I Found a Pigeon in my Yard, I Need Help?

[kabtsb]

I found a pigeon in my backyard that can't fly. I dont know what to do
with it. I dont know anything about birds. I'm really hoping someone lives in my area that knows how to care for it? If anyone lives in Macomb or St. Clair County please contact me back.

[Jaye]

Macomb or S. Clair county...where ???? what state ? what country, for that matter ?

OK...can you catch it in a net or sheet or something of that sort ? If it cannot fly, it may still try to hop-fly and will still try to get away from you. It can scuttle about and run faster than you may think...evasion is the pigeon's best defense, and they are quite good at it.

The trick is to corner it someplace, move close slowly, and drop the sheet or net over it from above or at an angle...it may either try to slip under your catch along the ground, or jump over your catch attempt.

try not to grab it by the legs....you could accidentally break them. You could momentarily hold it by the tailfeathers while securing it.

He will likely flap like crazy...not to worry. When you catch it, bring it's wings back close to it's body. Bring the bird close to you, as you would cradle a baby.

Once you catch it, you will be surprised that it will become passive. unlike other bird species, they will not try to attack you back or put up a big struggle to escape once you have a firm but careful grip of their body.

Find a box or cage with a top, lid or door. Put him in. Put in newspaper or a clean towel or rag. Do not worry about touching him directly....contrary to popular and very innacurate belief, pigeons aren't "dirty" or "disease-carrying". As with any animal, just wash your hands and perhaps change your shirt afterwards.

If you can get some seed, put some in there as well. he will calm down. then we can take it from there.

Not a great idea to call animal care or spca off the bat...they might have the tendency to just collect an injured feral and put it down.

Keep us posted. & give more info on where you are, we can perhaps dial-up someone in your area.

[Lovebirds]

Originally Posted by kabtsb

I found a pigeon in my backyard that can't fly. I dont know what to do
with it. I dont know anything about birds. I'm really hoping someone lives in my area that knows how to care for it? If anyone lives in Macomb or St. Clair County please contact me back.

Where is Macomb/St. Clair County?
First of all, if the bird can't fly, can you bring it inside somewhere safe? Got a box, an old cage, a pet carrier? Can you post a picture of the bird?

[Jaye]

Michigan...yes ????

[Lovebirds]

Originally Posted by Jaye

Michigan...yes ????

There are such places in MI. Maybe.............Is this bird banded by any chance? There's quite a few pigeon flyers in that area.

[kabtsb]

Your right I live in Michigan, We did catch it with a net, We dont have a cage but I have it in a box right now. We gave it bird food and it chowed, we also gave it water and it drank alot. I was surprised. Thanks for the information! If anyone in my area wants it to take care of please let me know.

[kabtsb]

Also when you say branded, does that mean like a bracelet around its ankle?

[Pidgey]

Can you take and post a picture of the bird?

Pidgey

[Pidgey]

Originally Posted by kabtsb

Also when you say branded, does that mean like a bracelet around its ankle?

Yep. They usually have numbers and letters on at least one of them if there are two different ones.

Pidgey

[maryjane]

Originally Posted by kabtsb

Also when you say branded, does that mean like a bracelet around its ankle?

Thanks for helping this pigeon. Yes, banded means they have a bracelet-like band around the ankle. It may have numbers and/or letters on it. Does he have a band?

[kabtsb]

I'm sorry, but I dont know how to do that?

[kabtsb]

Originally Posted by maryjane

Thanks for helping this pigeon. Yes, banded means they have a bracelet-like band around the ankle. It may have numbers and/or letters on it. Does he have a band?

No he doesn't have a band. If you found this pigeon how would you take care of it? I feel bad keeping it in a box. I gave it food and water, there's not much else I can do for it is there?

[Pidgey]

Well, there's no problem with keeping it in a box. Have you heard it squeak or make any other sounds? Can you tell if he seems too thin? Have you seen any wounds or anything else that would seem out of the ordinary?

Pidgey

[maryjane]

He is probably a feral (wild) pigeon that is injured or sick. Don't worry, you can't get sick from them. We will have to wait and see if any Michigan members get online tonight and read this. It's very easy to care for a pigeon that needs immediate care, so don't panic. A box is a perfectly safe place for him, as well as being cozy and comfortable.

Do you have a heating pad? If so, you can put it on low and put a towel over it for him to sit on. That will help a lot in his recovery. If you don't have a heating pad, you can use an old sock, fill it up with uncooked rice, and microwave it until warm. Wrap a towel around it and put it next to him.

He will probably not recognize seed, as wild pigeons often don't eat seed. Do you have any dog food or dog biscuits? The easiest thing to do in this case is to soak some dog food or biscuits until soft, then put pieces of it in his beak. He will automatically swallow it and it's not difficult to do at all.

You can put a bowl of water in for him to drink from, with a small pinch of salt and sugar in it if you have some. You can gently dip his beak into the water and this will usually trigger them to drink. Pigeons suck water up through their beak like we use a straw.

More members will be on who may be in your area, or know of wildlife centers that would take him. So just get him settled for tonight and keep checking back here. Please ask any other questions you can think of.

PS) I sent private messages to some of our Michigan members to see if they are near you. So keep checking back.

[kabtsb]

Originally Posted by Pidgey

Well, there's no problem with keeping it in a box. Have you heard it squeak or make any other sounds? Can you tell if he seems too thin? Have you seen any wounds or anything else that would seem out of the ordinary?

Pidgey

I haven't heard it make any noises, it doesn't seem to thin and theres no wounds on him that I can see. He looks pretty healthy, but I can tell that his right wing looks a little different than his left. So I think that its his right wing that is injured.