I found a baby pigeon in downtown Montreal, please help.

[LovelyFlight]

LOL
No, but it makes much cuter sounds than Lucky

Just wanted to update everyone: Lucky is growing well; she is attempting to eat seeds on her own. Before every meal I try to feed her some seeds (hunger is the best motivator!!!) and when she gets bored of trying I feed her the usual peas and corn (peas first!).

Lucky has been flying!!! I am finding poop all over that little room (I know I spent money on a cage, but I CANNOT see her behind those bars) and she likes to hang out on a little table by the window until:

DUSTY!

[LovelyFlight]

Hi everyone,

I took Lucky outside today since the weather is gorgeous! But as soon as she got outside she started to eat pebbles and dirt...is this normal? I brought her in right away and tried to give her food but she didn't want it. Should I let her eat the dirt???

Thank you!

[Charis]

She needs some red grit and oyster shell.
I would be very careful about taking her outside. She may become startled and take off. At this point, she wouldn't be able to survive on her own. I know of someone this happened to a couple of months ago. Fortunately at the time, the weather was consistantly good.He never saw the bird again and it still haunts him. The Pigeon was only 2 months old and didn't have a clue as to how to find food.

[LovelyFlight]

Thank you Charis, should I get her red grit and oyster shell from the store?

When we were outside, she did look startled, and she ran back into my lap. It felt good but at the same time a little sad because she is supposed to be out there...so I walked with her on my shoulder for a bit, then she flew away on the top of a car but did not run away, she was just looking around. Then she came to me and we hung out in the court; our house is part of a nice court with trees and plants and walkways.

I think I will take her out again tomorrow if it is nice again; I would hate for her to be completely separated from the outdoors, and I keep a very close eye on her. She definitely would not be able to find food or fend for herself, at all. She can't really fly properly; she doesn't have all her feathers yet. She is also not eating completely on her own. At the same time, I am pretty sure she can't just take off; she cannot outrun me....yet

Thank you for the advice Charis! I will be very careful.

[yopigeonguy]

Hello,
Sorry I have not been replying! She is growing so much. Do you know what you will do with her? Keep her, send her away. I would keep her if I were you!!! She looks just great!!

[Charis]

Originally Posted by LovelyFlight

Thank you Charis, should I get her red grit and oyster shell from the store?

When we were outside, she did look startled, and she ran back into my lap. It felt good but at the same time a little sad because she is supposed to be out there...so I walked with her on my shoulder for a bit, then she flew away on the top of a car but did not run away, she was just looking around. Then she came to me and we hung out in the court; our house is part of a nice court with trees and plants and walkways.

I think I will take her out again tomorrow if it is nice again; I would hate for her to be completely separated from the outdoors, and I keep a very close eye on her. She definitely would not be able to find food or fend for herself, at all. She can't really fly properly; she doesn't have all her feathers yet. She is also not eating completely on her own. At the same time, I am pretty sure she can't just take off; she cannot outrun me....yet


Thank you for the advice Charis! I will be very careful.

You might need to go to a feed store for the red grit or order it on line in a small amount. Oyster shell you can get at a pet store.
Please...do not take her outside unless she is in a cage. That's what I told the fellow that lost the bird I told you about and he didn't listen. He thought he was being careful too. Now he is heartbroken and he will always wonder.

[Charis]

This is where you can buy red grit with white stone in small amounts.

http://www.siegelpigeons.com/catalog-stones.html

[LovelyFlight]

Hi yopigeonguy I am still not sure what I am going to do with her. It looks like we are going to keep her over the winter. My plan was to wean her and then see; I am attached to her and I am afraid to give her to someone who won't look after her the way I do and she is not eating on her own fully. The best thing would be to be able to let her go free with other pigeons in the spring. My wish is that she is free and flying around like other birds. So I'll keep cleaning up poop.

Charis: I am going to the store today for some grit and oyster shells. Thank you for all your help!

[LovelyFlight]

Quick update: I've called the Nichoir but have not gotten a response from them. I heard that there is a guy who goes to the Montreal SPCA and picks up any pigeons people might leave there, depending on the age and health of the bird, so I called the SPCA and left a message. I am trying to find a good home, it is difficult to keep Lucky over the winter, and even if i do I will still have to find a rehabber in the spring.

Thank you Charis for your help.

[Charis]

Please question him carefully before tuning Lucky over to him. I would also ask to see where he keeps his Pigeons. Lucky doesn't fall into the wild Pigeon category anymore, doubt she knows she is a Pigeon at all and so adjusting will be more difficult for her.

[LovelyFlight]

Thank you for the advice Charis. What kind of questions should I ask him?

They called me back from the SPCA and they said that the bird should be able to eat on its own before the guy will take her. They also said that he puts the pigeons together and release the birds in groups (which is what I am looking for).

Lucky is not over friendly or attached to me. For example, she is not comfortable with my boyfriend at all and attacks him when he's around. She is eating seeds but I am not sure how much because most of it ends up on the floor...how can I make sure she is eating on her own fully? I am still feeding her corn (she won't eat the peas) and have mixed in the oyster shells and gravel I got at the bird store with the seeds.

[Charis]

The first question I would ask is...

are the Pigeons released in a place where there is food and water available?

will he tell you where the release site is located so you can check it out for yourself?

are the Pigeons released during winter months or are they held until Spring? [Spring would be best]

how many are released at one time?

are they treated for canker and worms prior to release?

I believe Lucky has bonded to you and that's why she attacks your BF...she feels threatened by him. She is about the age where Pigeons begin to separate emotionally from their parents and move into the teenage stage...she may be doing that.

The only way to know if she is eating on her own is to feed small amounts, leave seed in her cage and see if it's gone when you return in the evening. You know how many poops she makes with you feeding her, count how many she makes with you not feeding her and see if it adds up to the same amount.
Keep in mind that she doesn't know what food looks like except the food you have been feeding her and so if she is released with with learning that, her odds for survival will be less and all you have done for her in vein.
Also, she needs to have been eating well on her own for a couple of weeks to consider her weaned.

[LovelyFlight]

Thank you Charis!
I will be going to the SPCA in person on Monday to ask all these questions and to see if I can meet the guy before bringing Lucky in. I have taken your advice and fed her a little and left a few seeds for her to see if she eats. In the past couple of days I have noticed that she is absolutely able to eat the seeds on her own, but she associates me with food so she only eats when I am actually there. This is not good so I think I will take longer breaks between our visits to make sure she is actually hungry and increase her motivation to start eating on her own. I think I may have spoiled her

[Mindy]

I've been reading this thread. So is lucky still with you? I'm with Charis. Lucky doesn't even know she is a bird. She loves you and is human imprinted. When she ran back to you when you were outside tells me you are mom. I know its not easy having a bird inside. I have several. But I hate to see all your hard work for nothing. I hope you decide to keep her. In my opinion. min

[Charis]

Check out this thread...They are in Montreal too with a similar issue. Maybe these two and be companions for the winter.
http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/f31/re...eon-41297.html