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Puffed Up Abandoned Baby Pigeon

1204 Views 11 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  TAWhatley, 
K
My pigeon is puffed up and not moving as much as he should. I am in Fresno, California. He is warm and has lots of droppings also. I am not sure how old he is, but he has a lot of feathers on him. I was wondering how much of the hydrating solution to give him and how often do I give it to him. I left a message at our local fish and game department, but they are closed now and I don't want the pigeon to die before I can get him proper help. Thank you.
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Charis
I'm sorry no one has responded to your thread.
Please don't think your fish and game department will do anything to help this Pigeon. If they do anything at all, it most likely will be to euthanise it.
It sounds like this is a baby Pigeon. They aren't all that difficult to care for.
Can you post a picture?
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TAWhatley
Hi Kdheart and welcome to Pigeon-Talk. Is this a pet pigeon of yours or one you have rescued? If it is a rescue, there are a few resources sort of in your area .. 60 miles or so away. I can at least put you in touch with one or two rehabbers that could give you some advice over the phone or perhaps take in the bird if you could transport it to them. Please get back to us.

Charis is right in that fish and game won't likely be able to help. They may be able to refer you to a rehabber in the area, but many permitted rehabbers do not take in pigeons.

You might be able to get some advice from the Fresno Wildlife Center but would probably have to care for the pigeon yourself: http://www.fresnowildlife.org/

Terry
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maryjane
Please keep him warm and hydrated until you can get help for him. A heating pad set on low with a towel works. I hope he does okay.
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Whitefeather
kdheart said:
My pigeon is puffed up and not moving as much as he should. I am in Fresno, California. He is warm and has lots of droppings also. I am not sure how old he is, but he has a lot of feathers on him.

I was wondering how much of the hydrating solution to give him and how often do I give it to him.

I left a message at our local fish and game department, but they are closed now and I don't want the pigeon to die before I can get him proper help. Thank you.
Click to expand...
This is a very important question, as a pigeon must be kept hydrated. Is there any white in the droppings? If so, then he is at least getting some fluids.

If this pigeon is able to drink on his own, offer him a small dish of rehydrating solution. If he is not able drinking on his own, you can fill an eyedropper with the rehydrating solution and then place a drop or two alongside his beak. Do this in short intervals and several times if need be. This will help to keep him hydrated while you are trying to find assistance.
Here is the link to the life saving steps, thread.
http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/f25/basic-steps-to-saving-the-life-of-a-pigeon-or-dove-8822.html

Could you elaborate a bit more on the bird? Is this a rescued feral? Does he appear ill or injured or perhaps just a youngster?
A picture would be of great help.

Please keep us posted.

Cindy
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K
Puffed Up Baby Pigeon

This baby pigeon was abandoned by his mother. I don't know why. Maybe because he is sick? He has some white in his droppings. And yes, please give me any numbers for people in my area who could take him in. I would be able to transport him there. I took a picture of him on my cell phone. I will try to take a better pic later today. I have him inside on a sock filled with warmed rice. He seems to like it. I also cover him with a warm towel. Thank you for all the advice you have given me. He seems to be doing a little better today.

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Jaye
KD, if the bird is still with us, and nobody has replied or given you leads to someone in your area...you are gonna have to start feeding it ASAP. It is very young, maybe a week old.

You are doing well keeping her warm. She needs hydration as mentioned above. It also needs food...it cannot survive without eating for 2+ days.

It isn't hard to do...but you need some supplies. Please review the handfeeding thread here.

Kaytee exact Baby bird handfeeding formula (pet store). Pedialyte (grocrery store) Plastic syringe or eyedropper.

...keep us posted, too. Thanks for helping the lil' guy.
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Charis
That little bird looks rather Dove like to me...maybe it's just the picture.
What do you all think?
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TAWhatley
It IS a baby pigeon. I've been working on getting this little one somewhere for care. I think our member, Bruce Lowe, is going to step up to the plate and bat on this one. I'll know for sure tomorrow.

The plan for today was for kdheart to get the bird to Bruce or one of two other people I had lined up .. that didn't work out for whatever the reason.

I talked to Bruce tonight about a totally different bunch of pigeons and a dove that are coming down to me tonight, and he will be following up tomorrow on this bird.

Terry
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Whitefeather
AZWhitefeather said:
Could you elaborate a bit more on the bird?

Is this a rescued feral? Does he appear ill or injured or perhaps just a youngster?
A picture would be of great help.

Please keep us posted.

Cindy
Click to expand...
Kdheart,
Thanks for the added information.
He's definitely a youngster. :)

I hope everything works out for you to get him to someone for assistance. In the event it takes a little longer than planned, it looks like he might be old enough to be fed formula via a baby bottle nipple.

Please keep us posted.

Cindy
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K
3
Puffed Up Baby Pigeon Update

My little guy seems to be doing well. I am feeding him the LaFeber formula and he is flapping his wings and hopping around. I am going to start him on the seed tomorrow. I thought he was sick at first, but he seems to be fine. No injuries and he is moving and squeaking all over the place. I feed him with a syringe and he is getting more and more used to that. He eats a lot! lol I also put a tiny bowl of water next to him and let him get that himself. I hope I am taking care of him properly. I want to keep him, but am worried about him being dependent on me. I don't have any other hand fed pigeons or birds. What do I do when it comes time for him to fly? Is he going to be ok in the wild after I have taken care of him? Here are my latest pics of him. He is so precious! We call him Squeakers.

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TAWhatley
Squeakers is lookin' good! Keep up the good work! This youngster will likely be very, very tame because s/he is being hand raised and without any other pigeon youngsters. If you want to keep Squeakers as a pet, then all is well. If you want to release Squeakers to the wild, then it would be best to get the bird to somewhere s/he can be with other pigeons being raised for release.

Terry
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