(Sorry, I don't know how to edit my post!)
Just wanted to add that the pigeon seems a little skinny.
Just wanted to add that the pigeon seems a little skinny.
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Snuffy - Do the lice/mites look like these things?
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I found them on my feral too.
More experienced people will chime in. you might be able to check the pigeon's keelbone to make sure that's not broken, and see whether it's sticking out significantly to confirm that it's underweight.
Good that it's eating - if it's crashed into a window and smacked itself up good, it'll probably either be fine in a few days, or die of internal bleeding. Not much you can do till then other than keep it comfy, fed, and watered, I think.
To check down it's throat, wrap it up in a towel again like a burrito and gently pry the beak open - they don't have anywhere near the beak strength you'd find in a parrot, for example.
I found them on my feral too.
More experienced people will chime in. you might be able to check the pigeon's keelbone to make sure that's not broken, and see whether it's sticking out significantly to confirm that it's underweight.
Good that it's eating - if it's crashed into a window and smacked itself up good, it'll probably either be fine in a few days, or die of internal bleeding. Not much you can do till then other than keep it comfy, fed, and watered, I think.
To check down it's throat, wrap it up in a towel again like a burrito and gently pry the beak open - they don't have anywhere near the beak strength you'd find in a parrot, for example.
as for those mites, I hade huge success with a 'standard mites and lice spray for birds' - containing pyrethrins from the petstore. it was a much bigger bottle than I needed to buy, since I only had to treat the feral for a couple of days before the mites had disappeared - but you might want to spray down your other birds and their cages for a couple days just to be safe, too. 
Someone else will have to give their opinion of what watery droppings may indicate.
It won't take much effort at all to open the beak and look, but the pigeon might try to wiggle his head away - so, burrito!
I'm still not sure what any of this could have to do with it possibly being the window-collider, if it was.
Someone else will have to give their opinion of what watery droppings may indicate.
It won't take much effort at all to open the beak and look, but the pigeon might try to wiggle his head away - so, burrito!
I'm still not sure what any of this could have to do with it possibly being the window-collider, if it was.
I think I have some lice spray from a while ago, so if pigeon is still with me in a few days but not flying, I might treat it (I don't want to do anything to upset it at this stage, plus there's not a lot of point if it's going straight back into the wild). I dare say it'll be a lot easier to spray than my poor cockatiel is (and luckily for him, the aviary is nowhere near the pigeon, and the rest of the pigeons don't even visit my backyard)!
I really like the burrito concept. I wrapped it up like this when I found it, and from now on, I'm going to refer to that method as the burrito.
We're not 100% sure that this is the bird that crashed into the window, but it seems likely. I agree that it doesn't necessarily fit with symptoms like watery droppings, though, which is one of the things that worries me a little.
I really like the burrito concept. I wrapped it up like this when I found it, and from now on, I'm going to refer to that method as the burrito.
We're not 100% sure that this is the bird that crashed into the window, but it seems likely. I agree that it doesn't necessarily fit with symptoms like watery droppings, though, which is one of the things that worries me a little.
Thanks Teresa - that thread is very helpful! Your pigeon's story sounds so similar to mine!
I'll have a good look at her again tomorrow since there are a few things in that thread that I hadn't considered.
(I've named her Ermintrude - though really I have no idea whether she's really a 'she'! Still, she didn't object when I asked if I could call her Ermintrude... )
I'll have a good look at her again tomorrow since there are a few things in that thread that I hadn't considered.
(I've named her Ermintrude - though really I have no idea whether she's really a 'she'! Still, she didn't object when I asked if I could call her Ermintrude...
)
Snuffy, sounds good so far! Putting some mass on the pigeon before release will probably be good for it - you probably don't have to try a release in the front yard every day.
The pigeon will possibly indicate it's feeling much better when it DOES start to object to everything, ornate name included, with a grumble and a wingslap.
The pigeon will possibly indicate it's feeling much better when it DOES start to object to everything, ornate name included, with a grumble and a wingslap.
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