David C. (Mr.)

Hi I am David..almost 60, living in N.Staffordshire England.Longstanding racing pigeon fancier..(for well over 50 years).

In very recent days,two of my racing pigeons have incurred the loss of a leg apiece. One younger pigeon got it's leg trapped under a hinged pigeon loft/coop door..and lost the foot and leg to the knee..after it's blood supply was severed as it struggled for some hours to free itself.

The other (older)pigeon..well bred, lost the lower leg and foot..due to having a swollen ankle under it's identity ring..which swelling evidently got worse after been loaned out to another fancier,and which fancier...presumably failed to observe it's worsening..til he brought the bird back to me some three weeks later to cut it's ring off..by now too late.The blood supply had been cut off, and the ankle and foot were irrevocably severed from the rest of the leg.I was fairly devastated.

Questions for any who could help...please.

(1) Has anyone had any success in making and fitting a reasonably reliable false leg and foot for such birds?(I've been musing on various ideas).These birds would not need to be flying out.

(2) Might the bird still be able to tread it's hen without the extra leg to cling on with? (I know that sitting eggs without two legs would cause egg breakages.)
Thanks. David