Bad Bird has arrived

[badbird]

http://members.aol.com/mysocalledchaos/badbird.html

the sweet people at twisted oaks, niles, michigan can take their birdie off their site as I adopted him tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! They gave me a cardboard pet carrier cuz I forgot to cut holes in my cardboard box i brought so I was thankful for that.

I wanted a bird and I decided to get a unique pet. He is a blue bar pigeon (i think????), and is a former racing pigeon. I now join my sister, in having unusual pets (she has a snake).

He was found stunned in a storm in Kalamazoo, MI. He was originally kept by a guy who did pigeon racing in MANSFIELD, OHIO. The bird flew from central ohio to central michigan. Isn't that something? So anyway, the owner didn't want him any more when he was found so the shelter had taken him in. The shelter is in Niles, Michigan and I drove all the way there from Illinois and back tonight.

They named him "bad bird" because that's what the owner called him for straying away from his flock in Ohio. I don't know if that is the name I am going to keep. He seemed like a bad bird at first, he would swat his wing at me and peck at me (and make a growling noise. who thought a pigeon could growl?) if I tried to come near him but he is warming up to me. He also is a little rascal he found every little nook and cranny in my apt to hide in, like under my bed. that was a pain to get him out. I put stuff under there now so he can't roam under there., as you will see in the pics I was able to pick him up and hold him just fine now. He was unfriendly at first because I was a stranger and it was a stressful situation but he is getting used to me and his surroundings now.


I didn't put him in his cage for him yet to welcome him, and he is living in my bathroom, while its not in use lol. I want to give him lots of space and time to adjust. He wouldn't be in his cage much anyway. You'll see that in the pics he is in various places in my house. Not really any poop yet to speak of...at least outside of his pet carrier. he goes in that box to potty it seems. hmmm maybe ill keep that and train him to crap in there. lol


He flies pretty well so it was fun watching the bird move around. he bumps into things once in a while though so he is clumsy. i have to keep a close eye on him so he doesn't hurt himself and make sure there is nothing around that could harm him if he flew into it, etc.

this bird is a big dude. much larger than i thought and larger than many i have seen waddle past me in the streets of the cities. also, his irridescent feathers are amazing and the pics dont do them justice.

He is a nice, clean, healthy bird about 3 years old and is not some nasty, street pigeon, so I am going to make sure my friends don't call him a flying rat, lol.

[Reti]

I am glad your new little friend is with you now. I am sure in time he will warm up to you and you will be best friends.

"street pigeons" are not nasty at all. I have show pigeons, a racing pigeon and several "street" pigeons and I can assure you that there is really no difference. They are all wonderful, intellingent and clean pets.
Actually my tamest pigeon is a former feral "street" pigeon.

Reti

[Skyeking]

Thank you for giving a home to this racing pigeon.

You have got yourself a beautiful strong domestic pigeon, and he will want to fly. Are you building him a large aviary outside, or just letting him fly around the house? He would probably love a bath and all the comforts of home. He is used to being around a group of pigeons, so he might get a little lonely. Though the name may suit him, he is not in any way bad bird at all, he can't help getting lost in a storm. Usually the owners won't release their birds in weather like that, so it must have come on suddenly.

He growls because that is a pigeons defense, and will slap you because he does'nt know you. That will change when you spend alot of quality time with him.

Street pigeons are not "nasty" either, they don't carry any more disease then other birds. I have had the privilege to keep company with several on my porch, though they look different from my homers and show pigeon, they are beautiful, and clever and smart. They have a quality, a toughness, of royalty about them, maybe because they know things we don't and they "own" the sky. Respect them, they are creatures of God. Why, some of my best friends are feral pigeons, and I'm God mother to one hunk of a feral "Tiny".

[feralpigeon]

Hi BadBird,

Congratulations on your new friend. I remember seeing that bird for quite some time on the website, so I'm glad he finally found a home. Guess congratulations are in order for both of you !

Like Reti, it is my feral who is the tamest of the three who reside w/me, the other two having been raised by a "breeder". They are very intelligent, make great pets, and I must say just have some very endearing ways about them.

Good Luck again with your new friend.

fp

[badbird]

ok, let me clarify about the the feral/ street pigeon commment; i had used almost the same message to tell my friends about it and i was trying to let them know its not from the streets and i used the quotation marks because that's what they call those birds out there. i do know that most of those birds roaming the cities are not bad, or nasty, etc. some are cute little fellows that i almost wanted to take home with me lol.

[AZWhitefeather]

Congratulations on your adoption!!

Cindy

[Snow White]

I had seen badbird on petfinder.com and read his story. I felt so bad for him and wanted to go get him. My husband (who puts up with alot of my animal passions) said "don't even think about it". So here I am just so happy badbird has a home.....and here in Illinois.

That was OUTSTANDING! Let us know how he's doing. He's sooooooo cute.

Sue

[Skyeking]

Originally Posted by badbird

ok, let me clarify about the the feral/ street pigeon commment; i had used almost the same message to tell my friends about it and i was trying to let them know its not from the streets and i used the quotation marks because that's what they call those birds out there. i do know that most of those birds roaming the cities are not bad, or nasty, etc. some are cute little fellows that i almost wanted to take home with me lol.

Hi badbird,

We understand you didn't mean anything by it, but you can call them feral pigeons, in relation to our domestic pigeons, but "nasty" is not in our vocabulary.

Good luck with your domestic racing pigeon and keep us updated on how he is adapting to his new life.

[Victor]

CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP Congratulations to the two of you! May you both have many many years of happy times together!

You mentioned about feral pigeons, and wanting to take them home with you.Theare are some beauties out there in the wild.

Two days ago I saw a brown one similar to the one that ALASKA has.He was on the street picking at gravel .I slowed down but he just continued picking very confident that there was no harm headed his way. He made it so that I had to make an adjustment to get out of his way.About two blocks behind me a construction truck did the same thing.WHEW that had me worried.

Just this morning,following a different route home from work, I noticed a beautiful solid black pigeon with white markings at the tip of his wings! What a magnificent speimen he was. The thought came to my mind to abduct that one too , but I had to tell myself "No Victor you can't do that!?

Maybe when it is meant to be I can find another one that is need of being rescued?

Badbird, again, I am happy for you.

[Reti]

Thanks for clarifying badbird.
All birds/animals have something special and I find them all beautiful in some way

Reti

[alaska]

Congratuations BadBird on the arrival of your new pigeon
It is always a very exciting time when a new pet arrives in the home, and I am sure he will settle in nicely and start to bond closely with you as time goes on and you build up a relationship.
A point to note that your new friend is a racing pigeon and therefore has a very large homing instinct bred into him, racing pigeons can fly for Many miles to 'get home' so just be certain that you don't let him outside for a bit of a fly as he is likely to take off and try to get back to his previous owner!
I took a drive into the city yesterday and while parked noticed a pair of beautiful feral pigeons flying around the building tops. I spent a good 20minutes watching them until I snapped back to the fact that I had an appointment and needed to get moving Even a 'feral' pigeon is a beautiful creature and can be wonderful to watch.
In having your new pigeon friend with you, over time you will develop a deep respect for these often underated birds, they are truly magnificent, caring and devoted creatures, and every time you walk down a street and notice a feral walking about, you will stop and notice them just that little bit more than before.
Not sure whats happening with your pics, but from here I couldn't view them, I'm sure he is a beauty If you are having any troubles with storing them online, feel free to use my PigeonPix site to upload them and share them www.pixalbums.net/pigeon

Regards
Alaska

[badbird]

is anybody able to view my pictures?

[Lovebirds]

I couldn't see them either............

[Reti]

I wasn't able to view them.

Reti

[badbird]

ok thanks i will post some pics on the site that y'all recommended.