Pigeon fell on fire!

[DuckGirl]

Today after we lit one of our fires (which hasn't been lit for a couple of weeks) my mum thought she could hear some flapping or wings, then it stopped, then it started again so she went to get my dad and when she came back a pigeon fell out of the chimney shoot onto the fire, luckily onto a log that hadn't caught yet. We caught it and have put it in a cat basket and at the minute it is sleeping.

Its breast bone is easy to feel, and we think it may have been stuck in the chimney for a couple of days as we saw a feather on the firewood yesterday. Its tail feathers have been burnt away, and it doesn't have many left. Luckily there doesn't seem to be much skin damage, or burns on it's feet (although the soles are black...)

I am just wanting to know if there is anything that can/should be done, seeing as i don't think many of the help threads on here actually help as they don't link to pigeons falling on a fire!

I would really appreciate any help as it is only a youngster and i can't bare to see it die!

[DuckGirl]

(It wouldn't let me edit, so i have to double post)

[sabina]

hi Duckgirl,
Thanks for helping this pijie! Read this if you haven't already:

Basic steps to saving pigeon/dove
http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showthread.php?t=11265

The most important thing now is rehydration, especially if he may have been stuck a couple days; you can make a solution with water, pinch of salt and sugar and see if he'll drink it. If not you can try dipping the beak gently in the solution. If that doesn't work, you can use a dropper on the side of the beak.

After the bird's been rehydrated, then you can offer food. A wild bird seed mix is good. Let us know how it's going!

Sabina

[DuckGirl]

I've given him salt and sugar water, and he has had some. Should i keep perserveering or let him sleep? If i keep dipping his beak in it, putting in on the side of his beak he licks it up, but if i leave him he just goes quickly back to sleep. It's 11.50pm here now. I don't mind staying up if i have to. Id rather get no sleep and have him survive than sleep and wake up to find him dead.

[sabina]

Did you warm the bird as well? Either a heating pad on low, or a warmed sock filled with rice. How much rehydration solution did he get? Any poops? Has he been sleepy and lethargic since you've had him or did that just start?

[DuckGirl]

Well he was already warm cos he was on a fire!!! He is still quite warm from that, and my room is always warm as i live above the heating pipes. He was quite lathargic from the beginning, but then when he had some of the solution he perked up, searched for food, then quietened down again. Hes done that about 2 or 3 times now. He hasnt pooed, i dont think.

[sabina]

Sounds like he should be ok for the night. I'd try to get him to drink some more before you go to sleep. Do you have food to give him in the morning? Usually we re-hydrate for a few hours then feed.

[DuckGirl]

Yeah we do, we own 2 pairs of white doves and they have their food plus wild bird mix, so i can use that.

Thanks for you help. I'm such a sucker when it comes to saving things. The last pigeon i tried to save was attacked by a cat but didn't pull through. I don't want the same to happen to this one, hence asking for help. I'll let ya know how he does.

[sabina]

hang on for a couple minutes, i asked a couple other more experienced members to look at this thread, let's see what they have to say...

[TAWhatley]

It sounds like you have done about all you can for tonight. It's good that the pigeon has taken some of the rehydrating fluid.

It looks like a couple of the feathers are singed. Just be sure there aren't any burns on any fleshy areas of the bird.

If you want to leave some food as well as drinking water with the pigeon tonight, I think that would be fine.

Good luck with this one, and please keep us posted.

Terry

[Charis]

Duckgirl,
You said the feet are black, is that from the soot in the chimney or do you think the pigeon has burned feet?

[pigeonperson]

Hi DuckGirl,
Can you please check the underside of your bird And make sure there are no burns on the skin? If you do, we need to discuss how to treat the injury.
For the rest of the day, keep offering him water. This poor bird is definitely dehydrated. It sounds like he is exhausted from his experience. He needs food after he's hydrated and keep water available to him in a cup of some sorts to him at all times. He has to eat if he's to regain his strength so keep seed available in a separate dish. If he isn't eating, it might be because he's feeling to weak to eat on his own. Right now, let's assume only dehydration and starvation. If he fails to start eating on his own, you have to hand feed. Do you know how to do it? An engorged crop of seed may be too difficult for his system to digest right now and if he's dehydrated, he could throw it up so start off with small amounts. Just open his beak and put a pinchful of seed towards the back of his mouth and he should be able to swallow. Start off with about 20 pinchfuls of small seed and wait for droppings to start. Droppings usually start about 4-6 hours after he's been hydrated and fed. If he holds the food, then hand feed more in a few hours. Droppings will be green liquid at first and as digestion starts, it will slowly turn over to solids. If he's healthy, you may have to wait a week or more for droppings to turn normal. Since you have doves, you already know what the droppings are supposed to look like.

In a few days after you feel he's stronger, you have to pull the burned tail feathers. Do it one feather at a time so as not to shock him from pain. Remove all of them so that they will all regrow at the same rate. It will take about three weeks for the feathers to come back in and he has to remain with you for all that time.

[DuckGirl]

Thanks for your help guys!

I checked him and i think the only damage is to his feet. I think they are slightly burnt but he doesnt mind standing on them and walking on them. he has drank and had food so thats good. He keeps coughing though which i am assuming could be cos of the smoke inhalation?

His tail feathers are all completely burnt. The little thats left of them are covered in soot and he keeps trying to clean them, should i clean them myself so he doesnt injest the soot more than he already has? He has singed the feathers underneath, but they are all still there and he is able to poo. Everytime i pick him up i get covered in soot from where it's on his body.

How do i know when he is completely rehydrated?

[DuckGirl]

Sorry to double post again, but i still can't edit.

His original poo was green, but it is now white/black...pigeon poo i'm used to!

Another thing... i know pigeons tend to sleep/stand on one foot but could there be another reason as to why he doesnt want to use that one foot?

[maryjane]

Thanks for taking care of this unfortunate little Santa Claus-wannabe. When he is feeling better, you can bathe him using warm water and Dawn dish soap, as this is gentle but helps remove a lot of dirt and, I would imagine, soot as well. A shallow dish with warm water might help him at the moment, if he gets in and bathes a little, or just gets his feet wet to help him get them clean. If he is favoring one foot in particular, try to get a closer look and feel the leg and toes as there may be a wound or fracture. He sounds as if he has perked up some and that is great. Keep him warm and just take it slowly.

We would also love to hear about and see pics of your doves if you have the time. This is a dove forum also.