What kind of pigeon is this? and update on Grunter and Snowflake

[Margarret]

Thought it was time to show how Grunter is doing. I'm 99% sure she is a hen so am changing her name to Auntie Grunts as she is a senior pigeon.

As you can see she is recovered from her terrible open wounds. Her skin has all grown back but she is missing many feathers from the injured wing and is quite bald still where the big laceration was. I cut the ID band off the leg that is a stump. There was old necrotic tissue under it forming a band which also had to be released before it cut off circulation. She has all new clean skin there now and routinely stands up on her stump. Sadly the other leg only recovered partial movement from the hip to about the knee. She prefers to sit with it out in front of her. She tries to walk on it, but cannot bear weight there. She is learning to use it for balance. The other day when I was holding her, she curled her toes around my finger, so I am still hopeful. She got an eye infection, but it rapidly cleared with some antibiotic opthalmic ointment I fortunately had on hand. She eats and drinks well and will be an indoor bird. I still have her on heat, hoping that the extra warmth will encourage circulation in her paralyzed leg.


Snowflake is a handicapped bird that was given to me as a companion for Auntie Grunts. It was thought it was a hen but I think it is a young male. It's wing is permantly injured and it will be a non flyer. I think it is very young from the ceres. They are still quite pink, just turning whiteish. It was attacked by a dog and nearly had it's throat ripped out. There is a long scar under the feathers. I don't know the breed. It puffs out it's crop much more than a racer or roller would. It has one bull eye and one yellow/gold eye. It holds it's tail quite high. It just regrew it's tail. When I got it, it was tail-less. It is going to be too active to be in a cage with Auntie Grunts, so I am still looking for an older, much more handicapped hen to share space with her in the future. Auntie is very calm and clucks contentedly if nodded to. She has never tried to wing me or bite. Loves scritches. Snowflake is a bit agressive and does slap and bite so side by side in separate cages is going to be the arrangement until I can find a more suitable companion.

Margaret

You can see both the invalids sitting on the chest in my sewing/dining room where they spend the day. There is a big sliding glass door to the right and they can look outside across the deck to the yard.

[Margarret]

Here are some pictures of Snowflake. Anyone have an idea about the breed? It is a pretty tall bird.

Margaret

[TheSnipes]

Aunti G. and Snowflake are so lucky they have you to take care of them I hope you can find suitable pals for them.

[Birdmom4ever]

Originally Posted by Margarret

Here are some pictures of Snowflake. Anyone have an idea about the breed? It is a pretty tall bird.

Margaret

I don't know--maybe some type of pouter mixed with something else, perhaps a king? Bless you for caring for these two pigeons--sounds like the poor things have really been through the wringer.

I have a non-flying 2006 homer cock if you're interested in a companion for Auntie Grunts when she feels better. He's very quiet and gentle. I took him in last summer from a rehabber friend who doesn't have pigeons. We both felt he would be happiest in the company of other pigeons. However, because his injuries were severe (head trauma and badly broken wing) he never came all the way back. I didn't know him before he was injured, but I learned from talking to his previous owner on the phone that he was a top racer, so I imagine he used to be a bold, aggressive bird. I feel sorry for him because he spends a lot of time standing alone on the floor of the aviary. He's healthy, eats well and preens normally, but I believe he lost something in the mental department. The other pigeons pretty much ignore him. While he completed his recovery I had him in a little hutch with a roller hen as a companion. They paired up but she abandoned him when I returned them to the aviary. I'm sure it's because he can't fly. Anyway, he would be a nice companion for a disabled hen.

[Trees Gray]

Hi Margaret,

Snowflake does look like a King.

Perhaps with time you will see some more improvements in Grunter.

Thank you for taking such extra special care of these birds and sharing their pics with us.

[TheSnipes]

Originally Posted by Birdmom4ever

I have a non-flying 2006 homer cock if you're interested in a companion for Auntie Grunts when she feels better. He's very quiet and gentle. I took him in last summer from a rehabber friend who doesn't have pigeons. We both felt he would be happiest in the company of other pigeons. However, because his injuries were severe (head trauma and badly broken wing) he never came all the way back. I didn't know him before he was injured, but I learned from talking to his previous owner on the phone that he was a top racer, so I imagine he used to be a bold, aggressive bird. I feel sorry for him because he spends a lot of time standing alone on the floor of the aviary. He's healthy, eats well and preens normally, but I believe he lost something in the mental department. The other pigeons pretty much ignore him. While he completed his recovery I had him in a little hutch with a roller hen as a companion. They paired up but she abandoned him when I returned them to the aviary. I'm sure it's because he can't fly. Anyway, he would be a nice companion for a disabled hen.

Wow! Sounds like a great match-up, it would be so cool if that worked out. Both of them need a companion.

[Margarret]

Originally Posted by Birdmom4ever

I don't know--maybe some type of pouter mixed with something else, perhaps a king? Bless you for caring for these two pigeons--sounds like the poor things have really been through the wringer.

I have a non-flying 2006 homer cock if you're interested in a companion for Auntie Grunts when she feels better. He's very quiet and gentle. I took him in last summer from a rehabber friend who doesn't have pigeons. We both felt he would be happiest in the company of other pigeons. However, because his injuries were severe (head trauma and badly broken wing) he never came all the way back. I didn't know him before he was injured, but I learned from talking to his previous owner on the phone that he was a top racer, so I imagine he used to be a bold, aggressive bird. I feel sorry for him because he spends a lot of time standing alone on the floor of the aviary. He's healthy, eats well and preens normally, but I believe he lost something in the mental department. The other pigeons pretty much ignore him. While he completed his recovery I had him in a little hutch with a roller hen as a companion. They paired up but she abandoned him when I returned them to the aviary. I'm sure it's because he can't fly. Anyway, he would be a nice companion for a disabled hen.

Hi Birdmom,

Thank you for the offer of your handicapped cock. He sounds ideal, except for the fact he is male. My concern with having a cock for a companion for her is that she could be easily injured if they decided to try and mate. Her only functional leg is a stump which she sort of balances on to stand for very brief periods of time. So I thought that a handicapped hen would be best for her, an elderly gentle one.
Perhaps you could find a non flying hen for your little guy. He sounds like a sweet bird, even if he isn't 100% mentally.

Margaret