Found Racing Pigeon - injured - need advise

[paulaanne]

I found a pigeon yesterday, banded, and have posted a "found" on some US Racing site I found. It is missing some feathers - I think it got hit by a hawk perhaps, but doesn't seem severely injured. It has drunk some water and eaten a little bird seed I had. How long before the feathers grow back? Any tips on how to care for it? Its band letters/numbers are: AU RI 2003 2384

I have a large cage that I just happened to have, and it seems to like the regular bird seed better than some canary seed I found in the basement. Should I be giving it special food or minerals? It can fly a short distance, so wing is not broken. Its only injury as far as I can tell is a scraped foot, and the loss of feathers on one side - not the big long feathers the shorties sort of on the shoulder area. Advise please! Found the bird in Barkhamsted, CT, USA

[Skyeking]

Thank you for helping this bird.
It might be in shock, so give it some quiet place to rest and keep it warm

Pigeons eat pigeon seed but wild bird food for now, will do. Make sure he is drinking. He make act fine, but needs to be checked out thoroughly.

You need to pick up the bird once it has time to eat and relax. Check it thoroughly, the underbelly, hold each wing out gently and look at it from top to bottom. You can clean any small injuries, and apply bentadine, or NFZ puffer.

If there are any puncture wounds, they are hard to find, unless they're bleeding.Just go thru the feather areas on the bottom as well as the top, there would be some feathers out of place or missing.

My Tumbler had a puncture just around his belly near his leg. He has so many layers of feathers, I had to do a deep search, as there was no blood. sure enough he had a large puncture wound, you could see organs, muscle, everything but it was all intact! I flushed out the wound, then cleaned it with antibiotic wash, and off to the rehabber for 4 stitches!

Treesa

[TAWhatley]

Thank you so much for caring for this injured pigeon. The band number you posted traces to this club:

Club Name : RHODE ISLAND RPC
Club Code : RI
President's Name : FRANK LUIZ
City : RIVERSIDE
State : RI
Phone No. : 401-437-1651
Email Address :

Terry

[paulaanne]

Thank you so much for the reply and information. I am keeping it quiet, and it has food and water. It was much more lively this morning than it was right after I found it, so that's great! Again, many thanks. Will give it a gentle exam when I get home from work today. Bought some millet for it at lunchtime. ,

Originally posted by Trees Gray:
Thank you for helping this bird.
It might be in shock, so give it some quiet place to rest and keep it warm

Pigeons eat pigeon seed but wild bird food for now, will do. Make sure he is drinking. He make act fine, but needs to be checked out thoroughly.

You need to pick up the bird once it has time to eat and relax. Check it thoroughly, the underbelly, hold each wing out gently and look at it from top to bottom. You can clean any small injuries, and apply bentadine, or NFZ puffer.

If there are any puncture wounds, they are hard to find, unless they're bleeding.Just go thru the feather areas on the bottom as well as the top, there would be some feathers out of place or missing.

My Tumbler had a puncture just around his belly near his leg. He has so many layers of feathers, I had to do a deep search, as there was no blood. sure enough he had a large puncture wound, you could see organs, muscle, everything but it was all intact! I flushed out the wound, then cleaned it with antibiotic wash, and off to the rehabber for 4 stitches!

Treesa

[paulaanne]

THANK YOU SO MUCH! I'll give a call when I get home from work! No email address available hunh?

Originally posted by TAWhatley:
Thank you so much for caring for this injured pigeon. The band number you posted traces to this club:

Club Name : RHODE ISLAND RPC
Club Code : RI
President's Name : FRANK LUIZ
City : RIVERSIDE
State : RI
Phone No. : 401-437-1651
Email Address :

Terry

[paulaanne]

I have spoken to the bird's owner, and I will be keeping the bird to see if it wants to consider ME now its home. Secondary feathers are what got injured, so am waiting for new feathers to grow to attempt releawse. Thanks to all who responded!

[Skyeking]

Thank you for the update!


Treesa