Injured Pigeon

[Grayce]

Recently I've been getting flack about my pigeon and the health risks that he may pose on my kids. Is there anything I should be concerned about....particularly the avian flu?

[Reti]

For acute diseases there is not much to worry about, most diseases pigeons get are species specific. Of course it is always wise to wash your hands after handling any pet.If your pigeons are kept indoors and don't come in contact with any outside birds, the chances to get any disease is rare. Any new bird needs to be quarantened for at least 3-4 weeks before you let him come in contact with your birds.

There are a few illnesses that could potentially be transmitted to humans but they are rare and your birds would have to come in contact with it first. Even those can be prevented from being transmitted to people through thorough hygiene.

Also, your birds need to be kept clean, stress free and in a well ventilated area.If they are healthy there is not much to be concerned about.

Reti

[TAWhatley]

Originally Posted by Grayce

Recently I've been getting flack about my pigeon and the health risks that he may pose on my kids. Is there anything I should be concerned about....particularly the avian flu?

There are very few things that humans get from pigeons, and avian flu is way down at the bottom of the list as pigeons are not particularly susceptible to it. As long as you and your human family are good about washing your hands after handling the bird, aren't into "sharing" pigeon feces or fluids, then you should be perfectly safe.

I don't want to lead you astray by making you think there isn't anything you could get from a pigeon because there are some diseases you could contract .. you would just have to be doing some incredibly unwise things in order to get them.

Have a look here and scroll down to the health/zoonoses sections: http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:...s&ct=clnk&cd=1

Terry

[Grayce]

Thanks Reti. I only have this bird (for 2 weeks now). He was covered in his feces when I found him...I bathed him once. Should I continue to bathe him? How often? Also, I don't know where he came from as I found him in a box.

[TAWhatley]

Originally Posted by Grayce

Thanks Reti. I only have this bird (for 2 weeks now). He was covered in his feces when I found him...I bathed him once. Should I continue to bathe him? How often? Also, I don't know where he came from as I found him in a box.

If you will provide him with a bath "bowl", he will do a fine job of batheing himself and probably make quite a mess in the process ! A couple of inches of tepid water in a small cat litter box or cake pan or similar container makes a great bathtub for a single pigeon.

Terry

[Grayce]

Thanks, Terry, for the link to diseases. I feel more at ease knowing this information.

[Grayce]

Hi,
Thanks everyone for your wonderful advice on my injured pigeon. Just to update you....yesterday I found a rehabilitator in my area willing to take the bird. I was to give him to her this morning, unfortunately, my feathered friend had passed away during the night. I was heartbroken. After almost three weeks I thought that he truly was improving.

Grayce

[Trees Gray]

Grayce,

I'm so sorry to hear the bird died in such untimely manner. I know you did everything you could for this bird, and I'm sure you got to love him/her after all this time.

The bird was loved and cared for the remainder of his life, and that is what matters most. Thank you for everything you did for this sweet baby.

[Lovebirds]

So sorry to hear this. This was such a sad situation and I thought things were going pretty good. We all know that you did your best and appreciate that.

[feralpigeon]

Grayce, I'm so sorry about your 'shoebox' friend. It must have come as a shock when all seemed to be going well. I can say this much, s/he couldn't have had
a better friend in the last few weeks than you, thank you for caring for this abandoned pigeon.

fp

[Reti]

I am so sorry to hear the sad news.

Reti