Pigeon hit window he doesn't feel well

[Hutchison]

This (banded) pigeon hit my window and flew off when we attempted to catch him. He stayed at the house for 3 days (sitting exposed in a rain storm, poor guy!) and the next day was not found except for feathers and I feared the worst, he was back the next day, feathers a little rumpled, he was favoring the ground rather than the roof and he allowed me close enough to catch him. He seems weak and thin and just sits with feathers puffed. I have him in the house in a covered dog kennel. (tonight when I get home, I'll put in a heating pad.) I provided canary food, grit and water for him...His crop seems puffed like he may have eaten lastnight but I didn't actually see him eat or feel the crop, seeds were all over the floor and in grit.

Is it better not to handle him much, or ok on a limited basis? I wanted to give him a good looking over for injured parts. His leg/feet feathers are sticky wet and he favors this leg.

I contacted some of the main racing clubs with his band number to see if we can find the owner. He's a beautiful bird and I've not been able to find a pict of one with this color. I don't want to post a pict because if the owner is found, I want to make sure they can describe him.

Any advise would be helpful.

[little bird]

You need not worry about a pic, his band tells you who the owner is and if you tell us the band info we have members who can locate the owner for you.

[Lovebirds]

Originally Posted by Hutchison

This (banded) pigeon hit my window and flew off when we attempted to catch him. He stayed at the house for 3 days (sitting exposed in a rain storm, poor guy!) and the next day was not found except for feathers and I feared the worst, he was back the next day, feathers a little rumpled, he was favoring the ground rather than the roof and he allowed me close enough to catch him. He seems weak and thin and just sits with feathers puffed. I have him in the house in a covered dog kennel. (tonight when I get home, I'll put in a heating pad.) I provided canary food, grit and water for him...His crop seems puffed like he may have eaten lastnight but I didn't actually see him eat or feel the crop, seeds were all over the floor and in grit.

Is it better not to handle him much, or ok on a limited basis? I wanted to give him a good looking over for injured parts. His leg/feet feathers are sticky wet and he favors this leg.

I contacted some of the main racing clubs with his band number to see if we can find the owner. He's a beautiful bird and I've not been able to find a pict of one with this color. I don't want to post a pict because if the owner is found, I want to make sure they can describe him.

Any advise would be helpful.

Is someone helping you actually trace the band? If not, give us the band info and I can tell you exactly which club to contact. Handling the bird is fine. Racers are used to being handled, although most of them don't LIKE it, they tolerate it.
Just be careful and don't let it get loose. If this is just a case of a lost bird that needed rest and food, he would just take off on you again.
Let's see what the band says and go from there.

[Hutchison]

At this point in time I'm more concerned with him surviving. Any help in this area would be appreciated? His stool is watery but his rear is clean.


I don't have the band number at this time. It starts with AC and yr of 07. I am going through AU and taking to someone named Karen,

[Lovebirds]

Originally Posted by Hutchison

At this point in time I'm more concerned with him surviving. Any help in this area would be appreciated? His stool is watery but his rear is clean.


I don't have the band number at this time. It starts with AC and yr of 07. I am going through AU and taking to someone named Karen,

You must have talked to Karen Clifton. She'll help you with the band. With the year of 07 we know it's not a young bird. Lots of people are training the 2008 babies and that was a concern.
Without seeing the bird, it's hard to tell if there's anything wrong with it besides it just being close to starved. If you've got food and water with it, then that's about all you can do this point, unless you find an actual injury. These guys don't fare so well on thier own and don't know how to find food, so with any luck, that's the birds biggest problem. When you can, check the bird over really good and make sure that nothing got him like a cat or hawk. If he has a head injury, heat isn't recommended. Depends on how hard he hit the window. If he was flying full speed, he could be injured. If he just saw the window and thought he could go through it to get inside, maybe he's not hurt real bad.
Pictures of the bird would be helpful and a description of his droppings. If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask. If you don't hear from Karen, then post the whole band info and there's quite a few us here that can help trace it.
For now, the bird is safe, and that's a good thing.

[Lovebirds]

The band didn't have AGSG on it did it?
I reread your first post. A picture of the bird will not determine the owner and no one can say that it's their bird unless they can prove that the band is their band. That's why these guys are banded and every band is sold to a specific person. Although you may not be able to find a picture with a bird like the one you've found, I expect that amongst pigeon fanciers it will be a commonly seen color. So, again, a picture would be most helpful........not to determine ownership, but to see the over all condition of the bird.

[feralpigeon]

Originally Posted by Hutchison

At this point in time I'm more concerned with him surviving. Any help in this area would be appreciated? His stool is watery but his rear is clean.


I don't have the band number at this time. It starts with AC and yr of 07. I am going through AU and taking to someone named Karen,

If the weather in your area is cool right now, a heating pad set to low and
covered w/towel is helpful along w/food and water. If we knew your general
whereabouts, there might be an avian vet or rehabber that could help in the
event that this is needed.

About the watery droppings, try putting a tablespoon of raw Apple Cider Vinegar in a gallon of water and provide this as the drinking water....see if
this helps. Is the bird displaying any other troublesome symptoms that you
have noticed?

fp

[Margarret]

Hutchison,
Thank you so much for caring for this bird. I see that you have been feeding canary seed. If possible, see if you can get some pigeon mix or if not that, Dove Mix. Most pet stores carry it. He needs more nutrition than canary seed can provide for him at this point to help him heal.Providing the grit with it is a good thing. If you find you have other questions, please don't hesitate to ask. We are all here to help.

Margaret

[Jaye]

Hutch...where are you exactly ? Please post your location. Perhaps we have a member nearby who can help with the health condition of the birdie.

[Hutchison]

He's looking much better today. More active and not puffed up and he's walking good. He's eating and his stools look like a normal birds. No unnatural discoloration and not watery like before etc... I couldn't see any injuries when we looked at him. I'll see if I can get some better food for him tomorrow.

Would it be better to try to find the owner and hold on to him or should we let him go in a few weeks and hope he makes it home?

Yes it's an AGSG 07 698679.

I am in MI.

I have learned not to trust people enough that I'm not going to post pictures.
I want to make sure he makes it to his owner.

[Lovebirds]

Originally Posted by Hutchison

He's looking much better today. More active and not puffed up and he's walking good. He's eating and his stools look like a normal birds. No unnatural discoloration and not watery like before etc... I couldn't see any injuries when we looked at him. I'll see if I can get some better food for him tomorrow.

Would it be better to try to find the owner and hold on to him or should we let him go in a few weeks and hope he makes it home?

Yes it's an AGSG 07 698679.

I am in MI.

I have learned not to trust people enough that I'm not going to post pictures.
I want to make sure he makes it to his owner.

Well, I asked that question because I had a hunch...........it's a long story, but the gist of it is there are people in Canada and the US, mainly the northeastern states and the mid-east coast states that got involved in a "pigeon scheme"........and the end of the story is these people got "stuck" with 100's, some 1000's of birds with nothing to do with them. Some were outright killed and others were turned loose to fend for themselves. Bottom line is you won't find the owner because the bird doesn't have an owner any longer. They most all were banded with these bands. The AGSG stands for "Arlan Galbraith Strathclyde Genetics Pigeon Farm". You can google it and find the story I'm sure. You basically have saved his life. Now, the question becomes, are you interested in keeping the bird or do we need to try to find a home for it?

[Lovebirds]

We actually have a new forum specifically set up for these birds, because we are aware that in time, many of them will be found just like yours.

You can find it if you scroll down on the home page of the site.

[TAWhatley]

Renee is telling you the correct information about any AGSG banded birds that are found. There is no way to locate the owners of any of these birds, and it is entirely possible that the owner let the birds go to fend for themselves because s/he could no longer afford to care for them.

If you are not interested in adopting the bird or not able to adopt the bird, please let us know so we can try to assist in finding a home for it.

Thank you so much for assisting this bird!

Terry

[TAWhatley]

Thread has been moved to the AGSG forum.

Terry

[Hutchison]

Thats really disgusting that people would just let the birds go unable to fend for themselves.

Honestly, I'd like to keep him. (I am assuming its a he) I have had doves in the past. I could use some help with the best type of houseing. I'll research food in my area. I think he's been through enough adventure and has a home here.

Thank you all for your help. I think I just found a new forum!