Should I help!?

lightchick

Crowing
6 Years
Apr 3, 2014
4,586
328
316
Minnesota
Ok so there is a bridge that these pigeons nest under and one of the babies fell out of the nest. I was wondering if I should help him out but he seemed oK and I left.
Two days later I went back and he was still there and I'm worried because he's not old enough to fly yet. I left again, but I'm still wondering if I should help or not.
He's about 3-4 weeks old and just walks around on the ground.
It looks like his parents have started another batch of eggs, because I don't see any babies in there and the parents are sitting on the nest.
There are two pairs of pigeons that nest there every year.
The dad of one pair is very pretty, like white with two brown bars on his wings.
 
There is NOOOOOO way I could ever reach the nest. It's like a bridge that cars drive over and under and there are a ton of sparrow nest under it too and they dive bomb me.
I would take him, but I didn't want to mess with him if he was OK and I don't know what I'd do with him after he's grown up. Is it possible to let him go after he can fly? I don't want him spreading sickness to my other pigeons or breeding with them once he grows up.
I'll save him if I must.
 
I would take a shoe-box or something else to carry it in, collect it, and find a wildlife rehabber who will raise him. I have rehabbed a few birds before, it's not easy to do so you will want to find someone who will take him.

After that, WASH YOUR HANDS!!! They carry mites and bird lice, which can be transferred to your poultry if you own any.
 
I agree with Chickenfan. Actually, my first thought was to ask if you're absolutely sure it hasn't just fledged and left the nest? I know little to nothing about pigeons and doves, so I'm not sure how they progress from chickhood to adulthood, but I Googled for pictures of pigeons and it looks like 3-4 week old pigeons are pretty much feathered in...

Oh, I found this as well. Read through it and see if you really need to intervene: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=36564

My gut instinct is to say it's probably just a fledgeling, but I really don't know, so best of luck!
 
If its got all of its feathers and is walking about fine...it sound be fine. It probably has just fledged.

You could put it up onto something high in a sheltered place under the bridge to help protect it from dogs or cats.

If you pick it up and its skinny then you know its not getting fed so you can take it home and feed it yourself or give it to a wildlife re habber.

But if its fat and seems healthy its kindest to leave it where it is.
 
Thanks everyone! I got him. I have 18 pigeons and 4 chicks so I know how to take care of him.
I know he LOOKS fledged, but the baby pigeon that I'm raising don't fly until 5-6 and I've had some that never flew until 7 weeks.
How long should I wait before intro to the other pigeons? I want to raise him until he can fly, but I don't know how to make sure he knows how to survive in the wild. Should I just not handle him or anything? I have another baby pigeon about the same age as him right now too.
 
Never mind guys. I put him back. I just didn't feel right taking him from the wild and so I put him back with some food for him and his parents.
His parents should feed him because I took him at night so they couldn't see and put him back early this morning.
And also I've takin baby pigeons away from their parents for like a week and then put them back and their parents still feed them.
I'm pretty sure he knows how to survive because he's been out of the nest for at least a week.
 

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