Bald Patches - Help!

[sailincrazy]

I've recently had a pigeon hanging out during foul weather and nights in a boat I am restoring, it (don't know anything about keeping or sexing them so 'Messy' is an 'it' for now) Messy let me handle it and came to the boat I live on and fed it some seeds I had kicking around (I think one is millet, not sure about the others) I have since bought some pigeon seeds and unsalted peanuts which i read somewhere before finding this forum they like.

Messy had this feather picking problem also on it's neck and looked kinda gross, especially bad when it was all puffed up like a blow fish (what's that about.?) The problem seemed to go away after a couple of nights of letting me bring it to my living boat, releasing during the day to find it back on other boat again after regular job. Messy has turned a bit shy as I think my dog scared it when he got excited about this thing flying/hopping around in the open cupboard I made as a rest spot and barked like crazy.

Anyway, I noticed that the problem is re-occurring and watched it for some time today picking feathers from it's neck/chest area and a few bigger ones from the wings also before coming over to me (at a 'safe' distance) and looking at me like my dog does when he wants a walk. I put out some seed hesitantly as I've been reading all sorts about dangerous pigeon feces from google (it got the name Messy for a reason) which were gobbled down then perched in the boat and shut it's eyes, I left it alone tonight as I don't want to truamatise it trying to catch it in it's shy state just in case it was part or all of the reason it is plucking itself.

so is this molting time in the Northern hemisphere.? or is more likely to be mites.?
If it is mites I'm guessing it can be passed to humans and dogs..

This bird seems to kind have adopted me, has a ring but only had a brief look at it (seems faded) as I thought it would have gone home after a nice feeding and some rest or something.. I've heard that this area is a popular pigeon keeping spot, it's been in the area for about 5 weeks and hanging around my after work work site for 10 days or so and stayed in my home boat 3 nights in the beginning (then the shyness)

If I am able to handle it again I will take note of the band, if it is indeed readable, but does anyone know about the Holland pigeon scene.?

But any advice on treatment or what have you would be well received

Thanks
James

[Lovebirds]

James, I've asked a moderator to move your post to it's own thread, just so you'll know.
Without seeing the bird, I suspect it's molting. It is that time of year. Also, you nor your dog will "catch" anything from the pigeon. IF it has mites and/or lice, they like feathers, so don't think you have to worry.
Since the bird is banded, it sounds like a racing pigeon that has become lost. The band can be traced back to the owner. If you care to post the band info, we can help you with that.
Sounds sort of like this little bird is living the good life, but it would be nice if we could help you get him back home where he belongs.

[sailincrazy]

Thanks Renee that's great,
I will try harder then to recapture it today and post the number, when it became shy I decided to just let it be and find it's own way back to its owner, pretty uneducated in this area as didn't know they got lost..
Have you ever heard of anyone keeping a pigeon that lives on a boat.? (apart from NOAH) do you think they would find there way home if you moved around or do they get lost often.?
OK, till soon, or tot ziens as they say here in the Netherlands

James

[sailincrazy]

I was able to corner the pigeon this morning and have put it in one of the cabins with no way out for the day, I was right about the band in the sense that it is very faded I can make out 64 (another 4 i think) 0, so 6440, anything before or after that is completely faded and just looks like smooth electricians tape..?
the band is white in color and the bird is white with brown wings, rather pretty. I took a picture with my phone but the bluetooth to the computer isn't communicating.
I really want to do the right thing for this bird, but have no idea what that is, hopefully the number is useful and I'll keep Messy fed and watered till I get some good advice.. Was hungry again this morning, are they like Labradors and will just keep eating if there is food or or or...? questions questions
Is it easy to sex them so I can call it he or she, 'it' seems kinda impersonal..
I'll look through the site more to try and get more answers, but I'm working long hours to make a deadline of the boat the messy keeps ending up on to go back in the water (windows re-sealed and no easy way back in from the elements..)

[Trees Gray]

Hello and thank you for your concern over this bird.

It sounds like this bird has been on its own for a while if the band is worn and he probably won't be able to find his way on his own.

Since he is a domestic pigeon and is used to being fed and watered, so please do keep him contained. Pigeons eat pigeon seed and/or wild bird seed. If he has a mite or lice problem they can be easily remedied with mite and lice spray, even the kind used for parakeets and such birds.

You can usually tell the sex of a pigeon by its interaction with other pigeons or its humans and by its size, but this bird isn't going to act normal under the circumstances, since he is lost and stressed, perhaps when he/she gets used to your company.

I'm going to have one of our members who lives in Belgium and have a look at your thread, perhaps they can direct you on getting some help for this bird.

Tot ziens...

[myrpalom]

Hello Sailincrazy
Where in Holland are you?
I'm in the center of Belgium.
Maybe I could adopt the bird if we find transport.
I'll PM you my telephone number.
Myriam, pigeon rescue Lapalomatriste.

[myrpalom]

Originally Posted by sailincrazy

If I am able to handle it again I will take note of the band, if it is indeed readable, but does anyone know about the Holland pigeon scene.?

But any advice on treatment or what have you would be well received

Thanks
James

Hello James
If you can read the band, I could locate the owner.
But if Messy is missing for 5 weeks, I doubt he will want the bird back.
I know the mentality of pigeon fanciers in Belgium and Holland...
In an animal shop where they sell pigeon food, you should be able to find a product to spray on Messy against parasites. Specifie well that it is for pigeons and don't spray on the head. Cover the eyes very well.
Myriam

[myrpalom]

Originally Posted by sailincrazy

I was able to corner the pigeon this morning and have put it in one of the cabins with no way out for the day, I was right about the band in the sense that it is very faded I can make out 64 (another 4 i think) 0, so 6440, anything before or after that is completely faded and just looks like smooth electricians tape..?

Well , I re- read and found out just now that the band numbers are not complete.
No way we could locate the owner, so we just go for adoption...
I repeat I am willing to give him/her a permanent home in Lapalomatriste unless you fall in love with Messy and s/he stays with you as a pet...

[sailincrazy]

Wow this is a really nice community,
Thank you for the possibility of adoption, if the owner is untraceable and/or probably wouldn't want him back anyway then I think I will see how things go with looking after Messy for now, after all I feel that a loyal and loving pet will choose their 'owner' as is the case with any pet I've had.. Maybe we have something for each other, I am now able to pick messy up on my finger as a perch, which is really sweet and trusting I think.
There are mites or some form of creapy crawlies and I will get some spray tomorrow.
If I was to keep messy long term should i register somewhere or get a different band.?
Another thing, why would they not want it back, because it ran away, or wasn't good for races as it gets lost..? Just interested..?

[myrpalom]

Hello James

I am so happy that Messy and you became good friends! Wonderful how s/he expresses her trust in her savier.
About pigeon fanciers in Belgium (and Holland I suppose) if Messy is a racing pigeon who did not perform well, it is not unthinkable that the owner would break his/her neck, if she made her way home.
Sorry folks, Belgium may then be the paradise of pigeons racing, but that's the way it works here.
There must be an other category of pigeon fanciers, but I know many, and never met a caring one. On their forums, you can also read the word "culling" or an euphemism in 90% of the posts...
But in my opinion, Messy is someones lost pet. Racing pigeons' bands are very strong, and it is unlikely that the numbers on the band disappeared.
If s/he is not a homing pigeon, she will NEVER find her way home.
In both cases, she faces death if you release her... so please keep your little friend confined. Pigeons make wonderful pets, and if you face problems with keeping Messy, my offer is permanent.
No need to register anywhere if you keep a pigeon as a pet. And with only 4 numbers on the band, impossible to trace the owner anyway, so no one can accuse you of "stealing" this bird.

[myrpalom]

James sent me pictures of Messy's band.
Messy is not a homing pigeon. It is not a homer's band.
It is in plastic and removable.
S/he must be someones escaped pet.
Myriam