I received a call from an Avian Vet hospital where I do some volunteer work. She asked me to take on the home care of a young pigeon that has just started to eat seed on it's own. She mentioned that it has a splayed leg and the long-term plan is I give it home care for a couple more weeks, make sure it is able to fly well, then it will go to a pigeon sanctuary for disabled pigeons.
When I picked the pigeon up and got it home and examined it (it appears to be about 3 weeks to one month old) the left foot is turned in alright (the vet has not taped the splayed leg). I tried to tape the legs as per video on same for splayed leg but had to take it off--the pigeon went crazy and I was afraid it would hurt itself in it's cage. When I examined the leg it appears to me that this leg is perhaps turned in from an old bad break in two places, just below the knee joint on the hock, and also at the ankle and this injury is well healed. I would like to hear what others who have dealt with splayed leg feel. From what little I know, it appears that the younger the bird is during taping to correct the condition--the more likely it is to get some success. This bird is fully fledged and is just beginning to do the jumping exercises in order to gain flight. Is she too old to do anything to help the splaying of the leg, should I just leave it alone, or try and get the vet to tape it? I am to bring the bird in for weighing in a week but did not want to wait a week if I should tape immediately. Thanks
When I picked the pigeon up and got it home and examined it (it appears to be about 3 weeks to one month old) the left foot is turned in alright (the vet has not taped the splayed leg). I tried to tape the legs as per video on same for splayed leg but had to take it off--the pigeon went crazy and I was afraid it would hurt itself in it's cage. When I examined the leg it appears to me that this leg is perhaps turned in from an old bad break in two places, just below the knee joint on the hock, and also at the ankle and this injury is well healed. I would like to hear what others who have dealt with splayed leg feel. From what little I know, it appears that the younger the bird is during taping to correct the condition--the more likely it is to get some success. This bird is fully fledged and is just beginning to do the jumping exercises in order to gain flight. Is she too old to do anything to help the splaying of the leg, should I just leave it alone, or try and get the vet to tape it? I am to bring the bird in for weighing in a week but did not want to wait a week if I should tape immediately. Thanks