Injured Pigeon in Toronto

[mhernan]

[jazaroo]

Hi All,

Last night this bird produced a small amount of droppings and I examined them under a microscope, there were a few cocci oocysts, which I consider to be at a "normal" background level, and no indications of a worm infestation. I tube feed him 10cc of Kaytee Exact to which I added some Nekton-S.

This morning when I lifted him out of his donut to clean him and the cage up there were a good amount of droppings. However, mixed into these droppings were a fair amount of undigested seed and three pieces of cubed carrot, the kind that comes from frozen vegetables (which did not come from me).

I started him on Cipro and have decided to remove his seeds for the next few days and to tube feed him alone to get him cleared out, as I think the Kaytee helped loosen things up to get things moving. After that I will start him on Pigeon pellets, which will be more easily digestible for him and then progress him back to seeds, as indications allow.

Hi, mhernan, thanks for sharing the photos you have of this bird in better times and the other of a parent on the nest. Thanks as well, for the compassion and caring you and you friend have offered to these birds.

Ron

[Trees Gray]

Hi mhernan,

Well...since the black bird is the hen then...that officially means Ron has the male. I wonder if that was the first egg she ever laid, looks a bit bloody.

Thank you for sharing the pics, and for taking care of and keeping an eye on mom and the kids.


Ron,

I think formula is wise for now, as the intestines need rest. I'm sure you are also including the ACV and probiotics to promote overall good intestinal health. I appreciate everything you are doing for the bird, and for the updates.

You are a wonderful caregiver and rehabber.

[Reti]

Thank you Ron for all you do for this bird.
Many thanks to mhernan and his friend for seeking help and rescuing this sweet birdie.

good luck and keep us updated.

Reti

[mr squeaks]

Wonderful postings of cooperation and coordination!

I hope the pigeon will be OK! He sure is in excellent hands!

Once he has recovered, will you take him back to his mate, Ron?

Sending HUGS and WARM HEALING THOUGHTS!!

Shi

[naturegirl]

Well I certainly am not a vet but this same exact thing happened last year with a pigeon and I took it to the vets and it had a cracked pelvic girdle. You explained right to the exact thing which was going on with the rehab bird, can move legs, can pull away, but just can't walk or put weight on it's legs. I sure hope it isn't anything serious. Real beauty! Good Luck on healing h/she and you really are a hero Ron. Thanks for your quick attention for this bird.

Cindy

[mhernan]

Hi Trees,

Yes, I was curious about the blood on the egg as well. I didn't know if that was normal when pigeons lay eggs. When you said "the black one" what does that mean exactly? Because they look the same to me! haha

[dlgilbert4]

Is a broken pelvic girdle something that a pigeon can recover from? It seems like a serious injury. Regardless, I'm glad that he is receiving such knowledgable and caring attention... thank you mhernan and Ron!

Danielle

[Trees Gray]

Originally Posted by mhernan

Hi Trees,

Yes, I was curious about the blood on the egg as well. I didn't know if that was normal when pigeons lay eggs. When you said "the black one" what does that mean exactly? Because they look the same to me! haha

Hi mhernan,

The pigeons with the egg, she looks like she is black, and the other looks like a check color.

When a young hen lays an egg for the very fist time it sometimes is accompanied with a little blood. I'm hoping that was her first batch and that is all there is to it.

How is she and the kids doing? Are they eating well?

[jazaroo]

Hi All,

I thought I would post some guarded good news. I re-examined this bird yesterday, to once more check for injuries, going a little slower and watching carefully for any indication of pain from where I was examining. Once more, I could find no sign of injury, or of pain.

This bird had regurgitated some of the Kaytee Exact formula I had feed it that morning, again with some undigested seed and a single kernel of whole corn, both of which are not in the seed mix had a put in with him for a short period of time the first evening I had him. So on a hunch, I treated him yesterday for poisoning using activated charcoal and to which I mixed in some ALA (alpha lipoic acid) and this morning this bird was standing when I checked on him. This is the product that I used, http://www.dvmformula.com/gels.htm (bottom of the page), very handy to have around.

He suffering from ataxia, very unsteady on his feet, so I will take it a day at a time, but I was happy to see the improvement. I will continue to treat for poisoning for the next few days and will update you on any changes.

Shi, once healed, I will be returning him to where I got him, so my hope is that he will be able to reunite with his mate.

Ron

PS: I forgot to mention I got wing whacked and grumped at, while I cleaning his cage.

[Lady Tarheel]

Ron, I would never have thought of poisoning. Great sleuthing! Sounds like this may be the problem. I think I need to get some activated charcoal and some of the gel to have on hand because, thinking back on some of ours, poisoning may have been a problem we didn't recognize.

I'm really happy to hear you got whacked!

[Trees Gray]

Hi Ron,

Great detective work alright. I'm glad you have a clue to what this bird has been going thru, the poor thing....

I only hope that when/if the time comes to release him that he will not be poisoned again since it is in the same vicinity, where his family is.

Good thing he didn't get a chance to feed the kids before he hot sick.

Thank you for everything you have done to help him, and happy wing slaps and grunts....until we meet again!

[Reti]

I am so glad he is feeling better. Great job, Ron.
Keep us updated.

Reti

[mhernan]

Hi all, I just got home from work and saw the kids and mom sitting together. I was happy to see this, but when I went outside to give them some food (the seed Ron left), I saw a new egg I was hoping (sorry to admit) that this was all going to be over soon and the troop would fly away once the kids learned how to fly, but a new one?! I really have no idea what I'm doing, just following instructions.

- How much bird seed should I be feeding all 3 of them?

- They only seem to eat the seed when its put on the floor (and not in the bowl)

** I really hope my neighbors or property management DON'T find out because they will fine me (my friend even showed the notice to Ron, so I am telling the truth!)

Kids with the new egg:

[Reti]

One thing you can do is to remove the eggs now, before they are incubated and every egg she will lay from now on. If you remove the eggs before she starts incubating them you will not kill anything since the embryos did not start developing yet. Eventually they will move on, hopefully not before her mate gets back home.
Another option is to boil the egss, one at a time, and put them back, so at least you will not have new babies.

Reti