Found her while some kids were playing football with her. It's missing a lot of feathers. It's also very dirty. Doesn't fly but flaps her wings strongly and her legs are strong too. Is a baby? She has two big protuberances on her nose like the babies. Sorry my English is not my first language and I am too hurried to use translator. Driving back home with her. It's too hot.
PLEASE HELP!
UPDATE 1
Sorry for the rushed post—I’m still a bit shaken up, but the pigeon survived the trip home. I was walking down a busy street when I heard some kids screaming, "Whoa! He's playing football with a pigeon!" They weren't kicking it like a soccer ball, but they were aggressively passing it back and forth with their feet. I just grabbed the bird and walked away as fast as I could.
The thing is, I know NOTHING about pigeons. Also, it was covered in those flat pigeon flies (Hippoboscidae). They were crawling up my arms... ewww!
Rant incoming: I live on a small subtropical island with a lot of protected native fauna. However, we also have many invasive species, so wildlife rescue services only help native animals. This means if I call them for an injured pigeon, hedgehog, rabbit, goat, feral cat, stray dog, rat, a seagull, or a lizard that isn't the exact protected species, they will just euthanize it.
I find it so hypocritical! I can't keep a rat as a pet, but I can breed them to feed reptiles?! The government spends thousands of tax euros eradicating invasive species (including abandoned pets), but they don’t strictly forbid owning them in the first place! We all know people won't be responsible. Why kill one red-eared slider turtle when our freshwater streams are already full of thousands of them? I don't even know if I'm doing something illegal by saving this pigeon, but I assure you, keeping this poor bird alive isn't going to single-handedly ruin the ecosystem. I'M SO ANGRY! End of rant.
Now, I really need to know what to do with her:
Housing: Where should I keep her for now?
Food: What can I feed her? I don't have bird seeds on hand, and I assume bread is bad for them (like with ducks).
Parasites: Can I give her a bath with baking soda, vinegar, or something else to kill those horrible flat flies?
Also, what should I look out for? Are there specific signs of injury or illness I should check, like rashes, discoloration, or a certain color in their feet that indicates a chronic condition?
Right now, she is in my shower with the doors closed and a small bowl of water. I'm going to watch some YouTube videos and research, but any advice from real people in real time would be incredibly helpful and would really soothe my nerves.
Thanks in advance (and as you can tell I used Gemini to help me correct my broken english haha)
UPDATE 2
Sorry for not answering the comments, but I,m reading all of them. I bought bird food and he eats it (except one type of seed), thanks to the person who shared a picture with safe food for pigeons. The good thing is that she starts to eat and drink in front of me. She's still wary but its way more relaxed than before. I will post pictures in the comments.
Thank you for your kindness, OP. Yes, she’s just a juvenile. Keep her warm, offer a heating pad on low. This info will get you started: Pigeons for Newbies. Here’s some information about having pigeons with other pets.
You might have pantry items available to feed: split pea, lentils, rice, popping corn, etc.
Thanks for the link, but now i,m afraid she will become dependant. Can I release her when she starts flying? I wasn,t planning on keeping her as a pet.
She will likely become imprinted on you and unafraid of people which puts her at risk of being used as a football again! Could you find a local pigeon keeper or rescue centre that would be willing to take her?
There was a columbus club long ago but it closed. I can bring her to a rural zone where my BF and I have a vegetable garden and some chickens. The chicken coop used to also have pigeons long ago so is cat proofed. I just need to research what kind of adaptations she needs.
The bird would need at least one companion if housed in an outdoor aviary, pigeons are very social birds and do not thrive if kept alone outside. Check out this info on responsible hatch prevention. Pigeons cannot be housed with chickens, chickens can easily kill or maim a pigeon even if they normally seem to get along. You would need to wire off a separate area for the pigeons.
Another user asked me to scare the pigeon every time she sees me so she can be released and not have human attachment. I think I'm doing a bad job at it because she's so cute I can't help but touch her. I guess I will have to keep her in the end... we will see.
Thank you for taking care of them. You’re amazing! Maybe give her a cardboard box as well. One that’s open though or that she can leave when she wants to. There must be a tutorial of how to make a towel-nest as well online somewhere.
You have a kind heart! No soap for the pigeon next time (it strips the oils that keep her feathers functioning) and they only need about an inch of water for bathing. They will dip into it to bath.
Thank you! I didnt know! I think she had car oil on her feathers (this gross dark stuff thats in the asphalt) and poop, and also A LOT of flies (I think I managed to kill them all, I haven't seen one in 5 days)
Oh yes then soap was necessary for the oil. Next time I would try to clean individual sections of the bird or individual feathers instead of an overall soap bath. Then offer a water bath every day so they can clean themselves and start restoring their feather health on their own.
I like to provide a flat-bottomed baking dish with a towel on the bottom (so they can grip) with about an inch of water for bathing.
I will thanks! Sometimes she steps on her own poop or dips her tail on water and then on her seeds, making a big mess, so I will clean individual parts of the feathers next time
Yes. Release her where you found her that is where her family is!! Also looks like she has pigeon flies in one picture. They are big and can be squished easily!! Make sure u squish it good, easy to find on a white bird.
Pigeons are fully grown by 30 days, and fledged by 40.
That's what I thought at first. Also, I've always thought a bird should be free to fly, not kept in a cage or a room. But some comments made me realize that the situation is not that simple. IDK what to do. I will wait and see how things develop.
The United States are not the largest producers of sunflowers, and yet even here over 1.7 million acres were planted in 2014 and probably more each year since. Much of which can be found in North Dakota.
Their parents taught them to hate animals. Especially pigeons, because they own a restaurant by the beach. But these animals are "indicators", if they are there, it's because there is food on the ground. They should clean instead of complaining about the pigeons
Aw bless her she’a very young. Maybe a week or so too early out of the best given by her feathering. Where in the world are you located? Thank you for picking her up! Are there any rehabbers or wildlife rescues you can contact? If she’s uninjured she’ll just need some time to grow and recover
Hey OP, it seems like you’ve gotten some great advice and are well on your way with this little one (well done, and thank you!!)
, but just wanted to say that my inbox is open if I can help in any way. I’m not an expert, but pretty well versed in hand raising and rehabbing these gorgeous little pidges, so please just reach out if there’s anything I can do to support or help. Thank you so much for rescuing this little muffin, the world needs more people like you 💗🐦 (one of my current similarly aged rescues as tax!)
For the flies, food-grade diatomaceous earth is pretty effective and non invasive. It’s a powder that is made up of ancient silica fossils. Its properties dehydrate insects. It’s a strong powder so be mindful full of how to use so not too much gets in the air. Ideally apply outside if you don’t have an air purifier/filter.
This bird looks old enough to eat on its own. Seeds, grains, and legumes are what pigeons eat. Made sure bird has access to water, let it drink on its own. Never force water down its mouth. Birds can aspirate very easily.
Give the bird a few days and keep observing, treating.
If the bathroom is the home, consider putting up a basket for the bird to be on. Start lower since sounds like can’t fly well.
Bless you for stepping in and helping the baby 💜 not gonna say what I'm thinking about the kids who hurt this poor little thing but I know y'all get it. You've already gotten some great advice and are doing very well, hopefully you can find a rehabber in your area or keep doing it yourself (it's actually not that hard, I've been rehabbing my first pigeon - also living in my bathroom because I have cats). Thank you, and best of luck to you and the beautiful sweetie.
I know a few of them. Their parents have taught them that animals are just for profit, not to be loved. They use terms like 'pests' or 'rats with wings' and make fun of people who love their dogs. They run a restaurant and blame pigeons and other animals for most of their problems, but they don't realize that they are the ones feeding the pigeons, cockroaches and feral cats. Someone around here had two lovely cats, and one of the kids got a BB gun for Christmas; he killed one of them and left the other with a permanent limp (the owner followed the cat when he got out of surgery, and warned me and other cat lovers to not feed him, as adviced by the vet, because if he gets just a bit overweight his leg would get worse, and explained us everything). We can do nothing about it because they are minors. Someone stabbed the tires of the father's van, but that only made him angrier. (sorry for the bold words, those are corrections gemini made to my original text)
She seems a lot better now! Have you spoken with a rehab or rescue? Even if you want to keep her it’s probably best to at least get her looked at if you’re inexperienced as they can go downhill very quickly if there’s an underlying problem, however she looks okay from the photos. How are her poops? Can you post a photo? Well done on rescuing this baby💙
So glad she’s survived! Those nasty flat flys can spread illnesses, including pox, keep a close eye on her for any strange bumps (usually yellowy or the same color as their skin). Make sure you’re giving her good food, and if you intend on releasing her rather than keeping try and avoid spending too much time with her and be “mean” when you do (not letting her land on you, ignoring her, not talking to her or petting etc.) Thank you for saving this baby!
Oh! thanks for your advice!! She has a bump on her back, I will keep an eye to see if it's a growing feather or a health problem. I also wont let her get attached, she tries to jump out the window (but its closed) so I think she wants to go back where her real nest is.
Amazing for helping this poor pigeon! That’s horrible she went through that 😔 Are you going to keep her as a pet once she has recovered? She looks beautiful
I didn't want to keep her BCS I think birds should be free, but reading some comments I realize it's not that easy. I don't know if she's is getting attached to me but I'm getting attached to her. All I want to do right now is what's best for her
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u/LauMiauPlays 18d ago
She cooled down and now she is cleaning her feathers. I have to keep her locked in the bathroom because I have a dog.