Greenpoint, NYC, Injured dove needs help

[thomaslstoodley]

Hello, yesterday i found what appears to be an injured dove outside my window where i feed the neighborhood birds. I have brought it in and have it in a cage. It does not seem to be able to fly. It will hop, or walk away. It does not flap is wings at all. Today I allowed it to forage around outside. It seems to have an appitite.

I can not keep this bird, I have a cat that would love to play with it. I am looking for some one in my area that would be willing to take the creature and attempt to nurse it back into shape.

Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Thomas
ThomasLStoodley@msn.com

[cyro51]

Hello Thomas,

Thank you for bringing the bird in to safety, hopefully someone in your area will read this thread and contact you. I have also cross posted to a group of NYC rescuers who may have contacts that could help you.

For the time being it would be best to keep the pigeon in a cage because it is vulnerable. Provide it with some wild bird seed and a bowl of water. If you cannot get wild bird seed then unpopped popcorn will do as a temporary measure.

Examine its whole body for injury. Look under the wings. Any cuts should be cleaned with warm water and a very mild antiseptic.

Feel gently along both wings to compare them...let us know if there are any bumps or if one wing droops.

Open its beak gently and look at the back of the throat. White or cheesy lumps could be a sign of canker.Do not try to dislodge them. Canker doesn not affect other animals of humans and can be cured with a course of carnidazole. Someone might be able to supply you with that if it is required.

Check its droppings. A healthy pigeon's droppings are plump, firm and brown capped with a bit of white.Watery green droppings could be a sign of coccidiosis. Green droppings in conjunction with a pigeon so thin you can easily feel its breastbone may mean that the pigeon is starved.

Let us know what you find .

Cynthia