I am stumped

[naturegirl]

Hi I was given a street pigeon today to rehab as it was found in the middle of the street last night, the lady who found her said she thinks it could have been chased out of the sky by a hawk. Now this pigeon is too sweet and doesn't try to bite, even likes to be cuddled. This seems odd if you ask me. It is missing some flight feathers on the right wing but other than that seems to be fine, it is eatting and drinking fine but has me puzzled as too why it is too nice. Could this be someones pet pigeon that got away? I do still need to look in it's mouth for all the stuff you are suppose to look for. Doesn't seem to be underweight at all. The lady said she can't fly maybe from flight feathers being missing. Any suggestions? I have an appointment with my rehab vet on Friday to make sure it isn't sick.

Thanks
Naturegirl

[Pete Jasinski]

I feel these lil ones come to us for a reason so it sounds like you have a new friend!

[naturegirl]

I think so but it is much too nice to be a farel pigeon. It eats out of my hand and is way too sweet. I can't afford to keep another bird as I already have 6 others. Beautiful bird though. I will have her looked at by the vet on Friday but till then I have purchased some Tetracycline just incase something is wrong with her.

[John_D]

Sometimes, ferals are looked after from very young by someone who then releases them. Unless/until they really mix in with a feral flock, they may be quite trusting and have been used to being friendly, even affectionate, with humans. No different, sometimes, from a 'pet' pigeon.

John

[Trees Gray]

Hi naturegirl,

Thank you for helping this friendly pigeon.

There is a reason the bird is not flying, maybe an injury, or disease. Have you checked the bird thoroughly to see if there are any puncture marks on the back or on the belly?

I'm glad you are taking the bird to the vet to get a checkup, that is the best way to solve any health issue.

Be sure to keep the bird seperate from your other birds, if you haven't done so already.

[naturegirl]

I checked inside of her mouth real good and she is nice and clean and pink in there, I have also checked all over her body for injury and nothing there, maybe she is an older bird but she doesn't seem like it, maybe she can hide her wrinkles better than humans I will just keep an eye on her and see what she does. I went out and bought a Large Guinee pig cage so she can spread her wings and move about she likes it. Those cages are not cheap.
I think my husband thinks I am nuts but I Love Pigeons.

Cindy

[John_D]

Good for you, Cindy

We have three big Chipmunk cages we use for 'hospital' accomodation - they are really perfect for the job. Two of them have shelves pigeons or collared doves can get on to roost, and it is easy to fix up an infrared heating lamp to them, too. They did kinda seem expensive at the time (I think they were about equivalent of $90 each) but we couldn't have done without them in retrospect.

John

[pdpbison]

Hi Naturegirl,


How are the poops???

Are both Wings even in their at-rest poise?

Have you a way to weight the Bird? - does it seem 'light' at all?

Keel seem sharp or...?

I think too, a Bird that was hand raised long ago, and who in the mean time may have assumed a quite wild or feral Life, if injured or ill, may accept attentions and aid from a person more easily than a Bird who was wild or feral from the beginning.

But too, I sometimes get in adult Pigeons who similarly to your description, will let me hold them and while I do so they will eat from my hand or a little bowl on the desk edge.

I do not think these were Birds I had raised and loosed years ago, but that sometimes a feral Adult Pigeon simply accepts a situation and is pretty at ease with it.

These usually tend to prefer less handleing as they recover, in my experience, even when quite easy with it initially and for some time after...

But it does make our work so much easier when wishing to help them when they are comfortable or easy with our attentions.

One I just got in a few days ago, who was quite frienly in these ways, now starting to wing slap me if I forget to ask if I may come in to her cage to change Water and Seeds, so, of course, I do best to remember my manners...


Phil
Las Vegas

[naturegirl]

Her/his poopys are watery and have a little yellowish tint to the urine side of it. I just offered it some clean Garlic water and just kept drinking and drinking and drinking. My husband just weighed her for me and she weighs out at 370 grams. Her keel isn't showing but I can feel it a little. She will eat seed if i sit next to her and tell her to go ahead and have some seed. She is so pretty for a grey pigeon.

[Trees Gray]

The bird may have a disease like coccidiosis (or that could be secondary to something else going on),which causes them to drink alot of water, and do watery poops.

You can start the bird on a good human grade probiotic that you purchase at a health food store, in the refrigeration section, like Solaray. Add some to the drinking water and stir well.

Garlic soft gel capsule, one a day, is very beneficial.

For an infection, a drop of Sovereign Silver colloidal silver down the throat each day.

Echinacea drops(alcohol free), human grade is also beneficiary to bring up the immune system. 1/4 of human dose in a little water and use a dropper to get down the throat, use 3 days and stop.

That will do until the bird goes to the vet.

She will start to put up more resistance when she feels better.

[naturegirl]

Thank You Treesa as always I depend sooo much on this site such great advice. Seems her poopys are getting more watery and the green is more snake like. That could be because she just drank more water than I would ever drink (ha,ha,ha) I will purchase some more things tomorrow. My Mom-inlaw in Australia uses the Echinacea she swears by the stuff, also alot of the herbal ingredients. She knows her stuff I know that.

Thank You again
Cindy

[pdpbison]

Hi Cindy,


There are many illnesses which occasion them drinking lots of water, as if wishing to flush their systems.

If possible, see about obtaining a fecal exam by an experiences Avian Vet, in order to tell if any obvious organisms are present which would then determine what medications would be appropriate.

Keep the Bird warm, idealy, having an electric heating pad with a towell covering it, so that the Bird may be on it or off of it as they please.

The ACV Water for their drinking would be a good idea also. One-to-Two Tablespoons of raw Apple Cider Vinegar to a Gallon of "good" clean Water, non-tap-water if possible...and after a week or so, just use one Tablespoon worth to the Gallon.

Good luck to you both!

Phil
Las Vegas