Injured Pigeon

[Pidgey]

You know, it may be that this bird has been kept something like this way for awhile. There must be some reason why he was in that box like that. Anyhow, it may be an indicator that he's been this way for an extended period if the muscles on the bad side are atrophied. You might try feeling both legs, first one and then the other repeatedly to see if the bad leg is "wasted away" or smaller than the other one.

Pidgey

[Pidgey]

Well, based on that, I'd say that he stands a good chance (no pun intended, really!) of eventually gaining some strength back although it might take a long time if the damage was neural in the first place. What he probably needs more than anything is physical therapy on the bad leg to force him to try and use it more and more. Letting him breakdance probably isn't the best way, by the way. It would be better to get him flapping over the bed and then let him try to land on it. That way, he'd normally be trying for all he's worth to extend the leg. You see, it might not be the muscles that are the problem--it might be the motor control or nerves to the leg. And working them helps bring them back.

Pidgey

[Grayce]

The legs are the same size!!!

[Pidgey]

Another thing you might try is holding him by the wings and then towing him along so that he has to put one foot in front of the other. Think of it like helping a baby to learn to walk.

Pidgey

[Grayce]

Yes, I have been helping him to walk, and moving his legs back and forth (physio?)!!

[feralpigeon]

Are you into keeping the bird yourself at all? Sure he'd be fine while you were at work.

fp

[Pidgey]

I have a bird that I found under an underpass that had probably been slammed by a car in the side. Both the wing and the leg on one side were useless for a long time, almost a month. Eventually, he started walking again and now you can't tell there was ever anything wrong with the leg. The shoulder had been damaged and he's never flown adequately since but that's not important. So, there's hope for yours, too.

Pidgey

[Grayce]

FP,

I hadn't intended on keeping the bird, but I'll keep him until I find a good home for him. Right now he is in my small computer room that has half the carpet torn up, so its not a problem when he poops. I clean the poop every day with a bit of soap and water. My kids are okay (for now) with the bird, however, someone mentioned that birds have lice and now they are concerned about this.

[feralpigeon]

Well, some do and some don't. There are products very similar to cat and dog
products for birds/feathers, very minimally priced. Many problems have solutions
that don't inconvenience if this is what someone wants. If not, it's understandable, and commendable that you would keep until placed.

fp

[Grayce]

Pidgey,

I tried letting him flap over the bed and land, which seemed to work several times, until he presented me with a large poop smack dab in the middle of the bed!!!! hehehe

[Pidgey]

Well, yes, there's that. It's something that we all deal with in various ways. On the plus side, it usually means that they won't do it again for awhile so you can really work him over safely for a bit longer. You can also put something over the bed for this... contingency.

As to the lice, they're specific to birds and won't bother y'all, anyhow.

Pidgey

[Grayce]

fp,

At this time, I'm not concerned about lice. I wouldn't want to put the bird through a treatment unnecessarily. My main concern is for him to heal and fly, and to keep him well nourished (I've been putting vitamin drops for birds in his water).

[Grayce]

I must log off now and make some lunch and perhaps see if the teenagers want to get up! Thanks again for your help....I will check in later.

Pidgey,
I would very much appreciate you contacting rehabilitators in this area. Thanks.

Grayce

[Trees Gray]

Originally Posted by Grayce

Just weakness....he can grip my finger but not as firmly as the right.

Hi Grayce

Thank you for caring for this bird, we greatly appreciate it.

It may be an old injury or calcium/magnesium deficiency which may make the leg weak.. These minerals are depleted quickly in a bird that is under stress.

You might supplement the bird with calcium, magnesium. You can use 1/4 of a human tablet and give it to him. You can also provide some red pigeon grit which has calcium in it.

You can also give the bird some probiotics for increased uptake of nutrition, and an avian multi-vitamin too.

Garlic also is a wonderful supportive herb, either in cap, or a piece of clove in the drinking water.

[Pidgey]

Well, Grayce, if it's possible that your bird has or has had PMV recently it's not looking good to find a home with a rehabber in your area for the forseeable future. The reason for that is that PMV is highly contagious and so there is some risk involved to other pigeons. For many, that's an inviolate rule, to avoid causing an epidemic amongst their other rescues, even if it's only a chance. So, for now, we're hoping that another will come forward or that your bird will start getting better. We might review a few things, though, in the hope that this will prove out to have not been PMV.

Pidgey