I'm not sure what to do

[ifoundapigeon]

Hi. Ok, I signed up on this site to see if I could get some help about a pigeon I found. I found it in a street in my town a few days ago.(No bones were broken, and it lets us pick it up) We didn't know what to do so we put it in a little shed for shelter in a box (open) with newspaper in the bottom. There's a little water bowl and food bowl. I went to Petco to see if I could get food but they didn't have anything for doves or pigeons so I got these treats for birds, and mini corns because I read they eat corn. I also put in some rice and bread crumbs. I think it wants to eat, but it's not for a few days, and it walks around in the box. I don't know how pigeons open their beaks, but it will pick at bottom of the box(maybe crumbs) and hardly open it's beak. It drinks from its bowl a lot though.
It has a tag on its foot so we're trying to figure that out, but I'm just worried it's not eating...do you know any food I might have around the house besides what I bought it can eat?
Thank you for reading this.

[Msfreebird]

Originally Posted by ifoundapigeon

Hi. Ok, I signed up on this site to see if I could get some help about a pigeon I found. I found it in a street in my town a few days ago.(No bones were broken, and it lets us pick it up) We didn't know what to do so we put it in a little shed for shelter in a box (open) with newspaper in the bottom. There's a little water bowl and food bowl. I went to Petco to see if I could get food but they didn't have anything for doves or pigeons so I got these treats for birds, and mini corns because I read they eat corn. I also put in some rice and bread crumbs. I think it wants to eat, but it's not for a few days, and it walks around in the box. I don't know how pigeons open their beaks, but it will pick at bottom of the box(maybe crumbs) and hardly open it's beak. It drinks from its bowl a lot though.
It has a tag on its foot so we're trying to figure that out, but I'm just worried it's not eating...do you know any food I might have around the house besides what I bought it can eat?
Thank you for reading this.

I'm not sure why you haven't gotten any answers yet but keep checking, many will be along. In a pinch you can feed wild bird seed, usually any grocery store will have it in the pet food section. Mine love crumble whole wheat bread. Don't use white bread, its just a filler with no nutritien. Pigeons don't open their beaks very wide, they kinda peck like chickens at their food.
When drinking water they just stick their beak in and kinda sip (like their using a straw).
If it has a band on the leg, can you read the letters and numbers on it and post them here? They can usually be traced to find the owner.
Most important, keep checking back here. It is a very helpful and friendly forum.
Any chance you could bring it inside - safe from preditors?
If it has a band on its leg, it belongs to someone and needs help.

[Charis]

I just sent you an email. I hope you log back on to the forum so we can help you.
I highly suspect you have found a young pigeon that diesn't know how to eat on it's own. You can offer it all the food in the world but it won't eat because it doesn't know how. You are going to need to hand feed it or it will die. We can talk you through that.

[ifoundapigeon]

Thanks you two for responding so quickly! I'm trying to get a bird cage today to bring this sweet pigeon inside. About the bread, it wont eat any bread. I only saw it peck at some of the rice(can it eat that?). Thank you everyone.

[Lovebirds]

If the bird has a band, then it is probably old enough to know how to eat. If it won't eat, then it's in pretty bad shape. Please post the band info when you get a chance. Maybe the owner is near you.

[TheSnipes]

You sure found the right place for help.

Please offer the bird some regular wild bird seed. Put it in a dish and spill some on the bottom of its box too so it can pick in it there.

Then poke at the seed in the dish with your fingertip. The bird, if it is a youngster not quite weaned, should mimic this action picking in the seeds with its beak. Try to do this for several minutes at a time as often as you can during the day. Try to determine if the bird is able to pick up and swallow some seeds. If it is a young bird, the smaller seeds like millets are best.

If it is not swallowing or picking up on its own, you can hand feed it a seed at a time by opening its beak and popping a seed in there. This is tedious and takes a good 15 minutes of your time per feeding, but the bird only needs to consume perhaps a couple of teaspoons full each day. It may save its life, though, if it is too young to self feed. You can also hand feed with formula but seed popping is the fastest and easiest thing for you to learn.

Also continue with the seed-poking 'feeding lessons' and in a few days it will 'get' it. You will likely be overwhelmed with more advice. Good luck.

[TheSnipes]

Originally Posted by Lovebirds

If the bird has a band, then it is probably old enough to know how to eat. If it won't eat, then it's in pretty bad shape. Please post the band info when you get a chance. Maybe the owner is near you.

Really?? I band mine at about a week old, those sure don't know how yet!

[AZWhitefeather]

Welcome to Pigeon Talk.

Please gently open his beak & check the inside of his mouth. It should be nice & pink & free of any obstructions. There's a possibility he has canker, which is treatable & not a risk to you.

Has he produced any 'poops'? If so, could you describe them to us?

As far as reading the band, just write down all the numbers/letters & post them. We'll figure them out.

Any chance of posting a picture of the bird?

Please keep us posted.

Cindy

[Lovebirds]

Originally Posted by TheSnipes

Really?? I band mine at about a week old, those sure don't know how yet!

What I'm saying is, if someone banded the bird, there's no reason for it to be out of the loft unless it was learning to trap and got scared or something like that. If it's not old enough to eat yet, why would it be outside of the loft, much less in the street?
I know ferals are found at young ages all the time, but they don't have a loft for protection either.

[Victor]

Here is a link that shows you the various age of pigeon developement. Look at the pictures and tell us about how old he/she seems to be. How is your pigeon doing today?

CLICK:

http://www.speedpigeon.com/baby_racing_pigeon.htm

[ifoundapigeon]

Hi again. Thanks so much for all the help. I used the link Victor(username) showed and the pigeon is all grown up. I will try to get wild bird seed as soon as I can go to the store. I took three pictures but I don't know how to post them since they're not a URL, just on my computer.... But I'll put them on if you tell me how (thank you!)

AZWhitefeather asked me to describe the poop...it's green and white.

It actually has two bands - one on each ankle. One is white that reads: 2942 AU NRA 2007; the other is green.

It walks fine, and responds fine when I go out to see it (frequently). I'm working on getting a bird cage...if I do should I bring it inside?

Thank you so much =]

[Victor]

To safeguard it, can you please bring it inside.

The droppings with a healty pigeon, should resemble a swirl of cookie dough. Brown/green with small white (urates) in the center.

We have several members that are members of Pigeon 911 that can trace the number. I am on my way to work, but someone will be along shortly. Thanks you for your time and concern.

I will check back when I can.

[ifoundapigeon]

Nevermind, I can't post pictures. I tried to in as many formats as I could, but it wont take any of them. But nothing looks wrong with the pigeon that I can see. Sorry!

[Lovebirds]

Originally Posted by ifoundapigeon

Hi again. Thanks so much for all the help. I used the link Victor(username) showed and the pigeon is all grown up. I will try to get wild bird seed as soon as I can go to the store. I took three pictures but I don't know how to post them since they're not a URL, just on my computer.... But I'll put them on if you tell me how (thank you!)

AZWhitefeather asked me to describe the poop...it's green and white.

It actually has two bands - one on each ankle. One is white that reads: 2942 AU NRA 2007; the other is green.

It walks fine, and responds fine when I go out to see it (frequently). I'm working on getting a bird cage...if I do should I bring it inside?

Thank you so much =]

here is the contact for the club that this bird is from. If you will call him, he should be able to help you. IF HE DOESN'T.........please let us know. If you want, you can send me the pictures and I'll get them posted. Send to
mrskennedy911@comcast.net


Club Name : NUTMEG RPC
Club Code : NRA
Club Secretary : HAROLD GABUCCI
City : NORTHFORD
State : CT
Phone No. : 203-484-9558

[ifoundapigeon]

Hi.
Thank you so much. Your information is very helpful.

About the pictures, since the pigeon looks ordinary, I don't think I need to put them up, unless you want me to. But thank you very much. That was really nice of you.

P.S.
I love your goal! (about your dog =]!)