Tameness Evaluation, Please? Also, cage bar width.

[Dezirrae]

Liz,

As others have said Fred seems to be doing great for now. I'm so very glad he's with people as loving as you & your husband. Piji's are very addicting - so even if the time comes to release Fred I am certain you'll find another one quite soon But Fred will be with you for awhile with his tail growing back - that's for sure.

Check out Craigslist for used cages -- many times bird or rabbit cages are listed there for very reasonable prices. Just remember to scrub the heck out of anything used (even if it looks perfectly clean) The other thing you could try with the dog crate you have is putting some hardware cloth around the cage (from Home Depot or Lowe's).

I can't remember if you have set this up for him yet or not - but a good sized basket with some soft cloth would be a nice bed for him. Others here use different bedding material, but my pijis seem to prefer crumbled newspaper covered by a few cotton towels... then again, my pijis also seem to like the round perches - so I think they're probably a little "off center" anyway.

I'm sure Fred would also appreciate a brick in his cage -- it's good for their toenails. And something else Fred may like - you'll have to try it & see - is a mirror. My girls love it! Will stand in front of it and preen for hours - no kidding

Looking forward to further updates - and of course - more pictures!

[maryjane]

I've enjoyed Fred's uplifting story so far and look forward to more. It's so nice to see someone who goes to so much trouble to help a pigeon; we all know vets aren't cheap!! He's quite the lucky guy to have found you and your husband.

As for releasing, it all comes down to the individual pigeon; I've had feral adults who wanted nothing to do with me during convalescence and couldn't wait to be released, and then I've had many who bonded immediately or over time with me and refused to leave. Some become so tame (which you can't really prevent) that you feel it's not safe to let them go into the wild again. So I would enjoy Fred while he recovers, and then leave it up to him when he's 100% again. It does sound like he is pretty used to people, probably from living on campus. As you get to know him better, you'll be able to know what to do when it's time, don't worry.

I have a little pigeon, Toto, who was hand-raised, and when she "flirts" with me (she wants me to be her mate ), she grabs my finger in her beak for a few seconds. She would do this with another pigeon "beak to beak" so I think that is what it's all about. Sounds like Fred is flirting with you. Also, mainly younger male pigeons (teens) will bite during rough-housing, but from Fred's pictures I would say he is an older bird, just in comparison to some of my ferals. Older meaning two years or more, which is nothing in a pigeon's lifespan. . .some have lived up past thirty years! The average "long" life for a pigeon is 20 years; of course, that's for a pet pigeon.

As for the flight suit, I would let his rump heal up first just so you aren't putting the diaper over it. Then keep the Handi-Wipes near. As for his cage, if it is in a room the cats and dog don't go into at all, then you can buy a small roll of garden screen (it's pretty cheap) and wrap the cage in a layer of that. That should work. Good luck and keep us posted!

[MizLiz]

I have found a free cage with bars 1" apart. Is that better or worse than being 1 1/4" apart?

[Dezirrae]

Definitly better And free is good too Just curious though - what are the LxWxH measurements?

[MizLiz]

It's a used ferret cage, 24"w x 24"d x 37"h. I figured I could lay it down on it's side and put newspaper under it?

EDIT: I found it on the PetSmart website: http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...53322#prodTab1
A Super Pet My First Home Multi-Floor Ferret Home. Of course, the one I have has no shelves, toys, or rolling base.

[spirit wings]

Originally Posted by MizLiz

It's a used ferret cage, 24"w x 24"d x 37"h. I figured I could lay it down on it's side and put newspaper under it?

EDIT: I found it on the PetSmart website: http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...53322#prodTab1
A Super Pet My First Home Multi-Floor Ferret Home. Of course, the one I have has no shelves, toys, or rolling base.

that cage may be ok but he will need to come out of it for a few hours everyday to get excersize and sunshine too and interact with you as they are social birds that live in flocks.

[MizLiz]

Will two hours a day outside the cage do? The cage is in a small bedroom, closed off from the cat and dog. We can clear out the junk and put in some old bookshelves for ledges.

One of us can sit in the room with Fred while he is out, but we both work full time, so only have a few hours each evening at home. I guess I can pay the bills or compose a grocery list while I'm in there with him, right?

I know Fred's accustomed to flying all day long in the wild, but he is underweight right now and needs to gain some weight. Still, I don't want to have to release an out-of-shape couch potato into the wild.

Sunshine! How much sunshine a day? He's only had a little direct sunlight (from the bathroom window) since the 5th.

[Lady Tarheel]

My philosophy is if a pigeon is happy and healthy and you're happy with him, then keep him. He sounds like he is off to a great start in being a pet pigeon and with you, he won't have to worry about his next meal or predators. Some pigeons simply don't "take" to being in captivity. We have two fledglings right now that will be released this weekend. They are so wild and cantankerous that they would never adjust to being in captivity. However, we have two more that are laid back, gentle, and friendly. They are almost like pet dogs . The nibbling is a sign of affection. Many of our "pets" will hold our fingers and its almost like they are nursing.

You do need to get him out of the current cage. Treesa mentioned another member almost losing one of his pigeons because the bars were spaced too far apart. He came home to find his pigeon had put his head through one bar and then twisted it around to put it through another bar, making it impossible for him to get free. Luckily, this was caught in time and only resulted in a sore neck. Personally, I think no more than 1/2 inch is ideal. They don't need anything tall but need width in order to spread their wings so they can exercise without hitting the sides.

Many members use the flight suits and swear by them.

[Trees Gray]

Originally Posted by Trees Gray

Actually it might be best to combine the two threads, that way we have the history on your bird. We get alot of threads here and it is easy to forget and get confused. You can consider it if you would like.

The threads are now combined.

Thank you.

[John_D]

Originally Posted by MizLiz

One of us can sit in the room with Fred while he is out, but we both work full time, so only have a few hours each evening at home. I guess I can pay the bills or compose a grocery list while I'm in there with him, right?

Provided the room has nothing in it which either he can damage, or can damage him, then you don't absolutely have to be there to keep watch all the time. I have had several, flying and non-flying, who (once I was sure they were managing all right) I would allow to have the run of the room and just check occasionally. In fact, a couple of my limited flight birds were out even when I was at the office. But it's what you feel comfortable with. Of course, I wasn't keeping them longer than necessary for them to do quarantine.

I know Fred's accustomed to flying all day long in the wild, but he is underweight right now and needs to gain some weight. Still, I don't want to have to release an out-of-shape couch potato into the wild.

As long as he has enough opportunity to keep his wings as active as he needs, he should be OK.

Sunshine! How much sunshine a day? He's only had a little direct sunlight (from the bathroom window) since the 5th.

A few days or couple of weeks with little sunshine won't hurt. I believe unobstructed sunshine (i.e., not through a window) is what they really need, but indoor pigeons probably will mostly not get that. However, a calcium supplement now and then (Vitamin D3) can counteract the lack, given in addition to what calcium they get from pigeon grit. A liquid calcium is good - either in the water for maybe 3 days occasionally, or by a drop or two in the beak, depending on the particular brand's instructions.

Obviously he will need enough light, whatever the weather. The thing I have found with almost all pigeons who could reach my windowsill is that they got excited if they saw pigeons outside, and would flutter crazily up the glass, unable to figure why they couldn't get out. Eventually I think they seem to accept it (one at Cynthia's place realized, and just perched after a while) but I have to admit that makes me nervous in case one flies into it. Right now I have some sheets of cardboard covering the lower section, and one of my current residents now just stands without trying any pointless escape manouvers.

Another thing will be that he will probably like a bath eventually. A fairly big dish, plant pot tray or whatever could work, so he has a couple inches of water. Some birds are fine with a mist spray. They do find a bath relaxing, though, and good for preening.

John

[spirit wings]

Originally Posted by MizLiz

Will two hours a day outside the cage do? The cage is in a small bedroom, closed off from the cat and dog. We can clear out the junk and put in some old bookshelves for ledges.

One of us can sit in the room with Fred while he is out, but we both work full time, so only have a few hours each evening at home. I guess I can pay the bills or compose a grocery list while I'm in there with him, right?

I know Fred's accustomed to flying all day long in the wild, but he is underweight right now and needs to gain some weight. Still, I don't want to have to release an out-of-shape couch potato into the wild.

Sunshine! How much sunshine a day? He's only had a little direct sunlight (from the bathroom window) since the 5th.

yes he needs to have a chance to sit in the sun for vitamin absorbtion. This is just my opinion as far as the cage goes, others Im sure will have a differing one. I feel that the cage is too small for a feral pideon to be cooped up in for 8 hours of the day they like to roost or go night night around dusk so in the winter it gets dark at what 5:30?...I think, again just my opinion the ideal if you keep him is a hutch/loft with an aviary where he can get sun and a mate he can call his/her own. all may not feel this way but only you can make choices for this bird...hope he does well what ever you decide.

[MizLiz]

Thanks for all your suggestions and advice, folks! You have all been immeasureably helpful.

EDIT: new Fred photos added to my Flickr account, including pix of the "new" cage, at http://www.flickr.com/photos/9486964...7607160920249/

[MizLiz]

Hey folks,

Just thought you'd like to know I set Fred free Saturday morning.

He had lost interest in my company, gotten skittish and hand-shy, and was pacing repetitively around his room. He wanted out. His tail was almost all grown back, and I hated seeing him unhappy.

I made sure he had food and fresh water when I got up, and an hour later I opened the window and watched him while he hopped onto the windowsill, looked around, and took wing.

He circled the house one and a half times before heading straight for downtown, four miles away and where I originally found him.

I left the window open for him in case he wanted to return. No sign of that so far. I figure he dosen't have any reason to. I know Fred's happy to be with his friends again.

Thank you, everyone, for all your help.

[Jay3]

You never know. He may come back for a visit if he is looking for something to eat. You might want to leave a little food out for him where he will see it. Just for a while anyway.

[spirit wings]

yes it is hard to make a pet out of a "wild" bird"...you gave him a good recovery!