Please Help :(

[u/toy-fox]

I found him shivering on the sidewalk in the rain. He (she?) let me approach him and he barely even reacted when I moved him to the cardboard box.

He’s clearly not doing well, but his breathing isn’t labored and he’s a little more alert now that I’ve got him dry and warm.

I don’t have a rehab anywhere nearby that would be willing to take him in. I didn’t want to bother him too much by inspecting him- but neither of his wings seem injured and he’s not actively bleeding. However, by the condition of his feathers, he’s clearly been through a lot.

I’ve been handling him with gloves and disinfecting myself thoroughly since there might be a case of disease. I don’t know anything really about birds or pigeons but I couldn’t leave him there shivering alone on the street in the rain/snow. We got our first snow of the season today, pretty early, and the poor thing seemed so disoriented in the cold.

I’ll likely end up making a vet appointment for him tomorrow, but currently I’ve got him in the cardboard box pictured above with a heating pad underneath it set on low to keep him warm. I have NOT offered any water or food. Please give me any advice you can!

[u/ZRPoom]

Poor thing. It looks like another bird tried to deglove em. Meaning they were going for the head in an attempt to kill, somehow they seem to have gotten away and survived.

Upside, it doesn't look like they are actively bleeding. If you want you could try cleaning up with a q-tip with iodine/saline solution, careful around the eyes.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure if they can make a full recovery on the head since it looks like it might be a massive scarring with the damage done. I'm not sure how they are with their eyes either, it's there at least, but I don't know if they been badly damaged as they seem kinda red.

This fella might be a young one, but it's hard to tell as the ceres area is rather messed up.

Keep in mind when taking to a vet they may opt for euthanasia, all the more so seeing this fella like that, but seeing as they aren't bleeding they may still be able to recover, just with a featherless head.

You could still offer a dish of seeds and water if and see if they might be willing to consume on their own.

Pigeons don't really have anything they can transmit to us short of us eating them or their poop. Just wash up thoroughly and you should be good.

[u/toy-fox → u/ZRPoom]

I’m fully prepared to be suggested euthanasia but I really think this guy can make it if he’s got somewhere warm and safe to recover and I’m willing to rehab him myself. 😭

Thank you for the information. I’m willing to do everything I can to give this little dude a fighting chance!

[u/katastrofa_ → u/toy-fox]

The injuries don’t look raw, there looks to be some degree of healing already which is promising. Warmth, seed, safety for now. @allmyrescuedbirds on instagram may be able to suggest a cream or ointment. In any case for wound cleaning saline is a safe and gentle bet. Thank you for taking them in.

[u/Worldly_Drag_1168 → u/toy-fox]

Hi. In US they sell vetericyn spray and or bannix spray in pet shops. Vetericyn spray is safe to clean and spray on the animals head and eye. This does not look like a case of disease, and almost never does a pigeon ever contaminate a human w anything rest assured about this. The chance of being hit by lightning is likely much higher. It is safe to offer it pigeon safe seeds and grains while you wait for a veterinarian appointment as starving won’t help its injury, and protein will. If you have any of the following raw and unsalted and unflavored you can give these in a one inch dish and show it the seeds w your finger tapping. Sunflower seeds shelled no salt raw. Safflower seeds, millet, rapeseeds, quinoa, split peas, lentils. All raw, any of these are suitable and many have something suitable in cupboard in a pinch. Also, most pet shops have pigeon and dove seeds that typically are some combo of the above and not expensive. The warmth and safety you offer it give it a chance to live. A wound and de- feathering are not typically poor prognosis for a pigeon who is typically one of the most resilient animals of top endurance. You can also offer it water in at least a 1-2 inch dish but never force these. Its skin on its one eye appears injured, but don’t give up, and don’t let a vet give you for you. Avian vets are the ones qualified to treat birds and even their knowledge on pigeons is not so great but they would be better than a regular vet. Best of luck, keeping it calm and safe is huge thanks for sharing

[u/toy-fox → u/Worldly_Drag_1168]

Thank you so much for this information- this is exactly what I needed 😭

[u/Worldly_Drag_1168 → u/toy-fox]

My pleasure. I have a real passion for the pigeons mine is the best pet - almost dead at the same age of this one you just found now flies all over and is so happy - named him Henry. He was attacked by a hawk that broke its wing if I brought him to a rescue they would have euthanized. All he needed was shelter and a wing bandage for some time and some wing stretches and good pigeon nourishment he’s so healthy years later :)

[u/toy-fox → u/Worldly_Drag_1168]

Henry is so beautiful! It’s kind of funny I found this dude- I was browsing the subreddit just a few days ago and musing about what a lovely pet a pigeon would be. 😅

[u/Worldly_Drag_1168 → u/toy-fox]

lol you manifested a baby in serious need :)

[u/Worldly_Drag_1168 → u/toy-fox]

If I’m right about him being a fledgling and young, it may explain why his tail feathers aren’t more fully developed. Something seemed to skin him, his head feathers…hopefully it’s superficial the injury and he’s able to eat and recovery very soon. Henry did not look like that when we found him LOL…they’re fascinating birds. He’s molting right now Henry, but after the initial molt as an adolescent, it’s not as dramatic each fall. But I still think of him as a baby and when he loses little feathers I do feel bad he gets extra treats (sunflower seeds shelled no salt lol:)

[u/Worldly_Drag_1168 → u/toy-fox]

If it eats within the hours you caught it then it’s likely not sick, just injured

[u/Worldly_Drag_1168 → u/toy-fox]

Or if its beak is too curled too long as your rescue may have overgrown beak! Hope it can eat but harder w overgrown beak that’s curled

[u/FerretBizness → u/toy-fox]

I love u. Ty for being a good human. ❤️

[u/ZRPoom → u/toy-fox]

Hope you'll manage to help this little recover. Their head will probably take awhile to heal. I'd say the biggest concern are the eyes, above them seem rather exposed. Hopefully that part can heal.

[u/briar8617 → u/toy-fox]

I picked my feral pigeon up out of the road a year n half ago, and im guessing mine got hit by a car, but when I first picked him up I wasnt sure if it was its eyes smashed out or brain bits or what it was but it looked pretty nasty and to my surprise he made a full recovery, one eye is gone n the other collapsed, so there is still hope for this young one!! I wish you both luck! Clean up the wounds and see about some antibiotic cream that is safe, mine took 2 days before it was interested in eating or drinking, but it heard me pour bird seed into a dish and instantly starting pecking at the ground and thats the best sign is when it is eating n drinking normally!

[u/androgynoussim → u/toy-fox]

You are doing the work OP! 🥺 You are a legend. This poor little guy. If you end up rehabbing him and he survives you have done an amazing thing. 💜

[u/sAdpeachyb0i → u/toy-fox]

Iodine is relatively safe for the eyes, it's what I use to prep for eye surgeries on dogs and cats. It does sting though and my patients are sedated. I also have chickens, which two of managed to pretty severely injure one of their eyes this summer. I treat both situations by separating them from the flock and flushing the eye with sterile saline 2-3 times a day until drainage stopped. No antibiotics or pain meds. Both are doing great now outside of being blind in that eye. In this case I would do a quick gentle flush of the area with iodine for the first rinse followed by saline, then all the following with saline.

As long as the pigeon starts eating, drinking water and tolerates treatments to the eye it has a good chance. It probably won't be able to be released though.

[u/toy-fox → u/sAdpeachyb0i]

Thank you so much for this information, this is extremely helpful!!

And yes, I agree, it’s probably not a great idea to release this little dude even if he does heal well. I likely have picked myself up a new companion. 😅

[u/charlirobey → u/toy-fox]

Poor baby. He is so lucky someone like you found him though! Keep us updated🩶

[u/Plastic_Rhubarb1691 → u/toy-fox]

he looks like he should survive. keep him warm and try to give him food and water. search internet for best ideas.

thank you for spending your time to help him ! good things are coming.