in need of advice please

[heidic]

hello. i am hoping for some advice.

almost two weeks ago, after a heavy duty storm here in northern vermont, i was surprised to find a dove/pigeon looking bird on my porch. he was nestled in my woodpile. at first i paid it no mind, thinking he would fly off. but the presence of my german shepherd and myself did not scare him away. i attempted to get closer, and he just kind of looked at me.
i called my brother and he helped me get it into a box. (i have MS and am disabled) once in the box, upon closer examination, his wing featherers looked a little ruffled and mixed and there was rust colored spots here and there on his wing.
i kept him on the porch with store bought seed for 4 days and nights....no parent/birds came to claim him.
we invested in a large cage for him (i admit he is adorable and so funny) and have been keeping him in a quiet room in our home away from our two cats, and our dog.
i found a bird rehabber, and contacted her. we had made arrangements for me to drop him off. yet, when she saw him, she said he was domestic and upon rerelease, would most likely make it only about a year. he is 90% pure white. charcoal colored freckles on his head and on his chest, and sooty colored tail and wingtip feathers. seriously, he is stunning. (to me anyway, i am new to the bird thing)
anyhow....yesterday, i was holding him and noticed a weird, tiny slithery reddish brown flat worm looking thing moving through the top feathers of his wing. upon investigating via google, it seems it is feather lice. this not only freaked me out, it grossed me out. i feel awful for this poor little guy to have that crap on him. we got some spray, and carefully sprayed him.

it has blown me away how ignorant i am in care of this little adorable creature. i have no idea what to do with him. i give him seeds and he eats some, and throws many, making a huge mess. like i mentioned, regarding disability, i cannot physically keep up on this. i am also very concerned that he is even eating right. he drinks and eats certain favored seeds...but i am at a loss.

is there anyone in vermont that would be able to give him a good knowledgable home? i do adore this little cutie, but i realistically cannot keep him.

thanks, heidi

[Dima]

How nice of you to rescue him. Too bad you cannot take care of him. You already invested in a cage and for one pigeon wouldn't cost much for seeds. But it would be nicer if he found a new home with more pigeons and may be he can find a mate. Meanwhile, if he is wasting the seeds, you can put seeds in the morning , take them away and put them back in the evening. He will get the idea soon and would eat as as soon as you put the feeder.

You should put a picture of him and move the thread to ADOPTION FORUM.

Good luck to you and your feral friend.

[ND Cooper]

Definately sounds like you have found a new friend.
Some folks allow the Pigeon to fly free in the house for a few min/hours a day.
It will certainly become your friend!
Learn all that you can about Pigeons! Learn about care/feeding.

Check out the NPA, National Pigeon Association, Great Info there!
I Really wished that I could help you out, and take it off of your hands, but I'm Far away... NORTH DAKOTA! (Where?)

I can tell you one thing, it's true (for lots of folks) that the first pigeon is not only the most challanging, but, if you are not knowlegable, can also be the most heartbreaking!
Be Carefull, and keep asking questions, there are Many Here, that Can, and Will help you out.
But beware, you could catch pigeon ites!

Has anyone else caught Pigeonities?
Maybe I spelled it wrong, but, the doctors still do not have a cure for it! Not for me anyways!
Yep, I'm sick I tell you!!!

[spirit wings]

you can dust him with 5% seven dust to rid him of the lice.

so now Im bumping this thread.. anyone out there in Vermont!?