie Mercury the other day. It said that when he was skeletal and recording the video for "I'm going slightly mad" he had to be provided with cashmere underwear because he was so cold, whereas everyone else was sweltering under the studio lights. I think that is a good example of how differently the ill and the healthy experience the same ambient temperature.

10cc is too little for a feed for a pigeon that size. 30cc should be OK, but stop regularly to let it go down. Never feed more than 40cc in one go.

Cynthia

[AZWhitefeather]

Originally Posted by AZWhitefeather

Unless I've missed it, I didn't see where providing some supplemental heat has been suggested.

Cindy

My apologies. I did miss the suggestion of supplemental heat.

Originally Posted by gingerpoo

He'd probably also like to have some warm heat from a heating pad under his box or whatever you have him in, since he's not feeling well and eating, his body won't have to burn as many calories to keep him warm.

[gingerpoo]

Originally Posted by HitchHiker

Hi,

Please see attached some photos I took now. I have a few questions:
1. In picture 003 you can see a big area under his chest which is not covered with feathers. Is that normal?
2. In picure 006 you can see the area under his wings is almost completley bold. Is that normal?
3. When and how is he supposed to learn how to fly? find food by himself? leave home?
4. Is it ok that I keep him closed in a small box in a quiet part of the house all day, with short breaks for feeding? What is the ideal place for him?

Thanks.

1. this picture looks like he's just been fed and the feathers which normally lie flat are lifted up because of the food. this is fine. the feathers on the lower chest normally grow in a little later.
2. the feathering under his wings is normal as well.
3. the baby pigeon will (especially the better he feels) sit in one place and flap his wings to give them strength, even the little flaps he does right now when he's begging are helping to strengthen them. He will become more and more active the older he gets and should start flying around on his own.

4. this is the main thing i wanted to comment on! I am not sure how small your box is, but the best thing for him would to be able to see sunlight and get some fresh air. One thing you can do is take 2 laundry baskets and put one upside down ontop of the other. line it with newspaper and a layer of papertowels. and a little towel he can nestle on in one corner.
If you can find it, add a branch through the laundry basket, low enough for him to hop onto it. I would also put some seed in there for him to be looking/pecking at. A jar lid works for a dish. I normally put a clean shiny coin in the food dish to catch their eye.
Also as far as heating pad- you can put it under just one corner of his basket (like the corner with his towel) so if he decides he wants to be warmer or cooler he can decide.
Now just keep the baskets together with twisty ties or closepins or something like that. Throw a towel over the corner of the basket, so that he can find a place to hide or get out of any drafts etc.

Also were you able to check his eyes with a flashlight?

[Charis]

That's a great idea about using laundry baskets as a cage and I agree that it is important the baby has light. At this age they also enjoy watching what's going on around them and they are starting to get curious and explore a bit. I think you could put a deep dish of seed and one of water in with him and he might start drinking and pecking at the seed.
From your most recent pictures and with the baldness around the face, I am highly suspicious that the pigeon has canker. To me, the bird looks a little off.Canker doesn't always show up inside the throat and can be internal as well. I think Cynthia offered to send you medicine to treat for that and I think you should take her up on it.
This may have been mentioned ...always wait for the crop to empty before adding more food.

[AZWhitefeather]

Originally Posted by HitchHiker

What is Crop?
Where is it?
How do I find it?

thx

Here's a comparison photo of a crop that's full & one not so full.
Dumpling (on the right) has the full crop where as Dolly's isn't so full.
They were only a week old here, but it gives you an idea of what to look for.
These babies were also fed by their parents.

Cindy

[HitchHiker]

I moved him to a cat's carrying cage in my balcony in the office. He now get's fresh air, light and view. He also gets some visits from neighbor pigeons. It's quite hot outside and no wind, so don't worry about him getting cold.

I'm feeding him 20cc 3 times a day. I will try to increase that toward 30cc but it's not simple with him.
It seems that he does not WANT to eat. I have to force him. every time he gets a chance, he escapes me.

Also, I'm not too sure about his health. He is fluffed most of the time and sitting in his cage in odd positions... sometime his head down and tail up, sometimes the head is 'lying' 90 degrees to the body etc... His eyes are a little foggy. Nonetheless, he is getting stronger. he walks around in circles (odd?) and flaps his wings when I lift him on my hand.

[AZWhitefeather]

Originally Posted by HitchHiker

I moved him to a cat's carrying cage in my balcony in the office.

He now get's fresh air, light and view. He also gets some visits from neighbor pigeons.
* It's quite hot outside and no wind, so don't worry about him getting cold.

I'm feeding him 20cc 3 times a day. I will try to increase that toward 30cc but it's not simple with him.

** It seems that he does not WANT to eat. I have to force him. every time he gets a chance, he escapes me.

Also, I'm not too sure about his health.

*** He is fluffed most of the time and sitting in his cage in odd positions... sometime his head down and tail up, sometimes the head is 'lying' 90 degrees to the body etc... His eyes are a little foggy. Nonetheless, he is getting stronger.
**** he walks around in circles (odd?) and flaps his wings when I lift him on my hand.

* The following link explains a little better about supplement heat. The thread is focused primarily on 'baby' babies but pertains to ill and/or injured birds as well. Placing a suspected ill or injured bird in a warm room or wrapping them in a towel, blanket, etc., just isn't enough.
http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/f6/pro...rds-13599.html

** There's a possibility he can't eat. As has been mentioned he could have canker which is not visible.
How are his droppings looking?

*** The fluffiness displayed in the picture in post # 31, indicates there is definitely something amiss with this bird. Even if he had just been fed, his entire body shouldn't be fluffed.

**** Walking in circles is not normal behavior of a pigeon or dove. There's a reason they're doing it.
Our Rae Charles walks in circles on occasion, because she's blind. PMV pigeons do, because of a neurological problem.

I stated earlier that I may be way off base thinking your little one wasn't feeling good, for whatever reason. Given your recent update I do believe there is something going on.
We just need to try & pin point what it is so he can get to feelin' better.

Please keep us posted.

Cindy

[HitchHiker]

Hi Cindy,

Thank you for your answer.
So now what? How can we diagnose what's wrong with him and fix him?

attached is an updated photo I took just now, and one photo of his dropping... I hope that helps.

thx.

[AZWhitefeather]

Originally Posted by HitchHiker

Hi Cindy,

Thank you for your answer.
* So now what?

** How can we diagnose what's wrong with him and fix him?

attached is an updated photo I took just now, and one photo of his dropping... I hope that helps.

thx.

I am able to recognize when a bird appears to be feeling under the weather, for whatever reason, & can provide the basic steps to gettting the brid stable, which is vital. However, I'm not well versed in recognizing most illnesses.

There are other members with much more knowledge than me as far as suggesting what might be going on. Hopefully, they will be along shortly.

* In the meantime, I would place him on, or under, a heat source. I suggested earlier to place him on heat for about 20-25 minutes, however if you decide to go that route & provide heat for a longer period of time, make sure he is able to remove himself from it if he so chooses. The same goes for overheat heat.

** Is there a vet nearby that could check the droppings?
Have you pm'ed your address to Cynthia so she can get some meds to you?

Cindy

[Trees Gray]

I agree, that picture sends up RED FLAG warning. The poop on the other picture doesn't look right either.

I would even put a nice thick layer of soft paper towels under him, if you don't have a towel for him. Make sure there are no drafts and that there is nothing but warmth around him.

I would put a drop of aplecider vinegar in the formula if you haven't done so, as this will help create a more acidic environment and cut back on some bad bacteria. Some probiotics added to the formula would be very beneficial. But if the bird does have canker, that needs immediate treatment.

[Charis]

HitchHiker,
I don't know how easy it is for you to get antibiotics in your country but you might check around to find out if Metronidazole is available to purchase. If so, that would be faster than having Cynthia mail it to you.
As Cindy suggested, having a veterinarian run a fecal on the bird would be a wise thing to do too.
I don't know if it's possible but it would help if we could see a video of the walking in circles and other behavior you described.