Non-flying pigeon

[mmm...]

Good morning


I am looking for some advice on a pigeon that won't fly. Every morning since it's snowed here I've been leaving seeds for a flock of neighbourhood pigeons on my balcony. They'll eat it all and then usually they all leave and do other pigeons things elsewhere. So now for the past few days one of them doesn't leave with the rest of the flock, just kinda hangs out on my balcony. Thinking he may have been injured I brought him in to my place just to watch him for awhile you know, see if he's ok or just a little sluggish from the cold. i kept him here for a couple of days, couldn't find anything wrong and so put him back out on my balcony this morning while his friends were over, hoping he'd leave with them after the feeding. So it turns out he's still here and probably can't fly really well (and that's because he's the only one that doesn't take off when I go outside, just huddles in a corner). Otherwise he looks fine. alert and speedy on his feet. So here's my question for you wise pigeon experts out there: Where do i go from here? Am I being paranoid? will he be ok? comments welcome!

Maria

[Pidgey]

Well, better bring him back in and put him in a box with papers, food and water. We'll need to watch the poop and see what it looks like for awhile. It's possible that he's sick with something that's causing him an arthritic pain in the joints and thus he's reluctant to fly. You're safe, by the way, as most things that they get are pretty much specific to them.

Pidgey

[Pidgey]

Where, basically, are you in case we've got resources in your area?

Pidgey

[mmm...]

Hi Pidgey

thanks for your message. and i have to say i guess i saw that coming I'm in Montreal and i have been looking at his poops by the way and based on what i've read here they look pretty damn good i think. Green inside, white on the out. that is good isn't it?

[Pidgey]

Well, if you mean that they tend to be somewhat like balls with "whitecaps", or urates, on the outside, then, yes, that's not bad. It's not the most conclusive test, though. I guess you've picked him up before so does he feel bony or particularly light? Also, have you tried rotating his wings to see if they have the full range of motion or whether one has an odd stiffness in its movement? You might look for a joint on one side that feels swollen or puffier than the other.

Pidgey

[mmm...]

well good Lord how am i gonna do that?? kidding sort of. but seeing as how he's a struggler i don't think i want to mess with his range of motion with the wings just yet. it looks like he can't really lift one as high as the other when he opens them. and yes he's got a bony chest but seeing as how i don't know how heavy a happy fat pigeon would feel sure he feels light i'd say.

[Pidgey]

Well, then, he might have something like Paratyphoid, which is a Salmonellosis that's common to them but that we don't get. We can get Salmonellosis, just not that species. Anyhow, certain antibiotics sure would be nice but we're going to have to figure out some resources in your area to get them to you. For now, keep him warm, fed and watered. Try to make friends with him.

Pidgey