Lone pigeon on a college campus - unable to fly

[Victor]

Good evening Jamuko~Thank you for updating us on Pidgey---uhh, the real one that has wings, though sometimes I think our board Pidgey does have "wings" for all the good he does.

Their first bath often times is not a welcome for them coming from the feral side of life...though he probably needed it. A few rehabs that I came across did not like their first bath one bit. The pet pigeons I adopted here on the forum adjusted very well to a physical dipping and they all love a shower outside on warm days. Mine all had a shower yesterday, as it was in the 80's. They practically begged for more and more, just couldn't get enough of the wet stuff.

Please don't take the growls personally. He is just getting used to you and expressing his communication to you. If he was sick in a worse way or afraid of you he would act "tame". My pigeon Tooter, my 1st rescue, and the one that made me see what pigeons really are, will still act like an ultimate fighter when I put my hand near him, BUT he will happily hop on my arm or hand.Your Pidgey seems like an otherwise happy, normal pigeon aside from the wing dilemma.

It is good that you are making arrangements to take him to a specialty vet...but again a word of caution, he has to be a pet or they might put him down.There shouldn't be a problem with giving your school dorm as an address...how would they know? Do you have friends that live off campus that will be willing to allow you to borrow their address if it really bothers you?

He will probably get an X ray. Prices vary from place to place. I would give a conservative guess of 75 dollars maybe?

Keep him warm, fed and stable till then.Continue to speak to him.

[Jamuko]

Hehe, the resident board Pidgey does seem to have a wealth of knowledge that he puts to very good use. =)

The reason I am cautious with the dorm address is because this isn't the first time we have snuck an animal in here - we actually tried to adopt a kitten earlier this year, and ran into complications with the address on the adoption forms. Granted, in that situation they were looking to do a home inspection and all of that which wouldn't have been possible, whereas nothing like that would be necessary in this case. But yeah, I could probably use a friend's address to be safe.

Thanks for the estimate, too. Hehe, maybe I can gather up some donations from Pidgey's friends/admirers to help dissipate the cost.

I'll keep on watching him and speaking to him, but I'm leaving him alone when it comes to touch as much as I can, to get him warmed up to me again.

I saw a group of 9 healthy pigeons hunting for food on the ground outside the dorm. I couldn't help but wonder if Pidgey knows those little guys.

[Pidgey]

Do you have any idea how long Pidgey was wandering about the campus before you finally took him in? This may have been going on for a quite awhile. I suppose that there is a possibility that the shoulder is immobilized due to an arthritic variety of Paratyphoid in that joint but it's more likely to be the result of an old injury.

To help make peace with him (or her), you might try feeding him his most favorite seeds by hand at every opportunity. That might be either sunflower or safflower seeds.

Pidgey

[Victor]

Originally Posted by Pidgey

To help make peace with him (or her), you might try feeding him his most favorite seeds by hand at every opportunity. That might be either sunflower or safflower seeds.

Pidgey

Raw unsalted shelled sunflower seeds can be found at most supermarkets, and they just looooove them. High in cals, so go easy with them. Most of mine if given a choice would live off them, but not a good balance of diet. A small bag is about 99 cents which I think is pretty pricey, but they do love them. They are great for treats and training rewards. I get my safflowers at a feed store. You can probably get a small bag of the seeds for about a buck and a half.

[Pidgey]

Originally Posted by Victor

Good evening Jamuko~Thank you for updating us on Pidgey---uhh, the real one that has wings, though sometimes I think our board Pidgey does have "wings" for all the good he does.

I wish I did, Victor, because sometimes when I'm putting my pants on one leg at a time like everybody else, I get off balance and fall flat on my face.

Pidgey

[Jamuko]

Haha.

I did notice he seemed to pick out the sunflower seeds from the mix we gave him and ate those first. I guess pigeons and mourning doves share similar tastes after all!

I also wondered how long he had been there, since I've only been in this dorm since mid-August. He seemed to know what he was doing down there, so I wouldn't be surprised if he had been living that way for a good while before. It's sad, since pigeons are such social creatures, and are thought to mate for life, right?


I sent an email to this contact mentioned earlier from the resource list:

Originally Posted by kittypaws

USA VA Fairfax Potomac Valley Veterinary Hospital Dr. Rose Ann Fiskett 9553 Braddock Road 22032-2539 703-425-7387

And got one back saying that Dr. Fiskett has sold the practice and no longer works in the area, and that the new doctor doesn't see avian patients. =( I guess whoever has access to the resource list should remove that entry now.

Darn, it seemed like it was going to work out so well, too. Guess I've gotta start again at square one for vet care.

[Lovebirds]

Jamuko, I've been following this thread and don't know how I missed the fact that you are in Richmond, VA. Anyway, I know a guy in Richmond that knows some pigeon fanciers. Now, I have no idea what kind of response I will get, but I figure I can at least try. It may be that someone would be willing to give this bird a home. All of these guys are pigeon racers, and I don't know any of them, so, like I said, I don't know what kind of response I'll get. I'm in Martinsville, Va and would take the bird in a heartbeat, but my husband would have a cow and put me out in the loft with the birds...... We have racing pigeons also and we're in the process of trying to find homes for some of them so to take in a feral, just wouldn't set well with hubby. He likes the birds but he doesn't LOVE them like I do. I'll send an e-mail to my friend and see what I can find out. May not be until next week since it's a holiday week end. I'll let you know.

[Pidgey]

Renee,

You need to be sure and mention that this bird was THE professor emeritus of aviation at the university (tenured) but that he's retiring. However, you probably shouldn't mention that he's currently living with a student.

Pidgey

[Trees Gray]

I have had my rehabber friend examin a couple of my birds with droopy wings (Hamilton, and Whiskey). She kept them for me for a whole week and baby-sat them while we were on our trip earlier this week.

She has come to the conclusion that they probably have injured their wings, and possibly just around the area where we humans have our collar bones. The entire wing is fine, but if that area is cracked or broken the bird is not able to hold the wing up correctly and may not be able to lift it high enough to fly, depending on how bad the break or crack is. She has rehabbed hawks with similar injuries, a few recover, some do not completely recover.

Sometimes the wing almost appears to hang normal, other times they droop a little, under stress. So my two birds are now semi-retired and living in cubbies close to the ground. I have to make sure they have access to food and water, as they cannot fly around to the dining room. Mieke also had similar problems, but she is flying and totally healed.

I have noticed the birds will fly into each other as they all make their way to breakfast and also they make a quick fright flights and head into the coop when they see a hawk, and I have seen them running into each other on such a panicky occasion.

Anyway, they are still getting supportive care, just in case they heal, but are back outside with the gang.

Just thought I would mention this, as this kind of injury can be so small, and have such major impact on the entire wing, and go undetected.

[mr squeaks]

Originally Posted by Pidgey

I wish I did, Victor, because sometimes when I'm putting my pants on one leg at a time like everybody else, I get off balance and fall flat on my face.

Pidgey

Sorry, I didn't see this posting until just now and MUST COMMENT!

PIDGEY - I am worried about that lack of balance! Have you considered a brain scan OR trying to start with the OTHER leg first??

Shi
A concerned member

[Pidgey]

MIZZZ Squawks!

I am NOT going for an expensive medical procedure for them to scan to see if I've got a brain!

Pidgey

[mr squeaks]

Originally Posted by Pidgey

MIZZZ Squawks!

I am NOT going for an expensive medical procedure for them to scan to see if I've got a brain!

Pidgey

Uh, actually, I think you misunderstood (WHY am I NOT surprised??)! The brain scan was to check for "balance" and couldn't be done on someone withOUT a brain. Silly me - I "automatically" assumed you HAD a brain. However, from your post, YOU seem to have DOUBTS(!!)???

Well, since this is a no brain(er), then go to suggestion # 2..start with your OTHER leg...don't need a brain for that

[Reti]

Happu Birthday, Jamuko.
Hope you and pijie have a great day.

Reti

[mr squeaks]

I see Little Bird beat me to the punch - again (MANY THANKS!). It's those later hours in the East...we don't do Daylight Savings Time.

However, Mr. Squeaks and I will jump right in and wish you

A WONDERFUL HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

MAY YOU PASS ALL YOUR EXAMS WITH "As" !!

SURE HOPE PIDGEY (the bird) IS DOING WELL!!

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Shi & Mr. Squeaks

[Pidgey]

HAPPY BIRDTHDAY, JAMUKO!!!

Go ahead and treat yourself to some safflower seeds!

Pidgey