help! found injured pigeon in NYC

[sabina]

My boyfriend found a pigeon on the street who was unable to walk/stand/support itself today. The pigeon has been in the bathtub (in order to be safe from the cats) for the last few hours in our tiny East Village apt. We put a towel and shirt under it, gave it some rehydrating solution and wild bird seed (the one the pet store people recommended for pigeons). It drinks a little of the water when we put its beak in the water, but i don't think it's really eating. It pooped 1 time, and according to my boyfriend, it looked like regular pigeon poop.

It seems that 1 leg is broken. But given the pigeon can't even stand, maybe there's something else going on? It's very docile, lets us pick it up and hold it, didn't make a sound or a move the whole subway ride from the Upper West Side. But its eyes look alert, it doesn't look really really sick...i don't think. When it does sort of try to stand, it goes lopsided, sort of leaning on 1 side of the body. We left a phone message with Dr Schaubhut (vet in the emergency care resources on this website) and are waiting to hear back.

We've never taken care of a pigeon (or bird for that matter), so we are really clueless. please help!

[Reti]

Hi Sabina,
thank you and your boyfriend for rescuing this poor pigeon.
I hope Dr.S will call you back. Sounds like the bird is on trouble. They are docile when very sick or injured, they don't have the energy to fight back, I noticed that with many of my rescues.
I would suggest to keep the bird warm, if you have a heating pad you can set it on low and cover with a towel, see if he wants to sit or lay on it.
The rehydration solution is excellent so please keep him on it for now. Also, after he is rehydrated you can try feeding him, if he is not eating on his own.
If you have the patience to feed him some bigger seeds one by one, or if you have frozen peas or corn.
Please let us know how the bird is doing and if DrS. calls back.


Reti

[Camrron]

Hi Sabina,

Thanks for saving this bird and bringing him in from the cold. While it sounds as though your bird has a physical injury I am wondering if there is not more going on. Can you describe the poops? Yellow, dark green, bright green, white cap on top, watery, dry, brown etc. Differring descriptions can sometimes indicate problems and it helps the members determine the problem.

Also, can you describe the leg break. Is it visible to you? Is there bleeding?

Have you a name for your bird yet? I hope all goes well for you and the bird you brought home. Like Reti mentioned a heating pad is important for an injured bird. Allow the bird the opportunity to be off or on the heating pad as they choose for their comfort level.

Cameron.

[Victor]

Hi Sabina, and boyfriend~ As Reti said, a "tame" pigeon newly found, is a good sign that it is weak and helpless. You did well by bringing it home to avoid being subjected to definate death, and possibly in a painful way, by predators or man-made dangers.

Please read this link. It has valuable information for newly found rescues. If you have any further questions, someone is usually always on, and thank your for your concern. By the way, keep the pigeon quiet and isolated to prevent it from putting weight on the bad leg as much as possible.

http://www.pigeons.biz/forums.showthread.php?t=11265

[TAWhatley]

Hi Sabina,

Thank you and your boyfriend so much for taking in this injured pigeon. I've just posted on the New York City Pigeon Rescue Central group (yahoogroups.com) asking those folks to give you some help if needed.

Terry

[sabina]

thanks so much to everyone for your help. my boyfriend's name is aias, and he's decided that the pigeon is a girl (randomly, that is) and named her petra.
he was holding her in his lap, figuring that his hands would warm her, and she pooped on him. not so healthy looking, i'm afraid. predominantly white with dark green spots. creamy though, not watery.
the cats had been ignoring the bird, so we weren't really worrying about that issue and didn't notice one of cats creeping up. petra did and flew a short distance onto the floor, so her wings seem mostly functional. she can flap her wings pretty well. but anyway, we put her back in the bathroom (now in a laundry basket lined with towel and shirt), with a warmed-up sock filled with rice grains.
for the last hour or two, she doesn't drink when we put her beak in water. should we start feeding her now? we could soak the seeds in boiling water as suggested and try that. we don't have any corn or peas. or maybe try feeding her the water?
about her legs--there's no blood or sign of obvious injury. the right foot grasps onto aias' finger well, and she keeps her right leg kind of stretched out if she's lying on her own. the left leg is sort of tucked underneath, doesn't seem to be functioning at all. we're going to take pics and maybe a short film and post it on aias' website--since we haven't heard from dr S yet, maybe someone else can help diagnose her.
will post that link shortly. thanks again

[sabina]

petra did drink just now, so that is good. but no eating since she's been here that i know of. she doesn't really move, except to turn her head and look around, so if we don't put her beak in the rehydrating solution or bring the plate to her...it's not going to happen.
ok so here's the link: http://flickr.com/photos/100fires/tags/petra/

[Camrron]

Hi Sabina,

The poops sound moist if not watery. The white you are seeing are the urates. I would not force the bird to drink in such a case especially as there is a risk of aspirating Petra. Judging poops in this way will indicate if the bird is taking fluids on her own. Check again in the morning just to be sure. Dry solid poops can sometimes suggest insufficient liquid intake.

In any case a sick or injured bird won't be drinking with you in the same room looking on. She will be more focussed on you and worried about her safety and that is normal and to be expected for a recently captive bird so intervention isn't always needed for fluids. You can offer the rehydration formula in a wide bowl that will not tip over if the bird stands on the edge (which of course they promptly do every time) If you must give liquids, try putting drops on the outside edge of the beak with an eye dropper so it drips down for them to drink in this way. It is very slow I can tell you from personal experience but a lot safer for the bird.

One important sign of dehydration is if you see flakes or skin dandruff on the cloth she is sitting on. Leave her resting on a dark cloth for the night to observe this effect. A light cloth of course is better to observe poops but one thing at a time. I would also rumple up the cloth as well and then just let her be. If she has a broken leg she will try to find a comfortable position to be in to take the pressure off her injury and she will appreciate this from you. I have seen where others have suggested leaving a doughnut shaped "nest" for such injuries. It seems intuitive to me and makes sense.

But back to watering your bird. Pigeons windpipes are forward in their mouth of the throat, unlike a humans windpipe which is lower and found down the throat. If you were to open your birds mouth you will see easily where the air intake in. Submerging a beak against their will brings the risk of a bird panicking and taking liquids into the lungs which can lead to pneumonia, even death. I don't subscribe to doing this unless there are obvious signs of dehydration.

All the best to you.

Cameron.

[sabina]

petra started eating! she'll only eat though if aias is holding her. so he's been in the bathroom the last 20-30 minutes, holding her while she occasionally pecks at the seeds. (we know she doesn't eat or drink while we're not there cause she doesn't move at all by herself.) she really does seem to like being held.
anyone have any thought about her legs from looking at the photos?

[Al & Bobby]

Hi

Do you want to try a rehabilitator in NYC? I don't think Dr. S. is open on weekends, anyway. The difference between taking it to a vet and to a rehabber is that the vet will give Petra back to you and the rehabber will keep her til she's ready to release.

Call me, and i'll tell you who you can take Petra to.

[SmithFamilyLoft]

Originally Posted by sabina

My boyfriend found a pigeon on the street who was unable to walk/stand/support itself today.....

All I can say is God Bless You.....for taking the time and effort to look after this pigeon. I can not offer any help or advice as I am unable to deal with blood or injury, but thank you for your kindness.

[Victor]

Pigeons are very strong willed birds and will take a lot of "lumps" but they will sudue their feelings. It seems that while you were holding the pigeon, it did not seem to show any signs of wing flappling/slapping or make an attempt to fly away, am I right?

The leg does show signs of an injury leading up to its thigh muscle.The picture you posted of it laying practically on its side is evident it is relieving itself of pain by assuming this position.

As stated earlier, Terry posted your case in the NY City Pigeons Rescue Central group. It needs attention. Keep it isolated, warm, and calm for now.

[sabina]

hi everybody i am aias, sabina is out of town for the weekend. last night petra the pigeon ate a fair amount, easily a teaspoon of grain.
this morning i got up at 7am to check on her to make sure she was still alive and saw that she had moved around her little laundry pen nest. the only way i have seen her move is by stumbling along and crashing when she loses momentum. so she was leaning against the side of the laundry basket nest. i picked her up to feed and she ate about a half teaspoon of seed, she drinks very little water but she did drink when i offered her some, eventually.
she seems more energetic than yesterday and she does flap her wings well enough i left a message for Al Streit to see if someone from the rehab group will take her, we are stumped as to what to do about her leg. she doesnt seem sick and eats will enough, but her poop is very dark green with white. and we know that she cant eat on her own because of her inability to walk. will post more pictures soon. and thanks for your help.
aias

[sabina]

situation is status-quo but there are some new photos of petra.
aias

[Reti]

Thank you for the update.
Hope the little one will keep on improving.
Is there a way you can leave the food and water very close so she can eat and drink whenever she needs to?

Reti