Watched a young pigeon get hit by a car and rescued it, what now?

[Kezza]

I couldn't believe my eyes yesterday at around 5pm when I watched a man drive into a pigeon in the road. The car hit him at about 20 mph right on the chest. I scooped him up and held him a while to see if he died of schock but he didn't so I put him in a bush and got into my car (it happened right near to where I park my car). As I turned my car round to leave I noticed a cat had found him so I got out and picked him back up and drove him to my stables where I keep my horses.

I left him in my car with the heater on for about an hour to recover and then moved him into my feed room where he would be safe.

I put him on a horse rug with it wrapped round him a little and gave him a small dish of water as that's all I had.

He's still alive this morning I'm told by our groom (I'm at work till 4pm) and she has given him some bird seed.

I wasn't expecting him to live so I now plan to go to the pet shop to get him a few things today.

I am going to get him some grain and grit or shall I try the pellets? I'm also going to get him some Vitamin D3 as although we have a see through part in the roof of the feed room where he is, he won't be getting true sunlight.

Shall I put him in a cat carrier? And what is the best water drinker to get or use as I understand it needs to be at least 2 inches deep but I don't want him to spill it on himself. Also should I still add some salt and sugar to his water tonight or just go for plain water?

Does he still need a hot water bottle or something even though he survived last night without one?

We will keep him until he is recovered and then decide what to do as I'm not sure how injured he is really as I didn't want to mess around with him yesterday and frighten him.

Thanks

[cyro51]

HI Kezza,

Thank you so much for rescuing the pigeon, I simply can't understand how anyone could drive into one like that but have seen them swerve in an attempt to hit the pigeon.

Have you got an aidea of what his injuries might be? Were there any external injuried? Did he bleed ? Is there blood in his mouth? Is he able to stand and extend or flap his wings?

If you keep him in the cat carrier he will be safe. If he is eating then just give him a hot water bottle if he looks fluffed up so that he doesn't waste energy trying to maintain his normal body temperature.

If he is eating then you can give him plain water now, unless he bled a lot. If he is not eating then the glucose helps maintain his energy levels.

Grain and grit will be fine, but sometimes sick pigeons prefer smaller seed like you find in wild bird seed.

Can you let us know where you are ? If in the UK can you clarify whether it is a feral pigeon or a wood pigeon?

Thanks

Cynthia

[Lovebirds]

Kezza, I'm no expert by any means on sick and injured birds. Seems like you and I are the only ones up this early in the AM. LOL
I would put the bird in a carrier and a heating pad on low, arranged so that he can get off of it if he wants to. The fact that he survived through the night is a good sign I would think, but I wouldn't think he's out of the woods yet. I also think that plain water would be ok now. Since this is a feral bird, and you found him when he was hit, he's probably not "down" due to lack of food or water. I hope he will be ok in a few days and if so can be released back with his flock.
Oh, just a small dish of water should be ok. If he starts moving around, he may try to perch on the side and spill it, so if you can put a brick or small piece of wood in the carrier for him to perch on, that may keep him from spilling the water.
I'm sure that in a little while someone with WAY more knowledge than me will be on to give you more advice. Hope he hangs in there and is ok.
Thanks to you, he has a chance. Good luck

[Lovebirds]

Oh good, I see another "early bird" is with us.

[Kezza]

Not sure what type he is, he looks young though, very light grey in colour and was only just managing to fly properly just before he was hit.

No blood at all, not sure how the wings are.

Someone suggested I should get a wildlife centre to take him as I could kill him off with my lack of experience but none can take him so far!

What shall I do?

[Lovebirds]

I would say unless you think the bird has anything broken, wings or legs, that you stand as much of a chance of bringing him through this as a wild life rescue facility. I doubt he would get the attention that you can provide him. That is, if you are comfortable caring for him. If you can, you might check the wings and feel his keel, the bone that runs down the middle of his chest, to see if you feel a dent in it. It should be smooth and straight. If he was hit in the chest, that most likely would be where the damage is. I wish I could tell you more, but at this point, the best thing you can do is keep him comfortable, fed and watered and not to much fussing about and noise. From you color discription, it does sound like a feral pigeon.
Are you in the US? There may be someone close to you that could care for him.

[Kezza]

I'm in the UK.

I will feel his chest bone but not sure about his wings as don't want to frighten him. Shall I take him to a vet then to get checked over? I don't mind paying and would rather know he's not in pain.

Thanks

[Lovebirds]

Kezza, why don't you wait a while and see who else gets on line and what they say? I don't know about the vets where you are, but most here would laugh us out of the building if we brought in a feral pigeon. I think just keep him quiet and calm. This site will be buzzing with members in just a little while. I have to run.

[cyro51]

Hi Kezza,

There are some wildlife centres that are helpful to pigeons, others euthanase.

If we knew roughly where you were we could tell you who else is in that area and in a position to help.

How big is he? What colour is his beak?

Assuming that you are in the UK by the time references:

If the body is the size of your fist then he is a collared dove.

If you stretch out his wing and see a white bar he is a wood pigeon.

If he has a yellow beak and black eyes he is a stock dove.

Otherwise he is likely to be a feral pigeon.

I am in Norwich, is that anywhere near you ?


Cynthia

[kittypaws]

Hi Kezza,

Yes if you can tell us where you are we may have someone nearby that could help or can point you in the right direction to someone who can help.

You may want to try and help the bird yourself which is an admirable quality but a car injury sounds as though he needs to be checked over either by a vet ( be careful with vets though as they may suggest euthanasia which is often not needed)or a wildlife vet who will probably be more sympathetc - or we do have a few members that can get the bird some medical help.

Tania xx

[Ashbel]

I don't know anywhere near as much as other members when it comes to helping an injured pigeon, but I read that you were concerned about the pigeon spilling the contents of the water dish.. I have found pop/soda bottles(The plastic kind of course), to be effective drinkers. I've found that just snipping a hole large enough for their heads to reach in/out of the bottle a few inches from the bottom works great. The pigeon might not know where the water is at first, so just gently dipping his/her beak in the water through the hole should do the trick(Most times the pigeon will drink a few seconds after dipping their beak in the water). I've never once had any problems with this method and all of my pigeons use it-- It keeps them from walking/pooping in their water and prevents tipping. You could tie/tape the bottle to the inside of the carrier to keep it secured. Well, good luck!

[Kezza]

Well I decided to take the bird to a vet last Friday. Vet says it's fine but bruised. One leg is slightly sore as he's not walking completely normally but nothing broken.

I took him home in a cat carrier (plastic big one) and have had him in my living room since then where it is completely quiet.

I change his water and food twice daily and his bedding.

He comes out each evening for a stretch of the legs and wings, he can now fly quite well but still not walking properly.

I am handling him as little as possible.

He's eating and drinking, poo is black and white with a little greeny yellow in it although that is getting less and less. But I am giving him a vitamin supplement which is yellow so that could be it.

I plan to release him all being well at the weekend. How do I climatise him as it's cold out or doesn't that matter? Also where should I release him? Back where he was hit by the car which is built up or at my stables which is in the country more but lots of foxes and magpies?

Thanks for all your advice.

[Reti]

Thank you for caring so well for this little pigeon.
Before you release him make sure he can walk well and fly very well. He needs to be 100% before released.
Also his weight must be appropiate for a pigeon his age.

When the time comes it is best to release him where he was found. He probably has a mate and flock he will rejoin.

Reti

[cyro51]

THat is good news, thank you for the update.

I would keep him until he is able to walk properly, a limping bird can attract predators because they are perceived as vulnerable and easy game.

Where you release him depends on what species he is. If a feral pigeon then he will want to be with a flock, so it would be best to release him in a safe spot where pigeons are known to be fed. A city centre park or square would be ideal. I would usually mention a water supply, but pigeons drink the rainwater out of the roogf gutters so unless there is a drought they are okay.

A wood pigeon or a collared dove could be released in your garden, in the stables or in a city park. They are very adaptable but don't rely as much as feral pigeons do on the companionship of their own kind. They are also more accustomed to foraging for natural food and there should be plenty of that around at the moment.

He hasn't been inside long enough and the difference between indoor and outdoor temperature isn't so great that he would suffer if released without a period of reacclimatisation , but ensure that there is a good three day forecast. You could also give him a little spray over his feathers to ensure they are waterproof and that the waterproofing is maintained.

Cynthia