Baby pigeon

[Maria]

Hi everyone,

I've been reading all the posts on this site and have found them very very helpful, thanks!! I have no experience with pigeons but I've learned a lot!!!

So let me tell you a bit about my situation. I found a baby pigeon abandoned in the stairwell of my apartment building and so I brought it home. At the time she was probably 13-14 days old is my guess from the baby Sara photos, and now she's probably about 3 wks old. I've been hand-feeding the ravenous little monster using the baggie trick but I can't make her drink on her own. I've tried sticking her beak in a dish of water but she just doesn't take to it. The defiant little creature only poops in the water when i'm not looking - and all the time!!

Anyway, here's my (many) questions, I'd appreciate it if anyone could help out:
1. How and when do i start 'dish-feeding' the little girl, meaning feeding her seeds on her own? I know i have to soak them first, but she shows no interest whatsoever and only hunts for my hand.
2. I have 2 cats here at home (1 bedroom apartment) and so i can't really let the bird out of her cage. Though i've noticed my cats are just curious about her and nothing more, i see a major compatibility problem waiting to happen. but keeping the bird in a cage all the time can't be good for her????
3. I really can't keep this pidgie but don't know how to release her back into the wild until she's old enough and probably already knows how to fly. Which brings me to my next question, do i have to teach her how to fly???

I also don't think there's too many pigeon-friendly agencies around here that'll help out. I thought about calling the local SPCA but I don't think they'll care too much (I had called them once before about an injured pigeon I once found and no one responded till the next morning, it was long dead by then.)

Anyway, those are all my questions for now (i think), any advice would really be appreciated!

Thanks, Maria

[Maria]

Hi there, me again!

I forgot to mention that my building strictly forbids us from keeping or feeding pigeons.. punishable by immediate eviction and $300 fine, can you believe that??
Notices posted everywhere here, which is probably why someone left the baby pidgie in the stairwell to begin with.

[Trees Gray]

Hello and welcome to pigeons com.

Thank you so much for taking in the little one, especially with such ruthless rules against pigeons.

I see you live in Montreal, Canada, we have some members from Canada that might be able to help find you a pigeon friendly rehabber.You also need someone to have room to let it practice flying and help intigrate it into a flock of pigeons.

Meanwhile, this little one sees you as "mom" and is going to want you to feed it as long as possible. You can start putting pigeon seed around where he walks and move the seed around with your fingers to generate an interest. Also, just continue to gently put the beak into the drinking water, it may take a week but it will drink on its own.

You can help the bird develop a taste for seeds by handfeeding (a pigeon seed mix)seeds into the mouth, behind the tounge. You can soak the seeds for 10 minutes in water and spoon feed.

a small baby spoon works well, and you can drop seed behind the tounge.

At four weeks it should become more independent and will start flapping its wings. A few more weeks and it will be practicing flying.

We can keep answering your questions, for now, and hopefully find a place to get this little one prepared for the wild.

Please feel free to ask us any questions you have.

Treesa

[Maria]

Hi Treesa,

Thanks for the speedy and fantastic advice!! I'll try it and let you know what happens, though right now the little pidgie is stuffed and sleeping so i'll let her digest a bit before the next feeding.
By the way, she also flaps her wings quite a bit right now so maybe my 'guesstimate' is wrong about her age?? But I don't think so, she was pretty bald when i first found her and she's still a little patchy right now, although her wings are growing in very nicely and she doesn't have many quills left except for maybe the back of the neck, but nothing yet underneath the wings. She also has some yellow color still left but that's fading too..
Anyway, do you think it would be ok for me at this point to leave her out on the balcony during the day? The weather is pretty warm and I'm already taking her out for short spans of time to enjoy the sunlight but she just loves the bathroom (which is where i normally keep her). I think she's a little scared outside and i'm all paranoid after reading the drafts discussions in these forums. Is it too soon to be doing this?
By the way, I'm currently working from home, so she always has an eye on her during her outings anyway.

Thanks again! Maria

[Trees Gray]

Hi Maria,

I think she is a little young yet for the all day outing. I would wait until she is fully feathered. The daily hourly trips to the balcony with supervision is okay, as long as the bird is secured from predators and it is weatherproofed, and has access to shade (and of course water and food). Pigeons cannot sit in water or dampness for any period of time, nor can they handle drafts, as you mentioned.

Treesa

[maryco]

Hello Maria,

Here are some rehabber in Montreal, I hope they will be able to help, I believe the first one states that they take in "All" birds.. Check it out and hope that helps a bit

Mary


Canada, Quebec (Montreal)..... 514-366-9965

André Malouf, Urban Animal Advocates, Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre
Action Pour Les Animaux Urbains, Centre de Sauvetage et de Réhabilitation de la faune
uaawildlife@yahoo.com
Wildlife Species: all birds, mammals (land and marine), and reptiles,
exotic placement and housing
Canada, Quebec (Montreal)..... 514-366-9965

Harriet Schleifer (Executive Director) and Andre Malouf
(Director of Research and Operations), L. McCann
Urban Animal Advocates Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre,
Action Pour Les Animaux Urbains, Centre de Sauvetage et de Réhabilitation de la faune
Wildlife Species: Rehabilitation of birds, mammals and reptiles; rescue programme for
marine mammals; wildlife education; placement of illegal exotics; wildlife conflict resolution
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contactI.htm

[Maria]

Thanks both of you for this excellent information!!
Unfortunately, i'm getting a bit attached to the little birdie but i think it's best she is raised by someone more knowledgeable than me. I'm not too worried about the rules here but i don't think it's wise for the bird to be cooped up all day without access to... well, nature! Thanks for the great contacts, I'll check them out over the next few days and let you know as things develop.

Maria

[cyro51]

Hi Maria,

When I found my first baby pigeon I felt the same way that you do, I wanted her to be able to fulfill her "pigeon potential", so I took her to a wildlife hospital where she would, I was told, be integrated with other juveniles and released as part of a mini flock. I didn't just leave her there, I insisted on seeing the vet, having her examined and being reassured that she would be treated well and released in a safe place. But I still feel I should have done more to ensure her future survival!

So what I am telling you is that for your own future peace of mind check absolutely everything before parting with her, including the location and timing of her release, if only to avoid being haunted by doubts in the future!!

Cynthia

[Maria]

Hi Cynthia,

You're absolutely right, because i have doubts already and haven't even contacted these people yet!! she's such a cutie and i know that some people around here generally see pigeons as nothing more than pests so i'm quite the skeptic about these things... but i intend to do a full investigation and soon, otherwise she's going nowhere, ha! Besides, my cats are a little scared of her if anything, they're such little ladies! I have a feeling this little pidgie would walk all over them given enough time.

By the way, I'm certain you did the best thing possible for your little one when you gave her to the wildlife hospital, but people with kind hearts also never feel they do enough, and i think this is the only thing of which you suffer!

Maria