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Two weeks (I think? Or just one, I don't remember) ago I saw a pigeon nest in the downtown of my city. It was placed a little bit low, on an abandoned thing, but it was so well built that I thought "Wow, I guess these babies won't need any help!". I guess I was wrong. There were two little birds and their mother was feeding them. I have been dropping in to see them once in a couple of days since then.
Yesterday, I was surprised to see one of those "danger" things on that part of the block. I went to check them, and next to it, they were building/repairing something (I guess it's a store). I was looking at one of the birds (because I couldn't actually see the other), talking with my boyfriend about them, and trying to see the second one, when one of the workers started to talk to me. He told me there were two birds, and that one was much smaller than the other one, and that they had tried to convince the owner of the place to leave them there until they could fly. The owner hadn't agreed, and he had just allowed them to avoid closing the part where the birds were living until that was the only thing left to do. He told me they had to close it in about a week. I agreed to take them in one week (he offered me to get them down in that moment but I told him I'd rather wait and let the mother take care of them as long as possible because she'd probably do a better job).
Questions are:
1. Should I actually take them in? One of the birds has already got feathered wings, but the head still has yellow fluff. If I left them, the problem is that, since it's the downtown, there are a lot of cars and they won't stop because of a bird. If you are concerned about me dedicating myself to the birds, don't worry. I, as probably many of you, have been through nights without sleeping over sick birds (or animals in general). I am ready to take the pigeons in and, if they can't be released, I know I will be able to keep them. My family has been pretty indulgent over my rescue birds, and I have no problem with commitment. I have been with all my animals through sickness and old age, so it's not like I'd get bored of them and just release them o.o. I want your opinion to be as fact-based as possible, without taking into account my possible personal limitations, because I know them; and taking into account that culturally, as all of you know, pigeons are seen as disease carriers so there is little chance somebody else will go and help them :/. I lack knowledge, (one of the most important things!), but I think that I can do it right if you help me. We all start somewhere, after all.
2. If I do take them, should I take them tomorrow or on Friday?
3. Should I take the little bird first (eg tomorrow) to help it grow up better? The man said that the big one was taking all the food from the mother and that the little one wasn't eating a lot. I thought that maybe it'd be better for the little bird to eat a bit more.
4. There isn't bird formula in my city, and, anyways, I don't have much money. What do you think I can feed the birds? I've read a lot about peas and corn here... More options? I've read about puppy chow, and if it's possible to feed them that it'd be better since I have three dogs (so I have dog food for sure
). I feed my dogs Pedigree. Is it ok? I can get them other things, but please suggest as many as possible.
5. Until when do they need heating? I've never been sure.
If/when I take them, I'll post pics.
Please answer as soon as possible.
Paw.
Yesterday, I was surprised to see one of those "danger" things on that part of the block. I went to check them, and next to it, they were building/repairing something (I guess it's a store). I was looking at one of the birds (because I couldn't actually see the other), talking with my boyfriend about them, and trying to see the second one, when one of the workers started to talk to me. He told me there were two birds, and that one was much smaller than the other one, and that they had tried to convince the owner of the place to leave them there until they could fly. The owner hadn't agreed, and he had just allowed them to avoid closing the part where the birds were living until that was the only thing left to do. He told me they had to close it in about a week. I agreed to take them in one week (he offered me to get them down in that moment but I told him I'd rather wait and let the mother take care of them as long as possible because she'd probably do a better job).
Questions are:
1. Should I actually take them in? One of the birds has already got feathered wings, but the head still has yellow fluff. If I left them, the problem is that, since it's the downtown, there are a lot of cars and they won't stop because of a bird. If you are concerned about me dedicating myself to the birds, don't worry. I, as probably many of you, have been through nights without sleeping over sick birds (or animals in general). I am ready to take the pigeons in and, if they can't be released, I know I will be able to keep them. My family has been pretty indulgent over my rescue birds, and I have no problem with commitment. I have been with all my animals through sickness and old age, so it's not like I'd get bored of them and just release them o.o. I want your opinion to be as fact-based as possible, without taking into account my possible personal limitations, because I know them; and taking into account that culturally, as all of you know, pigeons are seen as disease carriers so there is little chance somebody else will go and help them :/. I lack knowledge, (one of the most important things!), but I think that I can do it right if you help me. We all start somewhere, after all.
2. If I do take them, should I take them tomorrow or on Friday?
3. Should I take the little bird first (eg tomorrow) to help it grow up better? The man said that the big one was taking all the food from the mother and that the little one wasn't eating a lot. I thought that maybe it'd be better for the little bird to eat a bit more.
4. There isn't bird formula in my city, and, anyways, I don't have much money. What do you think I can feed the birds? I've read a lot about peas and corn here... More options? I've read about puppy chow, and if it's possible to feed them that it'd be better since I have three dogs (so I have dog food for sure
). I feed my dogs Pedigree. Is it ok? I can get them other things, but please suggest as many as possible.5. Until when do they need heating? I've never been sure.
If/when I take them, I'll post pics.
Please answer as soon as possible.
Paw.
