Another Baby Pigeon

[surya-s]

Hi,
I found another (after my 'Baby pigeon' thread)baby pigeon. This one has a twisted leg- One leg is straight and the other one is bent beneath its body. It has quite a few yellow hair, eats raw rice (only) from my hand and whenever one or two grains fall down, pecks and eats that. When I found him, his poo was emerald green, but now it is white and grey. With his twisted leg it is very difficult to balance, still tries very hard and he even flew a bit!(The display of sheer will made me name him 'Hero'). But now I am keeping him caged because when he flies, he lands in some trouble- falls on some furniture or on the floor. He also has a small pimple like growth on its beak which I fear could be beginning of pox. He doesnot make any sound.

How old could the baby be? When does a baby start to eat itself?)(I mean now I don't have to force feed him, he eats quite a lot without that). What to do about the leg? Our place has a lot of mosquitoes, but I fear that the mosquito repellent mats are quite poisonous. So I am in a dilemma wheteher to use it to protect Hero from mosquitoes. Which is less harmful? Should I do something about the pox?

[Feefo]

Hello,

This link is to a thread about ways of correcting a splay leg:

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

The small pimple on the beak could well be pox, it starts with a very small pimple. If it is pox, then vaccinating will make no difference, hopefully it will be external pox only, which is self limiting. I think that if he has pox he will develop immunity to it.

You will have to make him extend his diet, polished rice has no vitamins and even rough rice is deficient in vitamins A, C and D. Polished rice is also deficient in mineral content and in protein.

Cynthia

[surya-s]

Thank you Cynthia for the links. I shall make him eat seeds, though he likes only rice. At what age do they start eating themselves? In the link it says that the leg has to be corrected when the baby is 7-14 days old. But this one definitely is older than that. I thought they'll be able to work on the leg themselves. I have heard that most animals and birs can cure these problems themselves. does it happen? And should I use some medicines for the pox?

[Feefo]

In the link it says that the leg has to be corrected when the baby is 7-14 days old. But this one definitely is older than that. I thought they'll be able to work on the leg themselves. I have heard that most animals and birs can cure these problems themselves. does it happen?

No, it doesn't happen. I found my splayed leg baby flying with the flock, she must have been over 30 days old. She can walk still, but there is a bit of stiffness there. The earlier you treat them, the better.

should I use some medicines for the pox?

Pox is a virus, so there is no medication to cure it, but you could give it antibiotics (enrofloxacin or amoxycilin) if you can get some. I tried Acyclovir on one of my wood pigeons but it didn't help.

I shall make him eat seeds, though he likes only rice.

Until then you could try opening his mouth and popping in defrosted corn kernels and defrosted peas.

At what age do they start eating themselves?

It really depends on the pigeon. I had a very young one arrive last month, I put seed down in front of him and pinched it with my fingers. He immediately started eating on his own. But an older squeaker that was found last week just doesn't have a clue and still has to be hand fed.

Cynthia

[surya-s]

I made a hobble for the pigeon and it was pretty ok, but he didnot like being tied at all. Refused to eat for a whole day, and when I tried handfeeding he just spat out. And the pox started to slightly spread more, so I got scared may be it'll all be more complicated for the poor thing so I freed his legs. Thought once he's free of the pox I'll do it again. Afterwards he started eating again. The problem is, here in my place we do not get corn kernels or defrosted peas. Can I try green peas? That is big in size, may be i can break it and give. What other food to give? Here we get wheat grain, yellow coloured small peas, nuts etc. The free pigeons I see around have quite a sheen to their body and very healthy wings. I wonder what they eat. How much quantity should he eat at 15-20 days' age? This one eats only half a handful a day. Please advise.

[Charis]

You must correct the legs now while the bird is still growing. If you wait, it will be too late and the bird will have a miserable life being deformed.
We had a member last Spring that waited...felt badly about making the little one miserable. The results were very tragic and I can tell you the bird is dead.
You can feed green peas, broken into pieces. You can also feed minced carrots, wheat grain and the small colored peas. Pigeons also enjoy leafy greens. The baby also needs calcium for strong bones and grit. You can give the bird seeds that a canary or parakeet would eat.
At this growing age you need to get more food into him than a half of handful...probably 2-3 times that amount.

[surya-s]

I am attaching photos of the pigeon after I placed his legs thru' the sponge. Does this look ok?he's very uncomfortable and does not eat because he can't balance at all. Is is very necessary that I should out him in a pot? Also please see the pox on the beak and near the eye? Now that the sponge is soiled most of the time pox danger is more isn't it? Please advise, I am very scared.

[Feefo]

Whatever method you use, sponge or bandage, it must hold the legs in the correct position, as far as I can make out that hasn't happened.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/193589827zTYswz

Now that the sponge is soiled most of the time pox danger is more isn't it?

I am not sure what you mean.

Cynthia

[pigeonpoo]

Well done for trying with the sponge but it does not look to be holding the legs in the correct position under the bird.

My sister has had success using micropore tape to bind the legs - just above the feet. It was hell to remove and took off a bit of skin but, maybe better that than end up with a splay leg.

[Larry_Cologne]

I asked my former doctor (now retired) about Pidgiepoo's splayed leg in May 2004. Pidgiepoos left leg was turned outwards to the left, at 45 degrees, or halfway between pointing correctly straight ahead and totally to the left.

From what I remember: He informed me that if the leg has a dislocation, if the ball of the upper hip bone (the femur) is out of its socket, or if the upper ball joint of fibula (the smaller bone of the lower leg) is out of socket where it connects to the tibia, below the knee, the correction needs to be made within a day or so. Otherwise something (the synovial fluid) hardens, and then surgery is the only solution left. He worked with kids (pediatrician) and saw this occasionally. (He also treated CF adults, since he was very experienced with CF. I was his oldest patient).

Doing such surgery on something as small as a pigeon was, in his opinion, not practically do-able.

Pidgieppoo escaped his leg-taping very easily.

My opinion -- my non-expert opinion only -- and I dislike saying this -- is that the the pigeon may be better off without the leg, if it stays jutting out like it seems to in your photo. This would require a vet's services. I had a rescued squeaker with the right femur shattered near the hip. Fortunately I have access to the best pigeon clinic in Germany (Taubenklinik Essen) where the head doctor, Dr. Ludger Kamphausen, likes feral pigeons and performs surgery on them for free or for a nominal sum. (The clinic helps pigeon fanciers and racers maintain the health of their expensive birds, and the extra experience keeps them in top form for surgery). If you can locate such an avian clinic in or near Kerala, you might propose the advantage to them of testing their skills on a needy bird. You never know how they might respond).

Let us know what develops.

Larry (in Cologne, Germany)

Larry

[maryjane]

Hi Surya-s, thank you for helping this little pigeon. You are doing a great job so far and I know it can be scary trying to help, as you don't want to hurt him more. The good thing about baby pigeons is they get used to new things very quickly, and he will adjust quickly to having his legs fixed for a few weeks.

Not eating for a day won't hurt him, so don't worry too much about that. When you give him food, just open the beak with one hand, and pop in the food at the back of the beak so he swallows it down. That makes it easier.

You can also give him some bits of cat or dog food softened in warm water, if you have any dogs or cats. Wheat bread, made into small pea-sized balls, moistened with warm water, is also okay if you have some.

He looks healthy and will do just fine if you try to fix his legs. Like I said, he may not like it for a few days, but he will get used to it fast. It is hard to do, because you can't explain to him it is for his own good! Good luck and try not to worry too much or be scared. You are doing a good job, and he is a strong little pigeon.

[surya-s]

Thank you thank you very much for all the posts, they are so encouraging..

Originally Posted by Larry_Cologne

From what I remember: He informed me that if the leg has a dislocation, if the ball of the upper hip bone (the femur) is out of its socket, or if the upper ball joint of fibula (the smaller bone of the lower leg) is out of socket where it connects to the tibia, below the knee, the correction needs to be made within a day or so. Otherwise something (the synovial fluid) hardens, and then surgery is the only solution left.

I think Hero also has that kind of problem..I did feel that it may not be just a splay because in all the links I got from this site, when the sponge or bandage was put the leg looked normal-but mine didn't. Also the problem occurred right below the wings, the whole leg was kind of out of the socket. The other leg is slightly swollen because he always loads his body on that alone and uses the bad leg to crawl.

Anyway, after I saw Cynthia's and pigeonpoo's posts I removed that sponge, took another one and made the holes closer together and placed it again. Also I placed him in a small fruit basket with padding. For now he is placing the bad leg to the front (for the first time!), and keeping weight on both legs and relaxing. So I thought I'll just leave him like that, hope and see if it gets better.

Originally Posted by Larry_Cologne

This would require a vet's services.

If you can locate such an avian clinic in or near Kerala, you might propose the advantage to them of testing their skills on a needy bird. You never know how they might respond).

I really hope he gets better and we can escape the surgery..The season before last I had another baby pigeon with a bad pox..I took him to the vet and she didn't even want to touch it or hold it. That is when I found this wonderful group online. But if surgery turns out to be the only alternative I'll take him to the vet.

Originally Posted by maryjane

Not eating for a day won't hurt him, so don't worry too much about that. When you give him food, just open the beak with one hand, and pop in the food at the back of the beak so he swallows it down. That makes it easier.

You can also give him some bits of cat or dog food softened in warm water, if you have any dogs or cats. Wheat bread, made into small pea-sized balls, moistened with warm water, is also okay if you have some.

I am worried about eating because of the pox.My first pigeon became blind because of pox and did not eat anything, and I had no clue what to do. By the time I understood the importance of hand feeding etc, it was too late. I don't want to repeat the same mistake. Today he ate again, so it is relieving. I somehow got hold of some corn but he doesn't eat that, or peas or biscuits..so he's still on a rice diet. His poop is still dark green and white so I am assuming that he's not totally under nourished.

Originally Posted by maryjane

He looks healthy and will do just fine if you try to fix his legs. Like I said, he may not like it for a few days, but he will get used to it fast. It is hard to do, because you can't explain to him it is for his own good! Good luck and try not to worry too much or be scared. You are doing a good job, and he is a strong little pigeon.

Thanks a lot...

[Feefo]

I can send you some of the soft self adhesive bandage that I use if you PM me your address. It might take a while to reach you but it is a handy thing to have to hand.

Cynthia

[surya-s]

That is really nice of you Cynthia, I shall PM u right now. But if the bandage is available is here in Kerala I really don't want to bother you. Could u give the brand name or something? It might be cheaper here too. I'll give it a try to get it here, and if not, shall let u know. Anyways, shall send my address now itself.

He's quite comfortable now in the basket. I think now the legs are placed properly, but still he cannot balance when he's out of the basket standing. Is it like that usually? Also the pox is spreading on his face. I am applying boric acid and turmeric solution in warm water and Neosporin. Giving haim B-Complex capsules and Glucose also. I am worried if the pox will affect his eyesight. I am unable to clean him completely-especially the under part. Do they usually survive the pox? Is there anything else I should do?Especially to protect the eyes?

[Larry_Cologne]

Cynthia and Surya,

Dr. Ludger Kamphausen, the head doctor of the best pigeon clinic in Germany (Taubenklinik Essen), which specializes in routine preventive treatments and caring for the flocks and individual birds pigeon fanciers and racers, told me on one of my visits there (with a feral pigeon who received free surgery from him) that they use inexpensive masking tape, partly because of the cost, but mainly because it is easy to remove from feathers, and easy to use.

When I asked about crop feeding needles, he gave me a length of soft rubber hose to attach to the end of a syringe.

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Masking tape (in case the term is not familiar in India): house painters, for one example, use it a lot to tape plastic sheeting and paper n place to avoid paint drips on furniture and areas they wish to keep clean.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masking_tape

Fascinating facts about the invention of Masking Tape by Dick Drew in 1925.
http://www.ideafinder.com/history/in...askingtape.htm

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surgical tape:

Good article on surgical tape:

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-surgical-tape.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surgical_tape

3M micropore surgical tape:

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3...beB385P3RT67gl

3M Vetrap:

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3...beRTSHCMRQXXgl

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micropore

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In India:

Dr. Sabharwal’s Manufacturing Labs Pvt. Ltd.
http://drsabharwal.sulekhab2b.com/

Manufacturers and suppliers of surgical tape in India (busness directory, online catalogs):
http://www.tradeindia.com/manufactur...sive-tape.html

This place is in the Cochin Special Economic Zone, Kerala, so you may need to know someone who works there to access them.

Most pharmacies or apothecaries or drug stores which sell first aid supplies for humans will also have tapes of various kinds you can use:

Stalwart Trade Impex
Engaged in producing surgical disposables, medical disposables, hospital disposables along with orthopedic implants, surgical pads, surgical implants, orthopedic soft goods, first aid kits, contraceptives.
Address: 44/993 - Shivaganga, ACS-Road, Kaloor, Cochin, Kerala - 682 017, India
Phone: +(91)-(484)-6562728
Website: http://www.indiamart.com/stalwart/

Larry