sick baby pigeon

[Kalola]

We are trying to take care of a baby pigeon about 2-3 weeks old. Father was killed by a mongoose and mother will feed only one baby.
The baby with the mother is at least 3X as large as the one we are caring for. It also has most of it's feathers. Although our baby seems lively and eats well, it does not seem to be able to close it's beak. My husband began feeding it regular pigeon feed soaked in water twice a day. I started giving it baby bird feed 2 days ago. Although it is small and has barely any feathers, I'm most concerned about it's inabilty to close it's beak. Is there something we can do or are we doing something wrong?

[TAWhatley]

Hello and welcome to pigeons.com! Thank you so much for helping this baby bird!

First .. where are you located? We have members from all over the world .. since you mentioned a mongoose, I figure you are not in North America, the U.K. or anywhere close to either.

It is possible that the female is caring only for the stronger of the two babies because she is unable to care for both of them herself. They are quite the realists about such things.

Since you have the little one in your care, please take a look at the link to Resources and also Baby Sara's Pictures. You will get a lot of good info from Resources and will also be able to validate your estimate of the age of the baby.

I'm guessing (and totally that) that you aren't keeping the little one warm enough and are trying to feed food that is too hard to digest just now. Up the temperature for the baby bird and make sure it can get away from the heat if needed. The baby bird food is a good idea.

As to the beak not closing .. you better have a look inside .. if there are cheesy looking growths inside the mouth and throat then the little one has canker (trichomoniasis) and needs to be treated for this immediately.

Please post back with more info .. we are more than willing to help if we can.

Terry Whatley




[This message has been edited by TAWhatley (edited June 17, 2003).]

[bigbird]

This smaller baby is typical of many squab, one grows large, the other is left to die in many cases. You are doing a great service to this little one, follow Terry's suggestions about heat and looking into the mouth to see if there is obstructions. Does the beak close properly? This problem with the mouth must be solved before you can be sure this little one will survive.
We are here, please keep us posted.
Thanks,
Carl

[Kalola]

Thank you for your prompt responses. I have followed your suggestions regarding the possibility of canker, but there is no evidence of that. Also, my husband has raised pigeons since he was a boy and assures me that it is not canker. He has never come across this situation before. There does not appear to be any obstruction in the beak or throat area and the baby eats well as long as I put food in it's mouth. We live in Hawaii so I don't think being cold is a problem. Night time temp. in the summer is never lower than 65-70. However, I am keeping it in the house in a shoebox. I know this pigeon won't be able to survive if it's beak will not close. Seems to have no control over it. Thank you for your help and suggestions. I will keep you posted.

[katiedidittwo2]

Sounds to me like the baby is respatory distress. Do you have any mild antibiotics to give to the squab? Like Ampicillian. Can you get some?
Katie

[Kalola]

Thank you for your response. He doesn't seem to be in any type of repiratory distress, but are there other symptoms aside from being unable to close his beak? He is 3 weeks old now and wants to pick up seeds that I put out for him but cannot close his beak enough to do so. Even though undersized, he is very active and has started growing some feathers. My husband thinks that eventually he may be able to pick up the bigger seeds like corn and pea. We don't want to give up on him, but realize that this is a big problem.

[AZWhitefeather]

Hello & Welcome to Pigeons.com
Thank you so much for caring for this little pij.
Just wondering: If you are in the position to give this pij extended care, in that you can make sure he is getting the larger seeds, etc., do you think it would be possible for him to live a 'fairly' normal life?
Cindy

[Kalola]

Originally posted by Kalola:

At this point we aren't certain what this pigeon will be capable of doing for itself. It seems to be starting to pick up small seeds with difficulty; however, it's not at the age that it would be expected to feed independently. The sib is still being fed by the mother. Right now it's wait and see.

[TAWhatley]

Thanks for the update on the baby. It sounds like things are going as well as can be expected. Contniued good luck and please keep us posted.

Terry Whatley

[Kalola]

Originally posted by TAWhatley:
Thanks for the update on the baby. It sounds like things are going as well as can be expected. Contniued good luck and please keep us posted.

Terry Whatley

This is an update on our little Nani, as we named her (decided it's a hen). She is doing very well, although delayed in comparison to her sib. She feeds herself with a little supplement from us and is just attempting to fly. Her tail feathers are not very long yet. Thank you for your help and support. It's great to know that there are caring, knowledgeable people to contact when help is needed.

[cynthia ark]

Thank you for the update on Nani. I'm so glad to hear that she is doing so well! Wonderful that she can eat on her own! Has the beak problem improved, or has she just learned how to cope with it? Either way, it sounds like she is doing just fine.

Blessings, cynthia ark