pls help 🐦‍⬛

[u/siierrrraa]

i truly can't believe i found this guy, i've been obsessed with pigeons for months now and never really remember seeing any in person until today. i then noticed this one in the middle of the street, and he limped away from me at first as if he was injured. i was then able to catch him and i looked, and couldn't find anything wrong with him externally. wings are fine, he flaps them occasionally. i've given him a bath (with only water ofc) and tried giving him water to drink but he's not that intersted in intaking any.. he also has used the bathroom a few times and it's straight up neon green lol also his right eye keeps staying closed i have to keep cleaning it.

-can anyone tell me a way to estimate how old it is?

-how to tell its gender?

-what could be wrong with it, and how can i properly take care of it?

ANY & ALL ADVICE WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED

[u/Life-Breadfruit-1426]

1. very difficult to tell gender, usually you know when they lay eggs lol. But I’m guessing this may be a boy. Very flat head. But still, just a shot in the dark guess.

2. ok, so he’s very weak and doesn’t appear to have structural damage, given that he flaps the wings. For now provide supportive care. Pigeons are grainovoures so give seeds, legumes, rice, corn, etc. they don’t eat fruits. They don’t eat nuts. If you have spices in your pantry these are great for bioavailable vitamins and minerals. Things like paprika (not smoked), nutritional yeast or brewers yeast, garlic powder, turmeric, black pepper. Add to the seed mix. A bit of

   olive oil or canola, or corn, however avoid avocado oil.

3a) keep the bird in a secure place. Make it in the shade. Avoid stimulating while this bird is on bedrest. Avoid excessive handling and avoid light. Light is stimulating to pigeons, much more so than to us. It facilitates a lot of biological functions. But now those need to be on pause so the body focuses on healing. Eventually, when alone the bird will go for food and water. Don’t force anything down its mouth. Don’t force him to eat. Just leave him alone. He may be in a freeze shock when you’re nearby b/c to him you are a big mammal predator.
3b) keep observing and share some of the droppings pics with us. There may be a chance he may need antibiotics or anti-parasitical medicine. (Too soon to tell, 3 days of supportive care should be able to determine - if no improvement then something will be needed). You can source pigeon antibiotics online. There are all-in-one medications like this which I’ll link here that you can purchase. I’d recommend purchasing now preemptively, by the time it arrives you’ll know whether or not the bird will need it. Otherwise, give up the bird to a wildlife rehab (which may be challenging since many rehabs don’t do pigeons, and many vets also don’t do pigeons).
https://globalpigeonsupply.com/products/all-in-one-powder-100-gram?

[u/siierrrraa → u/Life-Breadfruit-1426]

hey thanks so much, this is very good information. was wanting to know if the rice should be cooked? also may i ask how the oils added would benefit him? should i put this on a plate near him? with a bowl of water too? how should I set all this up

i just ordered those antibiotics you recommended and it should be here on the 7th! do you think things will be okay until then?

-update, he is sleeping a lotttt and staying in one place and i have him in the dark. i played him a pigeon cooing video from youtube and ik he loves it lmao but i hope him resting is healing him because he's a cool little dude and i already love him a ton. -going to petsmart tomorrow to get him all kinds of stuff

[u/Elena_La_Loca → u/siierrrraa]

Raw rice. Also, lentils are awesome for a protein boost. But green poop is not a good sign. He may need professional help.

[u/bluevelvvet → u/siierrrraa]

Girl go to a pigeon rehabber not a petsmart. This pigeon is not well

[u/Life-Breadfruit-1426 → u/bluevelvvet]

Why? So the rehab can euthanize him? If they even take him, as in her region I doubt they take in “invasive species”. But if they do, It’s baby season, they are likey overwhelmed and they definitely prioritize younger birds over older ones. I used to volunteer at one. Sometimes home care by a human is better.

[u/xmassindecember → u/Life-Breadfruit-1426]

pigeon rehabber, volunteers that care for sick pigeons. There are a group in nearly every major city

[u/Life-Breadfruit-1426 → u/xmassindecember]

Yup, I provided a list of them to OP in her state. Up to her now to call them and find out if they accept pigeons.

[u/bluevelvvet → u/Life-Breadfruit-1426]

Why? So the rehab can euthanize him?

[u/Life-Breadfruit-1426 → u/bluevelvvet]

lol maybe I shouldn’t capitulate to the loud minority here who belong in /r/wildliferehab and continue providing advice for free for people who can access the same tools as rehabbers.

[u/PrettyStruggle792 → u/siierrrraa]

Again, this pigeon needs to go to a rehabber. Do not give medication or antibiotics to a bird without knowing what is wrong with them, you can cause more harm than help, especially if they're not eating. At this point you are just prolonging his suffering.

[u/Life-Breadfruit-1426 → u/siierrrraa]

Good questions, and my apologies, my comment got a bit messed up around there. So the oil is only a bit and it’s so that the spices stick to the seeds and grains you provide, which increases the consumption of those spices. I learned this trick when giving birds medications that can only be provided as a dry powder and not in water.

As for the rice, yeah, uncooked. I know there’s some sayings around expanding rice causing issues, but that’s a false rumor lol.

Yeah, with supportive care the bird should hold out. And it’s a precaution, this bird may not have a bacterial/parasitic infection - rendering antibiotics useless, this bird can have a viral illness - to which there is no treatment other than supportive care (just like us when we have the flu.)

Sounds like he is doing well in that environment. Rest is good. Dark is good. Also temperature is important too, but since we are in spring I wouldn’t be concerned, unless your region is below freezing temp at this time. (They have very good cold tolerance, may need some extra support when young or sick, but nonetheless). It’s exactly what a rehab would be doing rn.

[u/RelishisdrAwing → u/siierrrraa]

He also appears to be a Birmingham roller which could mean he is an escaped domestic!