[lizz]

i am the pigeon whisperer. either that, or someone's missing a pet pigeon.

i got an email from the avian vet tech at the vet's place that saved trooper. she had an injured feral, that someone found under a bridge, and she didn't want to euthanize him, but they couldn't keep him.

yep, i get the call. so i throw on my big grey cape with the 'PW' on it, and off i go.

gorgeous pij, lotsa light grey, dark grey, and white. the most purple and green i've ever seen on a pigeon neck, just beautiful and glossy!

he's a little guy, only 328 grams, but seems healthy, other than the one drooping wing. they told me they thought there had been a head injury, and he had nerve damage or something, and that's why he couldn't use his one wing. they've got him on a sulfa drug for 'parasites'. okee, doke.

i had to get my brakes done, so while i'm sitting there waiting with my dog, and the pigeon, i'm petting him, and a feather pops out. then another one. then i start poking around, and pull another one out, but this time notice that there's a teeny little bit of dried blood at the end of it. uh oh....

after more poking and pulling out of loose feathers - i discover a huge freaking hole on his shoulder! hawk, cat-- i don't know, but something ripped him open, and THATS why he couldn't use his wing! kinda aggravated me that they didn't find that. anyway, brakes are done, and i wisk the wee wounded one home to his first warm antibacterial bubble bath. get this--- he LIKED it. laid there in my hand like he was born to be catered to. i just kept splashing the water over him, he never flinched, not once.

dumped out the dirty water, started filling his tub back up with fresh, and held his shoulder under the running water so i could loosen up any other junk in there. he still was loving his bath. once he was thouroughly rinsed, i towelled him off a bit, put this 'magic water-based healing cream' on his shoulder, and blow dried him. which he also loved.

what is it with these injured birds that makes them so docile? not like in a 'i'm about to die' way, but just a very trusting, relaxed way??? first with trooper, but i wasn't that surprised, he was a homer, but THIS one, is a feral, and i walk up to him on top of his crate, and he lets me pet him. enjoys it even.

i want to say that they are just SO smart, they KNOW when you're helping them. i want even MORE to say that i really AM the 'Pigeon Whisperer', and some day, cesar milan and i will have a show together.

i'll put an album up tomorrow with photos of him. he's really a hottie.

 

[Feefo]

Well discovered! I am certain that it will be a quick recovery from here.

Cynthia

 

[lizz]

EUW EUW EUW!!!!! i had the new kid out for a bit, and i'm watching him, and it starts to seem like he's not using his tail. huh, there's a new one. so, since they missed the hole on his shoulder, i figure i better go look for more "nerve damage" on his rear.

as i'm trying to peer thru feathers and down, a feather slides out. no big deal. then another one. good lord, here we go again, but this time - no dried blood.

convinced there's something there waiting to be discovered and healed, i keep looking, and i start to notice that with the very sliiiiightest of pulls, his lower back feathers are coming out. only in a localized area, so i'm pretty sure it's not the beginning of a molt. i keep picking out the loose feathers, and i look at each one to see what's going on, and i see a tiny little red dot scurry across one of the feathers!!!! holy crap, i have this horrible bug phobia, so it took everything in me to not chuck the wee mangled one across the room and run outside.

since i felt so bad for him, i think that sentiment started to override the horror, and i kept looking for something to explain the tail issue. here's what i think i came up with, after pretty much every single feather cleared out of about a quarter size area --- he broke his tail. there's his tail, and about a quarter of an inch further up his back end from that is a spot that feels pointy, like something broke in there, and is sticking up. i pressed it a bit, and got one heck of a reaction from the normally easy-going boy, so it must hurt. there's no bruising or broken skin in the area though.

i'm going to go back and read every single thing at the beginning of this section to find out how to get rid of the bugs. that is just beyond gross.

somebody tell me this is an easy fix. and not contagious.

please.

 

[Charis]

Do get the bug thing under control. You can buy Scalex at the pet store and spray him...cage...everything he has been in contact with. Be careful around the face. Spray the stuff on a cloth and wipe his face with it.
It would be a good idea to also give him Ivermectin orally.

I can't believe they didn't check him over better at the vet.

 

[Larry_Cologne]

I rescued a female pigeon, Osk-gurr, who had been attacked by a hawk or falcon (according to someone who was more familiar than I am with such things. She couldn't use her right wing.

She went to the aviary of a re-habber, who has permanent residents, among them a blind pigeon, Johannes, who lives on the ground in a wire cage and has sired young ones with a free-flying mate.

Six months later, the re-habber says that Osk-gurr can fly up to a height of two meters or six feet in the loft.

Some injuries take more time to heal than we anticipate. Don't give up hope.

Larry

 

[lizz]

it's an amazing thing to see how much these kids can endure and survive. i could never be a pigeon.

i ordered permectrin II from foy's. i handle the kid as little as possible - i feel bad for him, but i just cant stomach the idea of those teeny bugs getting on me, and then on my other birds--- cripes, i'd have to move out of my own house.

the vet tech mailed me and said the parasite he's on meds for is coccidia, because of course, i started reading yesterday, and was convinced he had sarcocystis, and that's why his tail wan't being used.... i get a little hypochondriac- ish when i start reading medical stuff.

anyway, i'm taking him back in in a couple of weeks for a checkup. and i'm a little shocked that they didn't catch the hole either. sure, he's a feral, that someone just brought in and dropped off, but.... i mean i look at these people like they the avian vet GODS, but i would have thought they'd have done better by him. and if they weren't, that they would have just put him down.

i don't know, i just hope he gets better and bug free real soon. so who wants a new flightless pigeon?????

 

[FloridaLuv]

Dear Piji Whisper.

Bless your heart! How is he this evening????

And someone correct me if I am wrong... but I believe that any mites or lice are host specific... so they could be spread to the other birds .. but not to you or dogs...etc. I THINK???

Please do keep us updated... Looks like Ceil and Trooper are getting a sibling! HUGS to him and All from Auntie Jenn....

 

[maryjane]

I'm glad he's doing well, and hopefully you get the bugs under control. Your posts are so funny to read. Great job so far with him!

 

[lizz]

but, but...auntie jenn...i thought YOU were gonna take him....!

he got another bath last night, i'm just blown away by how he just lays there....like he's at a pigeon spa or something.

and then to watch him while i'm blow drying him??? i wish i had a video camera - the boy is in ecstasy!

i was very very heartened when i saw him start preening himself while i was drying him. i figure if a pij is really bad, they won't be concerned about their appearance, or have the energy to take care of themselves. he really is a stunner, color-wise. nice medium grey head, super rich orange eyes, lots of white feathers, especially his long flights that are now gone [sorry birdling, it's for the best!] but his body and wing feathers look like leopard print! really neat-looking!!! not a grizzle or a check like i've ever seen, very defined spots. one of these days i'll remember to take my camera home.

so jenn, what are you gonna name him.....?

 

[FloridaLuv]

but, but...auntie jenn...i thought YOU were gonna take him....!

he got another bath last night, i'm just blown away by how he just lays there....like he's at a pigeon spa or something.

and then to watch him while i'm blow drying him??? i wish i had a video camera - the boy is in ecstasy!

i was very very heartened when i saw him start preening himself while i was drying him. i figure if a pij is really bad, they won't be concerned about their appearance, or have the energy to take care of themselves. he really is a stunner, color-wise. nice medium grey head, super rich orange eyes, lots of white feathers, especially his long flights that are now gone [sorry birdling, it's for the best!] but his body and wing feathers look like leopard print! really neat-looking!!! not a grizzle or a check like i've ever seen, very defined spots. one of these days i'll remember to take my camera home.

so jenn, what are you gonna name him.....?

OH my Dear Lizz... YOUR a funny ... funny GIRL.....lol..... Moi.... no...no...no... more... I practically had to sign a no more pet contract just to get Journey!! LOL.... I'd have a house FULL, like everyone else around here......lol

How is he doing? And the creepy crawlies??? gone I hope...... ick! I'm checking your profile for pictures after I'm done here.... Hope is feeling better...
Much loves....

 

[lizz]

well, the poor kid seems to be doing waaaay better. i got the permectrin and he had a 'raid' bath. i was scared to death that i was poisoning him or something. it smelled like raid, that's for sure.

BUT IT WORKED! i gave him his medicine tonight, and then brought him in here to check him out. i was all itchy and stuff from MY imaginary bugs....but the bugs on him were GONE! and i checked that boy out feather by feather.

while going thru every single feather, way more came out, but i found yet another injured spot! jeeeeez! all i could think from the placement was hawk, like it came down from above him, and grabbed him by the shoulders. but hooooo boy, no matter what, does the little leopardy boy love to be pet. and he's eating like a champ! poo is a good color, good consistency.

he should be ready to ship to auntie jenn in a couple of weeks! yaaaay for him. don't worry about the hubby - he'll never even notice. tell him he's just a stuffy you bought for journey.

 

[Jay3]

Dear Piji Whisper.

Bless your heart! How is he this evening????

And someone correct me if I am wrong... but I believe that any mites or lice are host specific... so they could be spread to the other birds .. but not to you or dogs...etc. I THINK???

Please do keep us updated... Looks like Ceil and Trooper are getting a sibling! HUGS to him and All from Auntie Jenn....

People can and do get mites from birds. They can infest your house.

 

[FloridaLuv]

People can and do get mites from birds. They can infest your house.

I didn't know that!!!!! Thank you for posting back, Thats why I love it here ...I learn something new everyday.......




Also Lizz, I'd have been EWWWWW...........EWWWWWWWW.... too........................I am glad they are alllll gone.

and as for the name how about Whisper.... Since the name runs in the family... BUT; I know you...... and he has a name I AM sure...

Many get well wishes for the lil one.........

 

[FloridaLuv]

BTW~ Ummmmm.... where are the PICTURES??? this is YOU were talking about ... and there are NO pictures... You OK??? Something must be wrong!.....

 

[philodice]

It is really rare and the mites have to be a massive infestation on the bird to travel like that, so I'm thinking she is ok. Just make sure to wash, which I'm sure she is. What a nice bird. Of course all my rescues once they got comfortable in the aviary are full of "P and vinegar" lol. I remember when Pablo was shy long ago.

 

[lizz]

funny funny --- make sure to wash... hahahaaa! i've practically scrubbed off my own skin.

my hands are so dry from the constant washing, there are huge splits in them! ouch!!! no coccidia/mite transferring going on in MY house...uh uh, no way, no how.

he eats like a champ, and left the vets at 328 grams, and is up to 350 as of last night. that makes me quite happy!!!

no photos, because my stoopid rechargeable batteries have fiiiiiinally reached the end of their stoopid lives, and i can turn the stoopid camera on, but it shuts itself off when i go to take a photo. i bought regular ones last night. photos to come soon.

i let him sorta mosey around on the couch last night, he was verrrrrry interested in the comings and goings of all the other kids. you guys, don't make me have to keep this one too!!![insert whiny voice here...]