Another injured Wood Pigeon

[rook]

Hi,

I wonder if I could get some advice please. I found a probably 3-4 week old Wood Pigeon after the bird collided with a window. The bird suffered a concussion and a broken wing. I cared for the bird as long as I could, stabilised her, involved a vet and passed the bird eventually on to an experienced bird carer, I thought at least, following the vets recommendation, because the bird wasn't independent yet and I wasn't able to feed the bird at this stage by my own. Two weeks later I received a phone call that the bird would now feed by its own, but wouldn't fly as much as expected, and I should either take it back or put it down. I obviously disagreed with this suggestion to put the bird down, because I thought it was a rather hasty conclusion. I collected the bird and was shocked about the birds condition. The poor creature was malnourished, lethargic and the plumage was in a horrible state. The Wood Pigeon we have called Lilly seemed to have suffered further injuries during her confinement as well. The bird is now over a week with us and makes only very slow progress. Lilly is getting now the best food including herbs, minerals and vitamins and had a course of antibiotics as well. She is now getting more and more active and alert. She is now used of being handled and not panicking all the time anymore. I managed to clean the plumage a little bit at least. All the soft tissue injuries have healed, the wing fracture is by the way healed as well with a minor fracture displacement.

Okay - now my questions. Although I put her manually on a perch several times a day, and she stays there longer and longer, she will eventually fly to the ground and always sleeps in a sheltered box. She won't fly and perch by her own. It is as she is frightened of flying, and as Lilly is now about 8 or perhaps 9 weeks old, she should start flying, shouldn't she? Have you got any suggestions how I could encourage her to fly and perch and to get rid of her anxiety? Sitting in a box doesn't do any good to her plumage, which already looks better, but still horrible. I think that the whole feather development is delayed, seeing the still naked parts under the wings and upper thighs. Has anybody had a similar experience with a frightened Wood Pigeon?

The second question is whether I should try to find company for her, as she certainly can't be set free before next year spring? I mean it is good now that she trusts me enabling me to help her, but when she is better then she needs to be afraid of human beings etc. to give her a chance to survive in the wild.

Last question, if she isn't suitable for release, is there a chance to keep a Wood Pigeon in a suitable aviary together with other (disabled) birds? If so, is there anybody out there in the south of England near the Isle of Wight, who cares for disabled pigeons or doves and would be (theoretically at present) prepared to take care of Lilly?

Many thanks,

rook.

[corvid]

Rook , I think CYRO 51, is there in England, as soon as she will get on forum, she will have a lot of info and advises for ya. Just stick around, she cares for Wood Pigeons.

Nell

[rook]

Thanks Nell, will do.

[Feefo]

Hi Rook,

Thank you for offering Lilly this chanceof life. It is very unusual for a wood pigeon to shelter in a box, ours always prefer to be as much in the open as possible. It sounds as if she has been traumatised or has some other illness which has affected her development.

I wouldn't force the isuue of flying and perching just yet, but you could put a branch at ground level for her to perch on.

If Lilly can't be released I am certain that she will be happy in an aviary environment, we will arrange something . I have disabled wood pigeons in my aviary and she is welcome to join them although you might prefer somewhere closer. But there is a home for her, so don't eorry about that aspect.



One of our members (taralotti) is caring for a very badly injured wood pigeon at the moment and knows a lot about natural remedies. I will ask her to have a look at this thread and you might want to read about how she has helped her wood pigeon, it is really inspiring!

http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showth...referrerid=560

Cynthia

[rook]

Dear Cynthia,

Thank you very much for your encouraging and kind words, this is much appreciated. I will put another branch just above ground level as suggested. I believe Lilly has been heavily traumatised in many ways (not just by the window collision), and what she probably needs most is a lot of time to recover (and I should learn to show more patience...). The most reassuring thing is to know now, that there will be a place for her, if she is in need of one. Thank you ever so much for this offer! Now I'm going to study the recommended thread regarding natural remedies, although I haven't got any experience so far with this kind of treatment. I will keep you updated about Lilly's progress. Thanks again for your advice.

Stephan.

[John_D]

Hi

It is possible that the damage to the wing means that she cannot get enough lift to fly properly. We have pigeons who can fly (or glide) downwards, but cannot get up onto a high perch.

I'm along the coast, but if or when you feel it is a good time for Lilly to have a permanent home, I'm sure we can arrange something. I drive to Cynthia's most alternate weekends, and I am, of course, no great distance from Taralotti.

We think woodies are kinda special, too

John

[rook]

Dear Janet,

Yes, she is getting stronger by the day, and she is getting more and more beautiful as well (not that she wasn't a beauty anyway...). The last pics I have taken are from mid December, and as I think things have changed further to the better, I will take up to date ones tomorrow or Saturday. So please bear with me. She is flying now more confidently within her confined aviary, this includes now occasionally a perch higher up in the aviary. Her landing technique looks now more elegant too. However, watching her relatives flying in the wild, then there is one big question remaining I cannot answer yet. Has she already got the endurance (and confidence) she would need to fly longer distances? Not yet, I think. Okay, as you have said, it is not the right time of the year for a release anyway. It has been unusually cold here on the island as well. As we are not used to have frost here for longer periods of time, I have got really a bit concerned. This cold spell has persuaded me to provide Lilly with additional warmth during the night (infra red light + heat pad), and I hope it was the right decision (and I haven't spoiled her to much), as I didn't wanted her to bring inside, which would have stressed her unnecessary.

Thank you ever so much for your message!

Stephan.

[rook]

Here are some recent pictures as promised yesterday.

Stephan.

[TAWhatley]

Oh My! Lilly is looking terrific! Thanks for the new photos!

Terry

[amyable]

Hi Stephan,

Lilly looks great, she seems the picture of health, (completely spoilt!).

She still very much a juvenile then, I didn't realise how young she must have been when you got her.

She must have appreciated the bit of warmth she had over that freezing spell we just had. Maria's Woodie's had 25degrees in their aviary !!!!

I've just had to go and break the ice to clean the bowls for the ones I have outside, no such luxury here !!:

It was good to see Lilly,

Janet

[rook]

Thanks. Yeah, she is a beauty... and not spoilt at all... The aviary I have got, provides just a basic shelter. Apart from roof and floor, one half of the aviary is covered from three sides. This usually works fine in our climate, as the aviary is normally only used for native rescue birds. This winter is unusually cold, and the warmth provided didn't do any harm...

I believe that Lilly left her nest pretty early and might have had the accident on her "maiden flight". We have found her on the 16th October last year, after she flew into a window not far from our place. Assuming she was perhaps 30 days of age when she left the nest, then she must be now almost 5 month of age. I have got the feeling, that her development did stop for quite a while, when she had to struggle with her injuries. She still looks pretty young though, I agree, probably to young for her age, don't you think? By the way, today she took me a bit by surprise, as she tried to escape (or at least as she did show me that she knows exactly or theoretically how to get out). She flew deliberately over my head, whilst I was cleaning the aviary from the inside, against the aviary door. This was definitely not an accident. She did aim for the door, started, flew and then she bounced feet first against the door (which wasn't locked...), took off again immediately, passed my head a second time and landed beautifully next to her feeding bowel in front of me. I was impressed!

Stephan.