Sorry to interupt this thread - new to list - advise needed

[kerry002]

Hello

First off, my apologies for interupting this thread.

I found this group tonight after bringing home a bird from my workplace today and searching the internet for info. I have had some trouble trying to figure out how to post a new thread to your group. Once again, my apologies, but if anyone can offer some advice, i would appreciate it,

I live on a farm but work in a city. For at least the last 14 years there was been a group of pigeons residing at my workplace.

Today I notice one bird that did not take flight with the rest when approached. On coming within a foot of the bird, it walked away over and through a snow bank.

When I found the bird the second time it had manged to get itself up onto a low window ledge appx 12 inches above the snowbank.

While smaller than the other pigeons, this bird appears healthy and alert. Eyes are bright and clear with no discharge. Plummage appears shiny and healthy with no obvious areas where feathers are missing. Respirations are unlabored with no audible wheezing, etc apparant. Once caught, the bird did not appear to have an obvious fracture of either leg. On examing the wings, no obvious fracture was apparant. The bird has no obvious abrasions or hematomas. The bird also appears/feels to be in good weight for it's size. It simply does not fly. The stools appear normal (in comparison to what I know of Cockatiels, conures, chickens).

Perhaps this is simply a young bird?? I do not know if pigeons are seasonal breeders or not or how hardy they are. I live in central Saskatchewan. We have recently come out of a 2 and a half week spell of very cold weather (day time highs of -30-36 celsius - with the wind chill we had temps of -45-50 celsius). I am thinking that if this bird were acutely/seriously ill +/or in poor body weight due to illness, the recent prolonged cold weather mayhave caused it 's demise??

In any event, I am the first to admit that I have no knowledge or experience with these birds and advice would be most welcome. Perhaps I should have left this bird where it was, but I took it with me because it was incapable of flight and given the fact that it was in a city and flightless, I was concerned about predation from the domestic pets in the area.

The bird is presently in my kitchen in a large crate with a mixture of whole oats and barley to eat and a bowl of water.


Once again, I apologize for interupting the group's e-mail thread, although any advise/wisdom you might have to share would be most appreciated.

[jazaroo]

Hi Kerry002,

Welcome to Pigeon-Talk and you are not interrupting at all

Also, thanks for stepping in and helping this poor bird out.

You may have already read this page, http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showthread.php?t=8822 ,but if you haven't it will be helpful for you.

This link may be helpful in determining your little guy's age http://www.speedpigeon.com/baby_racing_pigeon.htm, but some pics would help a lot, some of his droppings and a few of the bird himself in order to make better determinations for him.

I am headed off to bed, but there will be others along I am sure.

Good luck with this little guy,

Ron

[feralpigeon]

Welcome to the forum Kerry002 and thanks for intervening on behalf of this
downed pigeon. It does sound as though this pij may be a jouvenile, could you
tell us what color the cere or fleshy part immediately above the beak is?

If you have a heating pad you could wrap it in a towel on low and place in a box or pet carrier or the like for the pigeon for now. Is the bird self watering and feeding that you have been able to observe?

fp

[Victor]

Hi Kerry and welcome to Pigeon Talk. First off, please do not aplogize for "interupting" a thread. We are here to help each other . Thank you for coming to the aid of this pigeon.

If this pigeon did not take flight and allowed you to catch it, it does have a problem and possibly very weak. I know that it has been very fridged in the upper part of your area. It may be hungry and dehydrated.

Is your kitchen warm?

Do you have a heating pad that you can set on low?

Is your water dish deep?

Wild bird seed is the closest to pigeon feed that one can offer. It is best to get the bird warm and hydrated first. Add a pinch of salt and a pinch of sugar to create electrolytes to a cup of water. If you have unflavovored pedialyte, that would be good as well.

[kerry002]

Thnak you for the reply,

While I was waiting for some feedback I did find the site which provides pictures of birds at various ages.

Looking at the pics I would place the bird at 19-23 days. Looking at the bird the head is disportionate to the body (ie. the head is markedly smaller than the body at this point). This is why I began questioning the age of the bird.

I am still wondering if it is possible that in Sask in the middle of winter a chick could have been born (in a feral state), in mid/late January ( and survived/thrived in this environment)?????

I have been searching on the internet further and have read some of the archives on this list and am now wondering if you can "age" by the number of flight feathers??? I am not sure of the number of flight feathers a pigeon should have. I did not count them when I brought the bird home, but it does seem to have a "full" set.


PS how does one "sex" a pigeon?

Thanks again for the advice/direction - I appreciate it

[Victor]

Pigeons are very hearty and strong birds once they pass the juvenile stage. It seems as though this youngster was a lucky one...once you found it.

Let's worry about the age and sex till later and get this bird stabilized first.

Do you have a heating pad, and have you given it an electrolyte solution yet?

[TAWhatley]

Hi Kerry and welcome .. to solve the confusion about interrupting or not .. Kerry posted to an old thread, and I split it out and moved it to this new thread so it would get the attention needed. Sorry that I then got distracted with taking care of one of today's incoming.

Terry

[feralpigeon]

Originally Posted by kerry002

Thnak you for the reply,

While I was waiting for some feedback I did find the site which provides pictures of birds at various ages.

Looking at the pics I would place the bird at 19-23 days. Looking at the bird the head is disportionate to the body (ie. the head is markedly smaller than the body at this point). This is why I began questioning the age of the bird.

I am still wondering if it is possible that in Sask in the middle of winter a chick could have been born (in a feral state), in mid/late January ( and survived/thrived in this environment)?????

I have been searching on the internet further and have read some of the archives on this list and am now wondering if you can "age" by the number of flight feathers??? I am not sure of the number of flight feathers a pigeon should have. I did not count them when I brought the bird home, but it does seem to have a "full" set.


PS how does one "sex" a pigeon?

Thanks again for the advice/direction - I appreciate it

This bird might not be self feeding at this point and may need some assistance w/feedings until certain that s/he is headed in the right direction.
Have you actually seen the bird eat on it's own?

fp

[Trees Gray]

Hi kerry002,

Thank you so much for helping this youngster.

I DO think it is most important at this time to determine if the bird is self feeding or not. He is too young to have mastered the art of picking up seed and eating on his own, as that skill comes at about 3 to 4 weeks of age.

Regardless of whether there is anything wrong with him, eating is priority one.

You can try handfeeding it small bits of soaked/drained organic dog food even cat chow. You can also feed it thawed peas at this point.
The bird should be eating about a tablespoon four times a day. I would also try to generate an interest by leaving some small deep, tip-proof bowls of seed and water for it to explore with.

[AZWhitefeather]

Hi Kerry,

Other than agreeing with the advice given, I wanted to welcome you to Pigeon Talk & thank you for taking this baby under your wing.
If, at any time, you have questions or concerns, don't hesitate to post them.

Let us know how things are coming along.

Cindy

[Victor]

Kerry, please up date us on the pigeon you found.