I found a pigeon........Should I keep it?

[LittleGreys]

A pigeon was found and brought to the vet clinic where I work. It appears to be OK, but the people who brought it in said it could not fly, it was in a parking lot and they said cars were going around it.
I haven't attempted to see if it can fly.
I have it in a dog crate, it is eating and drinking. I have had it since last evening. I am feeding it sunflower seeds and wildbird seed. We will try to go tomorrow and find some pigeon food. It also has a lot of lice or mites I want to get treated also.
I tracked its band.....it is a racing pigeon. I called the secretary of the club, she said she would give my info to the owner, but she didn't think he would get it back as it is about 350 miles from home.
My daughter wants to keep it, but we don't know anything about taking care of a pigeon. I have been trying to research as much as I can online.
Can it be kept in the house in a large birdcage, or is this not saisfactory for a pigeon? Does it need to be with other pigeons?
If it seems healthy, should I release it, will it fly home? I don't want to let it go if it will end up hurt or lost again.
I guess I need to know what would be best for the bird.
Thanks so much!!
Sue

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hi Sue, welcome to the forum and thank you for helping this pigeon out


You should wait and see if the owner wants their pigeon back...they just might. They might come to pick it up or suggest that you release it to fly back home. You need to ascertain the pigeon's health and ability to fly before you even consider that though. It may have become lost, weak/tired and disoriented but after some R&R, food and water, might be able to continue it's journey home.

If the owner doesn't want the bird back, then you could have a pet Pigeons make good pets and a single bird that gets a lot of attention, will soon tame up. Yes, you can keep the pigeon housed in a large birdcage indoors and you don't need to get a mate. It depends on the bird, how it adapts etc, whether or not a mate might be needed.

Yes, please try to get a pigeon or dove seed mix ASAP. The wild bird seed is fine for now then, don't give too many sunflower seeds. These are fattening and should be used a little more sparingly.

So, for now...wait to hear from the owner and call him if you don't hear back. Ask them what they plan on doing with the bird if they decide they want it back...some will either not want them back or will "cull"/kill them. If the owner wants the bird back and doesn't plan on culling it, then he should be able to advise you if releasing is a good idea.

Good luck and keep us posted!

[Trees Gray]

Hi Sue,

Welcome to Pigeon Talk.

If the owner doesn't want it, I would keep it. The bird might do well in a large cage inside, as long as it can have flight outside of the cage within an enclosed room or even an enclosed aviary. The cage itself should be large enough to where it can stretch and flap its wings.

Please go to our DAILY forum and look under RESOURCES a information in regards to care of pet pigeons. You can also look under homing/racing pigeons and find a thread on their care.

Pigeons are a lot of fun, inside or outside. I have some in coops and have had pet pigeons inside from time to time.

[karla]

Hi Sue !! Thanks for rescuing the bird
I own a pigeon I keep him in a cage , but he needs to stretch his wings everyday I let him go around the apartment for around 1 hour in the morning , 1 hour in the afternoon and 3 hours in the night time it depends when I see him desperate to get out the cage.
He is a great young pigeon, very tame, he comes to me or to my kids to play with them with toys
I think it depends on you if you really want to keep him, and if you have the time to take care of him . (Pigeons are social animals)
Good luck
Karla

[LittleGreys]

Well, it looked really good when I came home from work, so I decided to try to release it as I never heard from the owner. It flew a big circle around the yard and came back. So I put it back in the cage. I will try to get some pigeon food tomorrow. I can get it a big cage, but it can't have flight time outside the cage, as I have dogs.
Not sure what I should do with it. Maybe try to release it again in a few days? I don't want it to be in danger, though, if it can't find its way back home.

sue

[mr squeaks]

Is there any way you could let him have flight time in a room with the door closed and no dogs???

Best of luck! If he came back, welll, I think he's tryin' to tell you something!

Maybe he just needs some more TLC...

[maryjane]

Thanks for taking him in for the moment at least. Where are you located? We may have a member nearby who can help, whatever you decide to do.

[TAWhatley]

Hi Sue,

Please do tell us where you are located and the band information for the bird. We can try to locate the owner. Have you reported this bird as being found on 911 Pigeon Alert?

Terry

[LittleGreys]

Originally Posted by maryjane

Thanks for taking him in for the moment at least. Where are you located? We may have a member nearby who can help, whatever you decide to do.

I am located in Sandy Lake, Pennsylvania. It is in northwestern PA, between Pittsburgh and Erie, almost on the Ohio line.
Thanks!

[LittleGreys]

Originally Posted by TAWhatley

Hi Sue,

Please do tell us where you are located and the band information for the bird. We can try to locate the owner. Have you reported this bird as being found on 911 Pigeon Alert?

Terry

Hi,
I did report it on Pigeon911, and also called the racing club secretary, we know who the owner is. She said she didn't think he would get it back because it is 350 miles away. He has not contacted me yet.

[ernie]

Thanks for helping this Pijji!
I saw in your other thread, that you decided to keep the pigeon.
I'm near you, on the Ohio side of the line.
If you need any help, please feel free to contact me.
Erna