[PDY55]

I have found a 9-10 year old pigeon near our building. I have put it inside a box with some insulation and a hot water bottle, but I do not know what to feed it. Please help.I do not have access to any pet food or pet storeso it would be helpful if you could suggest alternatives.

 

[Jay3]

You must mean 9-10 DAY old pigeon? Can you post a picture of the bird so we can more closely determine its age?

 

[PDY55]

I'm so sorry! Yeah, a 9-10 day old squab. It has managed to stay the night in the box that I told you about, but when I took it out it it was lunging or trying to peck at my fingers. Its crop feels empty right now and it needs to food, fast. I did feed it some warm boiled peas and it ate them easy enough. I think its a little older than told earlier. Its feathers are about 1 inch long but they are bare.

 

[Jay3]

Peas are good. Warm, not hot. Make sure you give him about 30 peas every time the crop empties. Probably be about 3 times a day. Just make sure the crop empties between feedings. Gently dip his beak into some tepid water, but not over the nostrils. Eventually he will learn to drink.

 

[altgirl35]

Yes like jay said, wrap him in a towel and gently open his beak and put 1 pea in and let him swallow

 

[PDY55]

How do you post an image?

 

[altgirl35]

Hit the go advanced button down next to the quick reply button
Then on the tool bar hit the paper clip and you can upload a pic from your puter

 

[PDY55]

The pics are too big but I think he is doing well. His feathers are starting to get little tufts on the ends. The only thing is that he keeps squeaking and squeaking I don't know what the problem is. He is fully fed but not drinking water yet. How should his poop look like?

 

[PDY55]

Also I have noticed that I can see the peas through the skin from underneath. His crop has not emptied since I fed him 2-4 hrs ago.

 

[altgirl35]

They always act like they are starving even when they couldn't be any fuller
The way of the squeakers
Don't feed till crop empties

 

[PDY55]

Also, the squab is flapping/vibrating its throat. Is that normal? How often will it need wat
er?

 

[altgirl35]

I usually tube birds, will let someone else advise on how to get water into them with the pea popping method
You can try to dip his beak (not nostrils) in a water bowl to teach him to drink
Flapping is normal, it's part of the hungry dance
Not sure what u mean by vibrating throat

 

[PDY55]

Well, its like he's stretching the skin of his throat away from his body then taking it near again. He does it really fast and his throat looks like its vibrating. Its a little like a dog panting.

 

[altgirl35]

Hmmm that I cannot answer
How bout trying to get a video of it

 

[tjc1]

If he is opening his throat and panting I would open his beak and look down it to see if something is stuck or if he has a cheese like growth there may be canker. I have never seen a pigeon pant like a dog before.

 

[Quazar]

Normally an adult bird will pant like that if it has been flying hard and is stressed, needing water, or too hot. Obviously, being a youngster it hasnt been flying so that leaves stress, water or too hot.
You said you had a hot water bottle, is the bird able to get OFF the heat if it needs, also, is the bottle covered with a towel ?
maybe its a combination of all three, if its too hot & all the squeaking (which all young birds do most of the time) it is stressing as it is looking to you as its parent. Try dipping its beak in water as suggested (may have to do it several times).
Definately sounds to me like its hot and needs water.
Whatever you do, Do NOT try to force water down its throat or it may aspirate & die.
If it wont drink on its own you can dribble a few drops along the edge of its beak.

 

[PDY55]

There are very tiny specks of white at the beginning of the throat on the top.

 

[Dima]

That could be canker. Please post a picture. You will need to medicate him.

 

[PDY55]

Thanks for the info. I have replaced the bottle with a heating pad tthat I put on top of the box. I think the heating pad was too hot so I have taken it off for the time being. How much water does it need in a day? Also please tell me when and how to wean it.

 

[PDY55]

I can't take a pic because its not letting me keep its beak open and if I open it my fingers come in the middle. I'll keep trying but I gotta go to school now so I'll post after 6-7 hrs.