Found bird--flight feathers?

[PidgePidge]

Hi All, in need of some help:

Walking home today there was a pigeon hanging around on the sidewalk. She actually looked okay, but something seemed wrong. As I watched, it became apparent that she couldn't fly. She was pecking around okay, but if spooked could only fly a few feet. I noticed that she was hiding in a nook in the wall (on the ground) if anyone approached too close to her. I thought about leaving her, but there are a lot of kids and teenagers (not to mention foxes and rats at night) that pass by this busy area, and I just know one would have grabbed her eventually. So I did instead--her nook wasn't very secure and it was easy to get her.
I presumed she was a baby, but after picking her up: I think she may be young-ish given the way her beak looks, but she is fully fledged, no yellow down, no pin feathers, etc. Given the feel of her keel, she's a healthy weight. However she is missing all flight feathers on one wing, which I'm assuming is the problem. So, my questions are:

What could cause the loss of those feathers?
How long will they take to grow back?
Is the stress of keeping her in a box in my living room until they grow back worse than leaving her on the street to her own devices?

For now she has a warm, safe place to stay with some quality bird seed (although she hasn't eaten--but I only brought her in a few hours ago). What do you all reckon I should do from here...? I guess my instinct is to keep her for a few days (at least) and see if her feathers start to grow back, exercising her wings a few times a day so her muscles don't emaciate, and (assuming good progress) then take her to the large park nearby where there's a healthy flock. I do NOT have a cage though, so she is in a box. Advice please!!!

Thank you!!! Don't know what I would do without all of you!
Jill

[naturegirl]

Hi Jill Thank You for rescuing her/him. Well she could have gotten caught by something and gotten away feathers can take as little as a few weeks to a few months to grow back, keep an eye on her. How does her poops look and eating and drinking fine? Supply a bowl of water for her/him and some wild bird food, look for any odditys I guess like watery poops, throwing up, etc these are not normal. Others will be by shortly to help you out more.

Cindy

[Feefo]

Hi Jill,

You did exactly the right thing bringing her in, she wouldn't have lasted long on the ground.

Can you check that the flight feathers have not been broken? If they have come out completely it will take 6 weeks at the most for them to regrow. they will grow much faster if she is getting a good diet, so another reason to hold her. If they are broken they will need plucking to ensure quick regrowth.

The main causes of feather loss are impact and predator, so please examine her carefully to ensure that she has no other injuries.

Cynthia

[TheSnipes]

Maybe some predator got a hold of her and she only lost the feathers on her wing, lucky bird. I can't say for certain where pidgies are concerned, I'm too new to them, but my parrots take quite a while to regrow new flights when I trim their wings. On the order of many weeks. It's because the feathers are replaced on a normal schedule, and you might have to wait that out. So if you do keep her meanwhile, and I think it's in her best interests that you (or someone) does, you might have her as a guest for a while

[Maggie-NC]

JILL, it is good to hear from you again. If you are still in London, there is a wonderful facility "London Wildcare Hospital" (I think that is the name) that I am sure would be glad to care for your little one. We have a member, kittypaws" who volunteers there and hopefully she will see your thread.

[PidgePidge]

Hi Everyone,

Phew, I'm so glad I have you all as a reference! I will examine her again in a bit, but don't want to stress her out as I just opened her box a bit. I am pretty sure the feathers are just missing and not broken. When I looked at her yesterday she really looked fine except for the strange wing. It would be WONDERFUL if I could take her to a rescue place--I am leaving for a three week trip at the end of the month--last time I found a dove it was the same situation, argh! Maggie, should I contact Kittypaws directly? I would normally hang on to her, but #1 of course going to be out of town, and #2 in the UK I really just don't have the facilities (namely a decent cage!).

I've got a couple of different finch seeds in with her right now and she's not eating, although her droppings look perfectly normal (and there are a lot of them). I am going to try and pick up some dove food today. I am guessing her lack of eating is just stress, since I saw her eating yesterday. It is in a bowl--is it better to scatter it along the bottom of the box (across the towel)? If she doesn't start eating, is it worth stressing her out with syringe feeding just to get some calories and liquids in her...?

THANK YOU!!!
Jill

[PigeonQueen]

Hi there,
You can take the piggie to Wildcare. It is a great place and they know a lot about caring for piggies.
This is the address;

LONDON WILDCARE
BEDDINGTON PARK
CHURCH ROAD
WALLINGTON
SURREY
SM6 7NN

TELEPHONE 0208 647 6230

They are just outside the London boundary, not far from Croydon.Please phone them first to say that you are coming. Also they will beable to direct you. Wildcare is situated in Beddington Park ,down church road,which will be shown in an Greater London A-Z. They are open 8am to 8PM every day.
Please pm me if you need further information.

Kittypaws (Tania) works there. Hopefully she will see this and tell you more.
Best wishes Jayne

[PidgePidge]

THIS IS SO WONDEFUL. I will take her today. According to London Transport she's going to get to experience the tube, train, AND bus to get there but it will be an adventure. I looked at the website for this place, it's WONDERFUL! Why haven't I heard of it before? They must be new/ newly growing. It's a shame they're in an odd place for me to get to or else I would volunteer (their other two locations are too ). But I will definitely give a donation. I read that they rescue everything from mice to amphibians and everything else. HOW WONDERFUL. Can I just show up and someone will be there? Should I call the emergency 24 hour line first and let them know I'm coming...? I called the automated line but didn't get an answer. If you guys don't know, no worries and I'll figure it out.
Thanks!!!!
Jill

[PigeonQueen]

Has piggie had any water or eaten any seed? Sometimes they stop eating because of the shock of being in a strange place.

Yes, it would be a good idea to scatter some finch seed at the bottom of the box. Also leave a small bowl of water.

If the piggie does not eat or drink. Buy a syringe and mix water and some porrige or Farleys rusks in to as Soup like mixture and give about 40 mls. every six hours or three times a day.
Getting water in to the bird is very important otherwise it will dehydrate.

MIxing a pinch of salt, honey or glucose or sugar in a glass of luckwarm water and give piggie about 10 mls every few hours will help.

Where are you based ?

Jayne

[PidgePidge]

She's still no eating, although my instinct is that it is shock. At this point if I can get her to the rescue ASAP (today hopefully) that is best because I don't think a dark box is the best thing for her anyway... But if I can't get her to the rescue, i will consider syringe-feeding if scattering seed on the bottom doesn't work.

I am in Central London, South of River between Vauxhall and Oval tube stations...

[PigeonQueen]

Call this number 0208 647 6230 they will answer very soon if not straightaway.

The nearest British Rail Station is Hackbridge or Wadden.You would need a 407 or 410 bus to Wildcare from Wadden Station. The bus stop is in Purley way and you ask them to put you off at church road.
If you come from Hackbridge Station, it is a 12 minute walk or get a taxi.

Please contact me if you need further directions. I will pm you my private telephone number.

Jayne

[PidgePidge]

Just called, they are happy to have her, I'm taking her now to the rescue.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU everyone for your help!!!

[PigeonQueen]

Great. Ive sent you my phone number. Take it with you and if you get lost give me a call.
Jayne