Piegon rehab and release

[juniebug]

Hello,
Last July I brought home an injured (all white) piegon from work. It had hit something and was flopping around on the ground. I didn't want to see it get eaten by a stray dog or a hawk, so I put it in a box and brought it home. I thought it would go into shock and die, but it didn't. It had a broken, or very badly sprained right leg, and it's chest and wing were injured.

I put it in a large dog cage and began giving it food and water. It drug it's foot and would fall over on it's nose when it tried to walk. I took it out of the cage in the evening and let it loose in the yard. It wasn't getting any better, so I was going to take it to a vet and have it put to sleep. But all of a sudden, it flew about four feet and landed on the bricks around our flower garden. After that small flight, I decided to keep it and see if it would get better.

I keep it in a back pourch room with the cage, a tarp on the floor, and a space heater. I let it out during the day, and keep it in the cage at night. It is doing fine and almost back to full strength. Here is my problem.

I have never had a piegon before, and I need some advice. This piegon defenitely wants to be free again, and I would like to let it loose this spring. Do you think it has a chance to survive on it's own? I would not want to see it get killed on the first day loose.

If anyone has some experience in this area, I would appreciate your help.

Thanks you very much.

Russ

[Reti]

Thank you for caring for this sweet pigeon and nursing him back to health.
First i have to ask you a couple of questions.
Is the bird able to use his injured leg fully? Is he able to walk and perch?
Another question is, did all this time the bird get anough exercise and freedom to fly around? A bird kept in a cage most of the time needs first to get all the exercise possible to be a good flyer again.

I undestand your bird is solid white? If that is the case I would be reluctant to let him go. Solid white birds are an easy target for predators, maybe that's why he got injured in the first place.

If you cannot keep him, maybe we can find a good home for him. Is he friendly towrds you? Pigeons make excellent pets, you probably know that already. If he has a large enough cage, good nutrition and daily excersise, at least a couple of hours a day he should be happy having a home. Of course he also needs some attention, like talking, petting (if he like it, not all former ferals like it).
I undestand he is free on the porch during the day?
So far you are doing everything right. My personal opinion is, white pigeons to be kept.
You could try to let him fly from your home and he will probably come back at least for a while, but again, I would not advise that.
Another pigeon would make him happier.
Do you know if your pigeon is a male or female?

Thank you again for saving this sweet guy.

Reti

[Yong]

Hi Russ, (this is going to be long)

First thank you for helping the little pigeon out. They are quite resistant to what looks like certain death. Some stories that you read here will surprise you on what a pigeon can live through with proper care, medicine, and time.

You have had the pigeon for a long time. Assuming that it can walk and fly, and that you REALLY do want to part with your pigeon, then you need to do the following steps. if it can not do even one of the functions above, do not release it.

You have been feeding it for a long time. That means it now counts on you for his survival. You are all he knows at this point. I personally have had birds for months that have been re-released, and prospered just fine, and others that I have had for days that won't leave no matter what.

Put your cage ouside with the bird in it. continue to feed it there. Make sure that the door and sides are all secure that NO animal rat, hawk or otherwise can get into it.

If you have other pigeons, ferals, in your area that is a big help. Open the door and set you pij on the ground while the others are around. (leave the door open) If he fly's off with them he may not come back and you have to hope for the best. He might walk about a bit and think on it as well. Supervise the whole thing, he will feel safer...if he goes back into his cage, then you might have to try this a few times weekly, but early in the morning. This gives him time to find a suitable new home in the wild. I don't know where you live but make sure there is no snow on the ground or she will not find food.

Then there are those pigeons who just won't leave no matter what you do. I have one if you take her out of the cage, she'll fly onto the roof, and then while you are not looking she will zoom back into her cage. She was BADLY injured in the wild and has decided living with me is MUCH better!

Whatever your choice is...make sure it is a choice you can live with no matter what. Accidents happen in the wild, and sometimes a pigeon with minimal company can be hard too.

the last thing is adoption. Either you can adopt a friend for your pigeon and fall in love with this wonderful "hobby"...or you can adopt out your bird. he will have a safe home...friends to live with, and proper medicine and health care. Pigeons can be shipped US mail (if you are in the US)

i have adopted in two myself for other people like yourself. One from Miami, and one from Michigan. Both came here to my house for soft release. i see them daily with my feral flock and it has worked out well or them. Consider ferals in your area. They can really show the little guy the way.

good luck, Yong PS. welcome to pigeons.com!

[Birdmom4ever]

Hi Juniebug,

Thank you for rescuing this poor pigeon. I agree with Reti that releasing white pigeons is problematic, as they are easy targets for hawks. If his injuries were serious he may have suffered some permanent impairment that would compromise his chances of survival, even though he is able to fly. I'm thinking of a roller hen we have who was attacked by a hawk two years ago. She can fly, but her left wing droops slightly ever since the attack. I will never free-fly her again.

The best thing would be to find him a home with someone who has other pigeons.

[AZWhitefeather]

It was wonderful of you to rescue & care for this pigeon.

Generally a 'white' pigeon does not do well in the wild. They, for obvious reasons, are prime targets of predators & don't have the 'street smarts' that a common or city pigeon have.
This pigeon could have been a pet, or perhaps a ceremonial release homing pigeon. Does he have any bands on his legs?

Are you willing or able to adopt this pij as a pet? They do make wonderful pets. If not, perhaps one of our members lives nearby that could assist in finding him a home. In what general area are you located?
I would hate to see him released.

Cindy

[juniebug]

Thanks to everyone for your advise. I really like this little guy, and I wouldn't do anything to hurt him. He has flown onto my roof a few times, and also onto a few neighbors roofs as well. Each time I had to go and get him. I knew he wasn't strong enough to be on his own. As far as releasing him, I didn't realize he would be such an easy target, and I would never forgive myself if he became a quick meal for a hawk.

I know he likes me, but he is still a little wild, and he pecks me a little when I pick him up. I have to wear a light pair of gloves when we "play", and he seems to enjoy pulling at the gloves. When he is out of the cage and across the room, he comes to me when I come into the room. I look forward to spending time with him. He can be a lot of fun.

As far as getting him a companion, I'll have to think about that. But I might give him to someone who has other pigeons and would give him a good home. I live near Springfield, Ohio.

Thanks again for your help.

Russ

[Yong]

If you are pulling is feathered little butt off the roof, then you definitly have a non-releasable pij. It aluded me earlier that you pij is white. I agree with everyone here. I have three whites myself that will not be released for the very same reasons members mentioned on this post. Enjoy the little guy. Have you tried to handle him without gloves? Maybe it's the gloves he doesn't like. Yong