Help Please!!! Fledgeling

[MissyMiffy]

Hi guys,

My cat chased a fledgeling pigeon down from our tree today We have 4 cats and the little pigeon can't yet get himself off the ground so I have locked him in my dogs crate safe and warm until i can figure out what to do with him.

Parent pigeon has been looking for him since this happened, but I have nowhere I can put him out of the way of my cats until he learns to fly, whilst still giving the parent access.

I have tried feeding him out of a shot glass, but the problem is he goes nuts every time I go near him, flapping and snapping his beak!

How do I go about feeding him?

My dog killed their last chick at the same stage as this one when it jumped out of our tree, I just can't see them lose this one too Obviously if it would be better to stick him back in the tree and hope for the best I will do this.

Please help!

(BTW, he is fully feathered but still has a lot of the hairs sticking out all over him, I'm guessing from reading other posts (but not seen any pictures to verify) that he would be around day 20-23. He is not self feeding yet, I saw the parent feeding him yesterday.)

Thanks in advance!

[Lovebirds]

Is this a baby pigeon or baby dove? I suspect a dove. Can you tell us where you are?
The best thing to do would be to put it back in the nest and keep your cat and dog away from it. If it's as old as you think, it won't be but a few more days and it will take off on it's own.

[Trees Gray]

Where are you located??

Pigeons don't nest in trees,unless it is a woodpigeon or a dove.

[MissyMiffy]

Hi there,

Definately a bog standard pigeon as I've been watching them since the beginning of the year, they made their first nest in April, but as I say my dog got that one 99% certain it's the same 2 pigeons that have had this chick as using the same nest area as before.

It had jumped from it's nesting tree into our tree, the nesting tree is far too high off the ground for me to even attempt to get him back IN the nest. I could however put him back in the tree the cat got him out of, but of course my cat got him down once and she will try again Even if I shut my cats in for the time it takes him to fly my neighbours also have cats and dogs. After my cat got him out of the tree I actually had to break into my neighbours garden to catch him as his dog would have had him.

I am in Dorset, UK.

[MissyMiffy]

Let me find a picture of what the parent looks like!

[MissyMiffy]

Nevermind, it is a wood pigeon! Sorry for confusion!

[Trees Gray]

They are a little different to rehab then ferals pigeons.

I will allert our UK members

[MissyMiffy]

Thanks very much

[John_D]

hi

Where are you located, in case there is anyone in the area, or a rescue facility which will accept woodpigeons

John

[MissyMiffy]

Dorset, in the South of England.

[John_D]

Sorry, didn't see that before.

At the awkward age when he's growing up wild, as he should do. They are highly strung and can get very frightened of people.

Now, if you are able to hold him, maybe wrapped in a towel, and can feed him by hand... small bits of moistened wholemeal bread rolled into balls; frozen peas and sweetcorn thawed in hot water for 20 -30 minutes; small pieces of soaked dog biscuit. Any of these would provide some nourishment to start with. You would need to gently open his beak and pop them into his mouth (hence the towel - I'm currently feeding two pigeons that way and it's the only way I can keep 'em still).

If he just will not be held without going berserk then I can only suggest a good pile of wild bird seed and, very necessary, a small pot of water to see if he will start to peck and eat, and drink. They do learn to eat quite young, even though the parents still would normally feed them.

As far as I know our nearest member and rehabber is way down in Devon, unfortunately.

Don't know any wildlife rescues in the area offhand, will try to find. Depends how far you can travel, possibly.

John

[John_D]

I do not know these people, but they may help or know of another person/organization who can


LOVE BIRDS WILDLIFE RESCUE
Pascal De-Bock . (WIMBORNE)
Ph: 01202 872592 .

PORTLAND AND WEYMOUTH ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY
Secretary: Betty Austin, 19 Cedar Drive , Preston , WEYMOUTH , Dorset , DT3 6DT
Ph: 01305 833102

John

[Jaye]

Helpful stuff, John. Thanks for digging that up for her....

Missy...very IMPORTANT Q:

Did the cat scratch or break the skin of the baby anywhere ? Is or was the baby bleeding...even in the least bit ?????? Does the baby have a scab or wound anywhere ?

....if the cat managed to break the birdie's skin, the baby is going to need antibiotic medication very quickly. Within 24-48 hrs. of being wounded. Or else it would die due to bacterial infection.....regardless of the supportive care you are giving her/him.

[MissyMiffy]

Thanks for the tips John and for looking out the local rescue places for me

I tried again this morning to get some food down him. Wrapped him in a towel and came at him with soggy balls of granary bread, I just couldn't figure out a way to actually open his beak, insert food AND hold him with only 2 hands. I've now put in a big bowl of rabbit food seeds (picked out all of the big bits) but he doesn't look in the least bit interested.

Thankyou Jaye for mentioning that. He does indeed have a scratch on his leg that was bleeding. From the cat or his landing I don't know! As it stopped bleeding straight away I didn't even think to mention it!
I'll give it half an hour then I'll give the Wimborne rescue place a call.

I've had a look for parent bird but no sign yet. Obviously with the cut on his leg he won't be able to be released yet anyway

I know it's only their nature, but I really dislike cats some days!

Poor thing

[pdpbison]

Originally Posted by MissyMiffy

Nevermind, it is a wood pigeon! Sorry for confusion!

Hi MissyMiffy,



It is hard to tell by your prior description, if the little one is acting freightened of you and is 'snapping' his Beak as a way of trying to scare you off?



Anyway, possibly, keeping your hands 'low' and him on a towell on a Table...

If you moisten your finger tips in warm water, shake off any excess, and gently 'massage' his Beak...he may interpert this as an invitation for feeding...and if so, he will 'nuzzle', which is to say, he will assert his interest to be fed, by probing or pushing with his Beak.


If he will 'nuzzle' he will very likely eat from a Shot Glass, but he may require you to keep your warm-moist finger-tips on the sides of his Beak, as he does so...and most 'Livia' Pigeons do require one do so...though I have no experience with Wood Pigeons to guess on their sensibilities in this regard.

Similarly with Water - Water needs to be offered 'tepid' and one generally needs to guide their Beak into it gently, keeping one's finger tips on their Beak sides as they drink.


Small whole Seeds, such as Canary Seed or Finch Seed, possibly, mixed with whatever small Berries or other foods Wood Pigeons are understood to eat, would be what to have in the Shot Glass.





Here are some casual images -


http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/f5/sho...ons-29629.html


Good luck..!



Phil
Las Vegas