How do You Start a Pigeon Rescue???

[magi_magus]

Hopefully my family will move into a house in the March of 2002, and I was hopeing to start a pigeon rescue.

To be truthful I don't know anything about taking care of pigeons! 4 years ago I had a budgee but thats the only experience that I have had in taking care of birds.

Does anyone want to give me a lecture on taking care of pigeons(healty and hurt)? It would be highly apreciated!

Any tips, advice comments on getting this thing started? I need all the help I can get.

[Jeff Hitchlock]

You'll need to have a coop for them.A shed or part of a garage or a rabbit hutch could be converted.I reccommend you go to the library and checkout some books on pigeons.Use gallon milk jugs for their food ,water and grit,cut an opening 3 or 4 inches from the bottom 3 inches square.Unless you use a wire floor,you'll want to spread a thin layer of sand,then pine shavings and(or)straw.You can purchase pigeon feed and grit at your local feed store,you can also probably get the pine shavings,sand and straw there. Where are you located? If you visit a local breeder,he could show you all you need to know and help you get started.

[Scuiry]

You need to decide whether you will limit yourself to rescue or engage in long-term wildlife rehab. There is a difference.

I would contact a local vet who treats wild animals free of charge. In conjunction with your project, a vet would be a major asset. Many vets make you sign a release after you have brought in the rescued bird. If the vet can save it, it will be released or turned over to a wild life refuge for permanent care.

If you are just interested in rescuing pigeons I would go with a bare minimum set up. You don't need to keep a rescued bird very long if you turn it over to a wildlife refuge or vet for rehab. Just one breeding size cage about 21 inches long is enough for one pigeon.

Keep in mind that rehabbing pigeons can be a considerable time commitment depending on the level of supportive care you are giving. Stabilizing an injured bird for later care by a qualified rehabber or vet is far less of an investment of your time and resources than setting up a fully equipped loft. Long-term care/rehab may require hundreds of dollars of investment with cages, feeds, medicines and various supplies.

I rescue pigeons at a local park occasionally and I turn them over to a wildlife refuge for rehab and release. I give them a donation with every bird I bring in. I feel they are doing me a favor by rehabbing the pigeon for me Some I have kept myself and given veterinary care - but I raise pigeons as pets so that's a different story.

The most important thing in rescue is stabilization and comfort. You must provide adequate food, water, shelter, warmth and minimum exposure to noise or other things that might disturb it. If it is not bleeding it will probably rest comfortably in a bedding of shredded office paper or alfalfa or hay until the next morning.

If some other major trauma is involved you may need to rush it to an all-night veterinary ER. Again, many clinics will take injured wildlife free of charge and they are often happy to take your rescued pigeon. But call around first. Some take only dogs and cats. I once took a possum to an all night ER and the receptionist smiled and said, "We only take dogs and cats." I had to drive fifty miles to another town to a clinic that would take them. So, KNOW YOUR RESOURCES BEFORE jumping in.

I'm a bit of a nut and I keep a small size animal/pet carrier in my car at all times. Not very expensive (under $50). Believe me it has come in handy in the strangest of circumstances - even rescuing a Fantail pigeon once that had been released at a wedding. Luckily I had my pet carrier handy in the car ready for action!

Beware though. You may start to feel like you have a rescue sign on your head. Injured pigeons will start showing up where you least expect.

d.

Originally posted by magi_magus:
Hopefully my family will move into a house in the March of 2002, and I was hopeing to start a pigeon rescue.

To be truthful I don't know anything about taking care of pigeons! 4 years ago I had a budgee but thats the only experience that I have had in taking care of birds.

Does anyone want to give me a lecture on taking care of pigeons(healty and hurt)? It would be highly apreciated!

Any tips, advice comments on getting this thing started? I need all the help I can get.

[TAWhatley]

Dear Wanna Be Pigeon Rescuer,

First of all, bless you for wanting to do this. Second of all, Jeff and Daniel have given you good information and advice. Third of all, since I do pigeon rescue myself, be prepared for just about anything and realize that you will no longer have a life of your own. Once word gets out that you will help pigeons, you will be swamped with calls. This is not something to be entered into lightly ... it is time consuming, full of heartbreak, full of joy, can be very expensive, is very rewarding, BUT it is not for everyone. If you have wildlife rehabilitators near you, I STRONGLY suggest you talk to them about what you want to do before you try to do it. They can give you an accurate idea of how many calls/birds you may expect and also some insight into the whole process of rescuing birds and animals.

I hope you have what it takes to do this anyway, but I would certainly understand if you decided to take a less arduous approach to helping pigeons.

Terry Whatley

[bigbird]

Good advise Terry.
Regads,
Carl

[raynjudy]

Many Wildlife Rescue Centers are in need of volunteer help and would kiss you for showing up at their door! You'd learn on the job and get your experience first-hand.

Eventually, you could "specialize" in pigeons, perhaps even taking them to your "home facility", on occasion.

In no time, it may be YOU giving advice on this forum!

Nice sharing the planet with you!

--Ray

True - what Terry says.

I just want to add that wildlife rehabbers are licensed by the state EPA (and federal, usually, too), so, if you want to go that far, ask them for information about taking the tests.

Here in New York State, you don't have to take courses - just pass tests. Since pigeons aren't native USA birds, you don't need a federal license (which lets you keep and care for migratory native birds). Personally, I would make pigeons honorary citizens of our country.

Oh - and I have to say that it's wonderful to let a pigeon go after taking care of it and meet it again and again. You'll love it rescuing the little ones.

One more thing: lots of rehabbers won't take in pigeons - because of prejudice. Isn't that too much? That's where we pigeon lovers have to come in, showing them what they are missing.

You might know that people in our country give more to charity than people in other countries. And it's mostly people without much to spare.

I'm saying that because I believe that we can reach the generous hearts of lots of people who don't know they're being mean - they're just automatically following the crowd (as we all do, being human). (If they'd only read these dialogues.)

[TAWhatley]

Due to the current interest in starting pigeon rescue groups I am just moving this thread back into the current list for any who are interested.

Terry Whatley