Info Please, What To Do~?

[acudogmama]

Hi~ I have a pigeon in my backyard... I don't know what is wrong with him/her (i'll just refer to the bird as a girl), but the bird is either sick, exhausted or possibly injured.

I have several birdfeeders in my yard and I have all kinds of birds who visit my yard daily, including pigeons... she may have been coming to my yard for awhile, but i know she hasn't left since Sunday at least.

When I went outside on Sunday to fill my feeders, she didn't fly away like the rest of the birds... but just walked briskly away from me. I walked over to her and she just kept running away, so i assumed she couldn't fly. I cornered her to see if i could pick her up and she flew to the other side of my yard~ she WaS able to fly, but flew low and had a semi-crash-landing. I decided to see if she would just fly away, but as evening came i found her huddled by my toolshed on the side of the house. I haven't seen her fly at all since then.

Monday morning she was still by the shed when i left for work, and yesterday when i came home from work she was back by the birdfeeders with the other birds... but by the evening was back by my shed.
So I made a makeshift coop by turning a rubbermaid bin on its side (so she could come and go as she pleases) and lined it with newspaper, placing a wooden block for her to perch on, and left a bowl of water and some birdseed in with her.

She let me pick her up and examine her wings... they aren't broken, and it didn't seem like it was painful to her when i pulled her wings out to examine. She is missing some wing feathers, but her flights seem pretty much intact.... her tail is another story... looks like there are quite a few feathers missing from her tail.

She was still in the bin this morning, and once again when the other birds returned to the yard she was back by the feeders... i don't know if she is eating/drinking or not, but i did give her some water by dripping it by the side of her mouth with a syringe (it was over 90degrees today).

She went back to the bin on her own tonight, and is sleeping in there as we speak.

I don't really know anything about pigeons, but i'm pretty sure she is not a young bird... her eyes are yellow. Other than the fact that she isn't/can't fly i can't tell if she is injured. She lets me pick her up and move her around... i don't know if it is because she is weak, or if she's just calm.

I don't want to bring her inside because i have a budgie, and since i'm not sure if this is a sick pigeon i don't want to put my bird at risk. Also, the pigeon seems to enjoy being with the other pigeons outside, and is able to get around my yard just fine. Is it possible the bird is not injured, but maybe is just unable to fly because it is missing quite a few feathers~? I've been having to taking my dog out on a leash in the backyard so she doesn't chase the bird....

What should i do~? Am i putting my bird at risk of anything~? I've been good about washing my hands after handling the pigeon... is there anything else i should be doing or watching out for~?

Is there anyone I should contact~?

Thanks~!

[Pidgey]

Where, basically, are you in case we've got resources in your area?

Pidgey

[Pidgey]

To answer some of your questions, it sounds like she's sick or has been hurt by a predator. In such a case, we usually treat with antibiotics that are appropriate for the symptoms. A description of her poop might be helpful as well as a picture if you can take and post one. It's unlikely that she'd have something airborne that would affect your budgie if you could bring her in and keep her under your basket in the house for safety.

Pidgey

[acudogmama]

Oops~ Sorry, I forgot to say where i am~!

I'm southeast of Denver in Colorado.

[Pidgey]

Off the top of my head, I don't know as I know any members in that area. Anyhow, does the bird feel well-fleshed out or does she seem a bit on the bony side? You can feel the keel (breastbone) to see if it protrudes a lot or not.

Pidgey

[acudogmama]

Ok, I got some pictures...

I have to go to work soon, but I moved the pigeon inside to a plastic dog crate. I lined it with newspaper, and an old towel in case some water gets spilled.... i put water in the bowl that attaches to the wire door, so i hope it doesn't get spilled/soiled. I also left a bowl of wild bird seed and the wooden block so the bird can perch.

Again, the birds wings seem fine. When i picked "her" up she flapped her wings with gusto, but she doesn't seem to be able to fly.

I got a couple pictures of the droppings from last night... sorry if it is a bit gross, but i'm assuming poop talk/pics are ok~ *^_^*






Here's the whole set- http://flickr.com/photos/90121619@N0...7605678757132/

[spirit wings]

.....bump.........

[Pidgey]

Well, she looks sick (the posture) and she appears to have been this way for awhile. When they've got something chronic, it tends to show up in how they re-feather after a molt. Her "bars" (since her coloration and pattern are what we call a "blue bar") are chaotic. Just looking at the bird and the crappy picture that you took (of the poop--joke intended), I can't tell what all's wrong but she's awfully low on energy. If you can keep her with a heat lamp on her, she'd appreciate it, I'm sure. It could be worms, an illness or both. I suppose we need to get you some medications to work with. You wouldn't happen to have any for your other animals, wouldja'?

Pidgey

[acudogmama]

Well, good news. I talked to my avian vet's office yesterday and they referred me to Wild BIRD Rehab http://www.wildbirdrehab.com/ here near my house.

I talked to someone there, and I will be taking the bird in to them today.

Thanks for trying to help.... i think this bird will have a happy ending. *^_^*

[Jaye]

Hi. That's good news. When (or before) you bring her in, just ask the rehab center wht their policy is on euthanizing. Many rehab scenters will put down a pigeon if their conditions aren't simply/easily/quickly treatable...or if, in their eyes, the pigeon doesn't have a 100% to survive in the wild (i.e. they would not save and release a bird with a chronic problem or who didn't have a prognosis of full recovery).

Good luck and keep us posted. Thanks for helping the birdie, too.