HELP! I've come into possession of what appears to be an injured but salvageable Cuban racing pigeon, and I know NOTHING about pigeons other than what I've learned in the last little bit researching the band on this fellow that my wife's niece just gave us. We'd like to know how best to proceed - I'm nursing it now, and expect it to survive, but don't know yet whether it will fly again. At the very least, I'd like to let its owner know it's been found, and try to return it if it recovers sufficiently. I've found the FCC site (Federation of Cuban Pigeon-Fanciers), but my Spanish is too poor to figure out how to contact them. Any suggestions?
Details:
- Bright blue solid plastic leg band on right leg reads "FCC 2010 025397"
- Bird was collected late last night in Sulphur, Louisiana, on 7/11/12, after an employee noticed that it was hanging out behind a store for several days in a row. Has not been seen flying at all.
- It's very comfortable with humans and handling - doesn't flinch when touched, didn't struggle at all when I picked it up and examined it.
- It spent the day at my wife's office today with water and bread, in a newspaper lined tub where it sat calmly, mostly hunched down with eyes closed. It's now eating commercial pigeon feed and drinking water on its own in our den at home, but remains very still. Feels underweight to me, but what do I know? We raise quail, chickens & pheasants, though, so I was surprised that the keel was so prominent - worried that it might be too starved to recover.
- Dried blood under right axilla (armpit? whatever - right where wing & body join). I haven't felt an obvious break or cut, but haven't checked thoroughly, yet. Bird seems weak, and I don't want to stress it further until it's had more water, food, & rest. Keeping it indoors, in a warm, draft-free room. Will transfer to coop outdoors if it recovers.
Details:
- Bright blue solid plastic leg band on right leg reads "FCC 2010 025397"
- Bird was collected late last night in Sulphur, Louisiana, on 7/11/12, after an employee noticed that it was hanging out behind a store for several days in a row. Has not been seen flying at all.
- It's very comfortable with humans and handling - doesn't flinch when touched, didn't struggle at all when I picked it up and examined it.
- It spent the day at my wife's office today with water and bread, in a newspaper lined tub where it sat calmly, mostly hunched down with eyes closed. It's now eating commercial pigeon feed and drinking water on its own in our den at home, but remains very still. Feels underweight to me, but what do I know? We raise quail, chickens & pheasants, though, so I was surprised that the keel was so prominent - worried that it might be too starved to recover.
- Dried blood under right axilla (armpit? whatever - right where wing & body join). I haven't felt an obvious break or cut, but haven't checked thoroughly, yet. Bird seems weak, and I don't want to stress it further until it's had more water, food, & rest. Keeping it indoors, in a warm, draft-free room. Will transfer to coop outdoors if it recovers.
