Pigeon having trouble Standing up

[prakhargr8]

Hi everyone.. a couple of days back a baby pigeon dropped into my balconey being attacked by crows.. I saved him from the crows. He had two wounds and some of his feathers were missing. He looked to be around 14 days old, judging from this page, http://www.speedpigeon.com/baby_racing_pigeon.htm

Now he's around 22 days old and was doing fine.The wounds have healed and there is feather where the wound used to be.

Today, after feeding him, I noticed that he had become rather dirty and food was sticking and dried to his feathers. So I put him under water in a sink and cleaned him off. I noticed that after this he was shivering, and seemed to be sitting continuously but I figured he's just cold so I dried him off with a hair drier (I made sure it was at a comfortable distance).

But now he is not standing up at all. He is otherwise chirping, making the usual noises and flapping his wings and if I pick him up, he does wrap around his claws around my fingers, but not so excitedly as earlier.

What do you think is the problem? Did I hurt the little guy? I feel so bad since he's not standing up..

Please help!

PS. I stay in India and there is not a very good medi-care infrastructure for animals, so I may have trouble finding a vet for birds if required..

Most people would ignore birds.. dogs and cats are a differnet case..

[Charis]

Keep him really warm. Do you have a heating pad you can put underneath him. It should be set no hight than the lowest setting. Did you feed him when he as wet and cold?

[prakhargr8]

He was warm when I fed him, but I immidiately cleaned him up after that... do you suspect that is the problem??

I do have a heating pad and I'll put it under him right away.. but the temperature here is high anyway around 42 Degree CELCIUS... Do you think I should still put it there?

[Pidgey]

It might be a nutrition problem. Is he getting any calcium? What are you feeding him?

Pidgey

[philodice]

Originally Posted by prakhargr8

He was warm when I fed him, but I immidiately cleaned him up after that... do you suspect that is the problem??

I do have a heating pad and I'll put it under him right away.. but the temperature here is high anyway around 42 Degree CELCIUS... Do you think I should still put it there?

That is pretty high. I don't know for sure but it is possible for the baby to get too hot. You could put a feather duster over the baby.

[AZWhitefeather]

Babies need to have supplement heat, e.g. a heating pad, set on low, heat lamp, etc., if they are ill or injured, as opposed to just keeping them in a warm room or wrapping them in a blanket.
http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showthread.php?t=13601

If you feel your little one has become cold to the point of not appearing to warm up on his own, you might try placing him on a towel lined heating pad, set on low, for a short time, keeping a very close eye on him.

Wishing the best to you & your baby.
Please keep us posted.

Cindy

[Charis]

That means it's about 107 degrees Fahrenheit. Maybe the baby is too hot.
Is it fully feathered?

[prakhargr8]

Originally Posted by Pidgey

It might be a nutrition problem. Is he getting any calcium? What are you feeding him?

Pidgey

Since baby pigeon formula is not available here, I started feeding him oatmeal in the beginning and now I started adding a mixture of pulses and rice etc. in that.

Do you think a nutrition problem would manifest suddenly like this? because before the bath he was totally normal, running around, making noises etc.. Now, everything still seems normal except for the running around.

Originally Posted by Charis

That means it's about 107 degrees Fahrenheit. Maybe the baby is too hot.
Is it fully feathered?

He is feathered, he looks similar to this



And since night was a bit cooler I tried placing him on the pad, but it seems he finds it uncomfortable and used his beak, wings and *small* feet movement to move away from it.

What should I do?

I have tried looking up for vets but since it is a mini-festival time here, its making it more difficult.

PS. Thanks to everyone who replied.

PSS. I feel so bad and feel like an idiot, I made a stupid little mistake and the poor baby bird cant even get on his feet because of it.

[AZWhitefeather]

Originally Posted by prakhargr8

Since baby pigeon formula is not available here, I started feeding him oatmeal in the beginning and now I started adding a mixture of pulses and rice etc. in that.

Do you think a nutrition problem would manifest suddenly like this? because before the bath he was totally normal, running around, making noises etc.. Now, everything still seems normal except for the running around.

* And since night was a bit cooler I tried placing him on the pad, but it seems he finds it uncomfortable and used his beak, wings and *small* feet movement to move away from it.
What should I do?

** PSS. I feel so bad and feel like an idiot, I made a stupid little mistake and the poor baby bird cant even get on his feet because of it.

* If he doesn't seem to want to stay on the heating pad, then he probably doesn't need it. If you can arrange it so he has an option to use or not to use it, that would be OK. Otherwise, I think I would opt to remove it.

** I realize you feel bad because he isn't up tp par, but I can't think of anything you did to cause this problem. It's highly possible there is an underlying problem that just happened to surface at the same time you bathed him.
Just curious, where exactly were the wounds? Did you separate the feathers real good in those areas so you could get a real good look at the wound sites?

If you can't find any baby bird formula, you might try some human 'chicken' baby food that comes in those small jars?
If he's around the age of the one in the picture you posted, he should be starting to eat seeds on his own. Have you tried introducing seeds to him yet?

Cindy

[prakhargr8]

Originally Posted by AZWhitefeather

* If he doesn't seem to want to stay on the heating pad, then he probably doesn't need it. If you can arrange it so he has an option to use or not to use it, that would be OK. Otherwise, I think I would opt to remove it.

** I realize you feel bad because he isn't up tp par, but I can't think of anything you did to cause this problem. It's highly possible there is an underlying problem that just happened to surface at the same time you bathed him.
Just curious, where exactly were the wounds? Did you separate the feathers real good in those areas so you could get a real good look at the wound sites?

If you can't find any baby bird formula, you might try some human 'chicken' baby food that comes in those small jars?
If he's around the age of the one in the picture you posted, he should be starting to eat seeds on his own. Have you tried introducing seeds to him yet?

Cindy

The wounds were on his head, two of them and then he was sort of bald then so there was no need to remove any feather. It seems to be nicely healed now though. And part of its wing(Only feathers) was pulled out by the crow but there was no bleeding. There, new feathers have started to grow as well.

Is it possible that because I bathed him right after feeding, caused the problem?

Oh and I'll try getting some human baby food and will dog food do too? I tried giving him seeds but he doesnt pick them up...

Also if I pick him up he holds my fingers with his claws, and when I turn him upside down to check for any injuries, he moves his feet but when I keep him back he does not stand up..

[AZWhitefeather]

Originally Posted by prakhargr8

* The wounds were on his head, two of them and then he was sort of bald then so there was no need to remove any feather. It seems to be nicely healed now though. And part of its wing(Only feathers) was pulled out by the crow but there was no bleeding. There, new feathers have started to grow as well.

** Is it possible that because I bathed him right after feeding, caused the problem?

*** Oh and I'll try getting some human baby food and will dog food do too? I tried giving him seeds but he doesnt pick them up...

Also if I pick him up he holds my fingers with his claws, and when I turn him upside down to check for any injuries, he moves his feet but when I keep him back he does not stand up..

* I was thinking more on the line of puncture wounds on his back or sides.
Sounds like he's clear on that though.

** I can't think of how that would cause him to all of a sudden lose the use of his legs. I've never bathed a baby after feeding, rather just dampened a small cloth & cleaned their face, neck or wherever the food happen to go that didn't get inside.

*** Make sure it's straight 'chicken' baby food.
Some members have soaked pieces of puppy chow & given little pieces to them.
He may not know what to do with the seeds. You can sprinkle a few smaller seeds on a towel in front of him & then mimic picking them up. Pijjie babies are curious & will take note of what you're doing & eventually give it a try.

Cindy

[Charis]

Do you have any pet shops that sell bird vitamins? You may need to order some on line.
Can you get baby cereal for human babies? If so, I would buy the rice cereal and with it mix some applesauce for human babies. You can also feed corn and peas...I use the frozen kind and just defrost them under warm water.I open the mouth and put them to the back of the throat. You will need to feed 20-30 a feeding.
If the baby is the size of the one in the picture you posted, it is old enough to eat on it's own. You are going to need to be daddy bird and teach him. Play with the food with your hands, with the baby watching.... pick a piece of seed up and put it in his mouth.... play with the seed some more and repeat over and over. The baby will get it.
It is easier for them to learn to pick up seed, if they know how to drink water. Does this baby drink water on it's own yet? If not, gently put your finger behind the pigeons head and push the head forward until the beak touches the water and goes into the water a bit. Be careful to not get the nostrils in the water. the baby should be very excited about learning how to drink.
I don't know why the pigeon can't walk. Could be he has worms which wouldn't be surprising as most of them do.

[prakhargr8]

Originally Posted by AZWhitefeather

* I was thinking more on the line of puncture wounds on his back or sides.
Sounds like he's clear on that though.

** I can't think of how that would cause him to all of a sudden lose the use of his legs. I've never bathed a baby after feeding, rather just dampened a small cloth & cleaned their face, neck or wherever the food happen to go that didn't get inside.

*** Make sure it's straight 'chicken' baby food.
Some members have soaked pieces of puppy chow & given little pieces to them.
He may not know what to do with the seeds. You can sprinkle a few smaller seeds on a towel in front of him & then mimic picking them up. Pijjie babies are curious & will take note of what you're doing & eventually give it a try.

Cindy

Thanks a lot for all the advice Cindy. I'll try what you suggest. I hope the little guy(I usually call him Poop-Master, or Sir Poops-a-Lot, and if he is a she I might call her Mary Poopins) get better.

Anyway will keep everyone updated.

[AZWhitefeather]

Originally Posted by prakhargr8

Thanks a lot for all the advice Cindy. I'll try what you suggest. I hope the little guy(I usually call him Poop-Master, or Sir Poops-a-Lot, and if he is a she I might call her Mary Poopins) get better.

Anyway will keep everyone updated.

Mary Poopins, LOVE it!!

Cindy

[prakhargr8]

Originally Posted by Charis

Do you have any pet shops that sell bird vitamins? You may need to order some on line.
Can you get baby cereal for human babies? If so, I would buy the rice cereal and with it mix some applesauce for human babies. You can also feed corn and peas...I use the frozen kind and just defrost them under warm water.I open the mouth and put them to the back of the throat. You will need to feed 20-30 a feeding.
If the baby is the size of the one in the picture you posted, it is old enough to eat on it's own. You are going to need to be daddy bird and teach him. Play with the food with your hands, with the baby watching.... pick a piece of seed up and put it in his mouth.... play with the seed some more and repeat over and over. The baby will get it.
It is easier for them to learn to pick up seed, if they know how to drink water. Does this baby drink water on it's own yet? If not, gently put your finger behind the pigeons head and push the head forward until the beak touches the water and goes into the water a bit. Be careful to not get the nostrils in the water. the baby should be very excited about learning how to drink.
I don't know why the pigeon can't walk. Could be he has worms which wouldn't be surprising as most of them do.

I couldn't find anything similar to what Cindy mentioned, so I bought Cerelac Wheat - 4 vegetables (http://www.nestle.co.uk/Nutrition/In...on/CERELAC.htm)

Can I mix a little sugar in it so he might like it?

And I'll go try what you suggest.. He doesn't drink water on his own either..

Does having worms make a pigeon unable to walk?
If he has worms, what is the remedy??

Originally Posted by AZWhitefeather

Mary Poopins, LOVE it!!

Cindy

Oh another thing I forgot to mention, his diet has gone down in the past 2-3 days.. It is less that half of what his intake was before that..

I feed him using this method..

http://www.urbanwildlifesociety.org/...j&DuvFeedg.htm

When I feed him, he seems eager to eat and puts his beak inside the hole, but stops after eating about a quarter of the food present in the syringe & refuses to eat after that..

Even today he's eaten very little.. although he seems active enough..

Oh & I *think* that he might be slowly regaining the use of his feet as he is sort of hopping on them.. but then it just might be me seeing things..

Do you think this is related??