Release in Doubt.

[Camrron]

Hi Brad and Treesa,

I did leave the wrong impression by saying I would let him go in the spring. Release is the very last thing that would happen at this point if I have no other options. The problem is that I am not just going to be moving but will be leaving the country and there is no way to take Buddy with me.

In the last week I have staked out a good release spot with a large flock of well fed feral pigeons up on the University. Once it warms up that is where I would try to introduce him to a flock if he is not adopted by then. Like Brad noted I still have at least 4 months so hopefully all will work out well. I have changed my travel plans by one month so far to ensure Buddy has good weather and will change my plans again if it is still too cold. It is never really predictable up here weather-wise.

The one eye has me concerned though. It looks like I will have to make a trip to the vet. I just can't see anything wrong with the eye by visual examination. Buddy might just need some eye drops or something like that.
I do want him to have a good life though. I gather pigeons live 10 or 12 years so he has a lot of years ahead of him yet if all goes well. Thanks all.

BTW, I also don't think shipping across the border is an option but I have read many of your posts Treesa and you seem like really a great person. I will try to find a local home if I can.

Cameron

[Camrron]

Hi Brad,

Boy am I dumb. I just re-read your post but this time I deciphered the icons and noticed the wink at the bottom. Does this mean you have a good lead for me? Or for sometime down the road? Guess I have to read between the lines. Thanks for all the support. You sound like a good guy. Maybe Buddy would like Oshawa...Hmmmm. (Just Kidding).

Cameron

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hi Cameron,

You're very welcome for any bit of help that I've been able to provide to you

Sorry about the confusion with my "winky" emoticon. I really couldn't take this pigeon because a) I don't have the room and b) the dynamics of a single rock dove with my 4 domestic runts wouldn't work.

I was just hoping that from now until the end of April, that collectively as a group, we will be able to figure something out for this lovely pigeon known as Buddy

[Camrron]

No problem Brad,

I really knew that already. Oshawa is pretty far from me as it is. That's why I said "Just Kidding". Canuck Humour, you know. I think, maybe that I have found someone to take my bird though. No firm committment or anything but a possibility. We'll see in the new year. Merry Christmas to you though

Cameron

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hey Cameron,

That's wonderful that you may have found someone to take him, that would be such a relief for you I'm sure. In the meantime, I'm also sure that others here will try their very best to help you find an alternative if needed.

Have a wonderful Christmas and New Years yourself

[Camrron]

Hi all,

I did have a good Christmas. I spent my time with Buddy who it turns out is quite a good friend. He is my first bird and has surprised me every step of the way. So intelligent and inquisitive. I never knew birds were such good companions. How much personality they have. It is love no doubt. We have just come back from the vet by the way.

Buddy has a clean bill of health. His eye is OK, wound fully healed, no mites or worms and his overall size is good. The vet said he was obviously a well fed, happy, active bird so my mind has been put at ease. Just thought you would like to hear a good news story to start off the year. I still don't have a home for him and the days will be counting down starting tomorrow but I still hope for the best. I have read and re-read all the posts. Treesa, do you really want Buddy? If I have no home by April I would be willing to find a way to get this amazing creature to you. He is a house bird. Very affectionate in his way. He wants to be with me all the time which I still find odd but I think that is more an aspect of his personality than my bird care. Let me know. Expense is not a concern. This little friend of mine needs and deserves a loving home.

Cameron

[Trees Gray]

If you have no alternative then yes, I will take Buddy.

I don't want to see your "pet" released in the wild.

[LondonPigeon]

Originally Posted by Trees Gray

If you have no alternative then yes, I will take Buddy.

I don't want to see your "pet" released in the wild.

thats very kind of you Treesa

that way we can ensure Buddy gets a nice loving home.

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hi Cameron,

Good to hear from you, I'm glad you had a good Christmas with Buddy Sounds like he has really taken to you and you to him. Pigeons do make wonderful pets if you put the time into them and get to understand them. They do have great personalities and wonderful dispositions as well...each bird with it's own unique personality.

That is very kind of you Treesa to take Buddy if it comes down to that. Perhaps you and Cameron should investigate what is needed to be done in order to ship a pigeon from Canada to the USA. It might be good to find out what to do and what to expect ahead of time if there is no other choice come April.

Thanks again for the update Cameron, I really wish you could keep this pigeon because I can tell you're really going to miss him when you have to part with him.

[LondonPigeon]

i always was confused in how pigeons are shipped from one place /country to the other

would you have to put Buddy in a special wooden lcoked box with lots of breathing holes? but i wander what you need to put in the box for the journey, how long the journey would take, and would the box go from house to house or from airport to airport? they also have to be very careful with the box

[mr squeaks]

I know how are hard it will be to leave Buddy! I really hope you can find a good home for him and, when you do, I'm sure you will keep in touch with the new owner. These pigeons sure have a way of getting to the heart don't they?

Please keep us updated about Buddy and the best to you and your future endeavors!

[Camrron]

Thanks Treesa, Brad, Mr Squeaks, LondonPigeon,

Sorry about the long time to respond but I was really not feeling well and just had to take a break for a while.

You are right though, I really will miss Buddy when the time comes to give him up. He is the most loveable character. I couldn't have imagined how much a bird can brighten up a room with their personality and crazy behaviors until I found this one.

Thanks Treesa too for offering to take Buddy if I can't find a local home. I felt a bit bad for you after reading about the pigeon-lung though so I will do my best not to burden you. Actually, you know, I was thinking afterwards that I should not have put you on the spot by asking you to take my bird in the public forum. That was bad etiquette on my part. I hope you will accept my apology for the faux-pas.

I have a serious question about Buddies health tonight though. His poops are suddenly almost all watery since yesterday with just small specks of green in them. I haven't seen this before but he still seems active as normal. Could it be stress?, diet?, illness? The thing is that I havn't changed his diet, environment or even had him out except the one time we went to the vet. I
realize it is not easy to diagnose on the basis of watery poops but is this sometimes normal for pigeons. Buddy may be molting now too and is sprouting new feathers where the old were lost. Thanks all,

Cameron

[Camrron]

Just a quick follow-up.

The poops I mentioned earlier tonight seem to be back to normal after half the evening and I have had time to think about what the problem might have been. I spend most days with Buddy but today was different in that I was gone for 10 to 11 hours.

Could lonliness or stress cause that kind of diahrea? I don't know if anyone else has observed anything like this but Buddy is really attached to me and I can well imagine his stress at being left alone for so long. Or is it possible he has picked up some bad bacteria in the seed I am buying? I will keep a close eye on him the next couple of days and update if the problem returns.

I had one more question for anyone who might know. I am using "Hartz" gravel and Grit for budgies. Is this OK for pigeons? I notice he prefers the larger bits in the mix but for the most part it is all a very fine grit. (A bit like small sand grains). Should I be putting out more gravelly type grit or....?
Thanks

Cameron.

[Trees Gray]

Originally Posted by Camrron

Could lonliness or stress cause that kind of diahrea? I don't know if anyone else has observed anything like this but Buddy is really attached to me and I can well imagine his stress at being left alone for so long. Or is it possible he has picked up some bad bacteria in the seed I am buying? I will keep a close eye on him the next couple of days and update if the problem returns.

I had one more question for anyone who might know. I am using "Hartz" gravel and Grit for budgies. Is this OK for pigeons? I notice he prefers the larger bits in the mix but for the most part it is all a very fine grit. (A bit like small sand grains). Should I be putting out more gravelly type grit or....?
Thanks
Cameron.

Hi Cameron,

Stress can cause diarrhea, and if he is used to having you around and then you are gone for many hours, that would do it, because you are a part of his normal routine.

Give him some probiotics to replenish his gut bacteria if he needs it, as stress depletes the good gut bacteria.

Pigeons do prefer pigeon grit, which is course and made specifically for them. They need the red grit, perhaps you can get it at a pigeon supply place.

No need to apologize, if Buddy still needs a home, I will take him, as a last resort-I don't want to see him released in the wild, but hopefully you will find an indoor home for him, as he is a pet. My birds live outside in the coop, and I only keep a bird inside for the purpose of rehab, due to my condition. It was because I had to raise my two pets indoors when I got the pigeon lung. I am much better now but I can't keep any bird inside on a permanent basis.

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hi Cameron,

I agree with Treesa, that it's likely stress that is causing this...likely from the moult. How old is the pigeon now? Since he's an indoor bird, it's unlikely it's an illness he caught. This should be his first moult into his adults feathers and this occurs around 3 months of age. It's very hard on their systems too shed and replace a lot of feathers at once so probiotics, and a good avian vitamin supplement would be beneficial