think i have a baby pigeon please help us!!

[thierryarron]

i woke up this morning and found a baby bird (somthing from the cat) in my hall way nofeathers eye shut big fat bum and i thought it was dead i used a tissue to pick the poor thing up and it moved oh my god the shock i had heard that baby birds die so i did my best for it by putting it in a small box with cotten wool in a warm room and shut the door and had to leave for work when i got back there he was waiting for food so i gave him water and wheatabix hes eating it and every time i go in to the room it looks up to get more can any one tell me 1st how do i tell what bird it is 2nd what do i need to do to help it grow in to a adult any info to help really please help this poor little ophan

[TAWhatley]

Please keep the baby very warm .. you can wrap a heating pad with a towel, set it on low, and place a container with the baby bird in it on top. Or a low wattage bulb can also be used to provide warmth.

Does the baby have "fuzz" or is it naked? Baby pigeons are kind of fuzzy little beings. You can see a series of pictures of a baby pigeon in the Resources section here. Is it possible for you to send us a photo of the baby bird?

Could you please let us know where you are located?

Terry

[thierryarron]

no fuzz just a bit of on the very top of his head just grey patches of skin on each his sides and his wings are grey skined i will try to get pics

[cyro51]

If you click on "pigeon talk" then "pigeon daily" then "resources" you will find links to photos of baby pigeons, baby collared doves and European Wood pigeons developing. That should help you work out whether you have a pigeon/dove or some other kind of bird.

The resources page also has information and links on how and what to feed baby pigeons.

Cynthia

[cyro51]

Is the bird opening its mouth wide and squawking for food so that you drop the food into the open mouth ? That would mean it is not a pigeon.

Cynthia

[thierryarron]

it opens it's mouth but no squawking

[edgar]

if it is a baby ppgeon andf I only know what worked for our pigeon was my daughter feed it through a small syringe with warmed pelletted food crushed up mixed with warm water she fed him 4 times a day today headwig is alive and well and avery healthy boy good luck to you it can be a very rewarding experience.

[bklowe]

More pictures would be great, especially those that would indicate size. It does not appear to be a pigeon. If it is "gaping" [ opening it's mouth for food ]. you can give formula via an syringe if you have one. As others have said keep it warm in a dim, quiet, spot. As you feed the formula be sure to get the syringe past the glottis [ this is the air way hole just behind the tongue .... during feeding you should give very small amounts and make sure the swallow reflex is strong. S/he will have a crop located on the bird's right side below the chin in the neck area. The crop will expand as it eats looking kinda like a small marble is in there. I would stop feeding at this point until the crop emptys [ any where from 20 minutes to an hour depending on the size of the bird. Please keep posting and thank you for doing what you can for this little guy.

[thierryarron]

it's about 3" with a very fat bum like a "weelbele wobble" if it's not a pigeon is it still ok to feed it with wheatabix??

[JGregg]

Where are you located?

That way a local rehabber can be found for your little blackbird/starling/cowbird or grackle to help you if you you need it.

I'd feed the little one on soaked Science Diet puppy chow kibble. please feed in small enough pieces so the baby won't choke and suffocate. Feed until the crop (pouch on baby's chest) is full but not taunt.

[pdpbison]

Hi thierryarron,


Oh my! what a little beauty!


Not-a-Pigeon, but if it is "three inches" long it is some order of 'larger' than a Sparrow Bird such as ( maybe) a Robin or large Jay.

It is not properly a grain eating Bird, so, skip the "Wheatabix" and...

Hmmmm...

If it were me, I would not only be picking the brains of those co-responants "here" on the List, but, as I have had good luck with with Baby Sparrows and Mockers, I would likely be feeding very small morsels of well rinsed "two-layer" Water-Pack Sardines.

Additionally, I would go to a Tropical Fish Store and get 1000 Meal worms and put them into a room temperature Bowl with fresh sliced Apples and Oatmeal and some various Greens like cilantro or Parsely or Water Cress...

I would obtain ripe Pears or other fresh Fruit and occasionally feed the Baby tiny bits of the ripe Fruit on to which I have sprinkled some 'Vitamix' and powdered 'Super Greens' ( any health food store for the latter) and...

Do not attempt to give any kind of liquid or Water...or diary products.

You can feed them a lightly scrambled Egg cut into tiny bits of course.

After a few days of the Meal worms having become wholesome on their Apple and whatnot else diet, begin also feeding those to the Baby but...BUT you best smash the little heads of the Meal Worms first, and, hand them to the gapeing Baby, head-first.

Small Grasshoppers or Katydids or Crickets may be caught, but, likewise, and additonally, if too big, cut them in half, and at any rate, mash their little heads first and feed them to the Baby head-first allways.

No 'Seeds' and skip grain products.

Keep them warm (85 degrees or so ) and covered if possible, and feed them several times an hour certainly. These kinds of Birds to not posess the voluminous Crops which Baby Pigeons do, and generally must be fed much much MUCH more often.

A soft, Terrycloth Towell folded into a ceramic or other bowl, set on a towell wrapped heating pad, covered gently with a lite cloth or towell, would be comfortable for them. Keep them out of any sort of drafts or chills of course, and, in a quiet place if possible.

Do you have a cage? I forgot...but if so, drape the cage with a sheet or something to keep drafts out.


They will likely soon make some kind of 'chirp' to alert you to their being hungry and to 'where' they are. When they gape, place the little ( the size of an eraser on the end of a pencil or so if not smaller, of) morsel into their open Mouth, and they will swallow and ask for more.

At some point, they usually will be full and they will show you this in some way. Then, wait some while, might be fifteen minutes, might be twenty, might be a half hour or something, and, also, learn to imitate their chirp and try it on them from across the room. If they chirp or if they answer your chirp, they are hungry again.

If your ambient air is 'dry' or heated with central heat, keep a wet rag in a bowl near them for some humidity. Normally being in their Nest is humidifying for their skin.


Phil
Las Vegas

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hi There,

This is not a baby pigeon but it's too small to know for sure yet what kind of song bird it is. Your best advice given to you thusfar is from JGregg please listen to her advice:

Originally Posted by JGregg

Where are you located?

That way a local rehabber can be found for your little blackbird/starling/cowbird or grackle to help you if you you need it.

I'd feed the little one on soaked Science Diet puppy chow kibble. please feed in small enough pieces so the baby won't choke and suffocate. Feed until the crop (pouch on baby's chest) is full but not taunt.

[thierryarron]

im in southampton uk i have cats are there "kibble"ok untill i can get to a shop?

[Pigeonpal2002]

Cat food you mean? Yes, this is ok until you can get the dog kibble

[thierryarron]

he will be ok with the wheatabix i feed earlier if i change to the cat stuff now when i go into the room he seems to be ok i can hear him move and just about see him his skin is a lot less dry now i think after i giving him the wheatabixand water mix.