Found a baby pigeon, please help.

[tacothechicken]

I raised a feral earlier this year as Biophiliac and the others know and he was a little monster cleanliness wise a pain to feed too so he always had something on his feathers! Pigeon don't seem to take baths until fully feathered and don't seem very water proof till a few weeks post that :/ I found waiting till after a meal or evening when they're tired is the best time to groom them whith your fingers or tweezers to get gunk off. Its also a bonding thing that they kinda enjoy. Now my boy has his own mate & flock and doesn't need me but he still says hello and claims me as his property in the loft XD

 

[biophiliac]

I raised a feral earlier this year as Biophiliac and the others know and he was a little monster cleanliness wise a pain to feed too so he always had something on his feathers! Pigeon don't seem to take baths until fully feathered and don't seem very water proof till a few weeks post that :/ I found waiting till after a meal or evening when they're tired is the best time to groom them whith your fingers or tweezers to get gunk off. Its also a bonding thing that they kinda enjoy. Now my boy has his own mate & flock and doesn't need me but he still says hello and claims me as his property in the loft XDView attachment 1542043 View attachment 1542048 View attachment 1542051

Glad you shared your experience. I would have been guessing that plucking the poop away by hand is the way to go. He has grown up handsome!

 

[LemmysCoop]

Very beautiful birdie! Gilbert (yes..I've named him) is finally, FINALLY starting to eat whole peas when I hand feed him with pinch beak. Otherwise he just pecks at it without opening his mouth. I will groom him shortly. Most likely tomorrow night as that's my only real free hours to spend a long time with him.
My mother wants me to release him when he's full grown. It's probably the best for him as we have two cats and hawks frequent our backyard (I think we have a nest). I'm not completely sure though as I know pigeons like to show up at their 'parents' house (right?) and I would prefer a hawk not getting to him if he ever did stop by.

 

[LamarshFish]

Honestly, with everything you're considering, and the fact that it seems like you have chickens, it might be easiest to simply feed a non-medicated chicken layer pellet. Pigeons do very well on chicken layer pellets, so long as it's not medicated. These feeds often offer bonuses like probiotics, and since they're pelletized you don't have to worry about feeding grit for the likely short period you're caring for it.

Somebody above mentioned pigeons need 7-8% protein somewhere. I think this is quite a bit too low, especially if the bird is active and flying, and maybe certainly too low for a growing squab or squeaker. I would stick around 14-16%, which is right around what most layer pellets are. I know Purina Layena layer pellets have around 15 or 16%, include probiotics and are not medicated. Some even have prebiotiocs and yeasts that are also beneficial to pigeons.

I've heard some people say the calcium is too high in chicken layer pellets for non laying pigeons, but I would only split hairs on this concern if you were looking into a long term diet.

If you cannot get the non medicated chicken layer pellets, for the short term, whole corn and or sunflower seeds should work fine. Of course, a well balanced pigeon mix (peas, whole corn, millet, milo, etc) is best, but I would imagine corn or sunflower seeds would work to keep this feral squab alive. With these foods though, the bird does need grit. If you can find chicken oyster grit and crush it smaller than it comes for chickens, maybe the size of a small booger (sorry no better analogy lol), that would work.

 

[LemmysCoop]

So far he's doing very well..I don't think I will post many more questions here but I may. You've all been a great help! I dont know what I would've done without this forum.
Gilbert is now pecking and sometimes swallowing seeds on his own and I can feed him peas rather easily. He does really like to hop up on me and 'cuddle' and is pretty active. Probably will be just fine.

 

[LemmysCoop]

New report! Still doing pretty good, the little guy likes running and flapping at me while whistling pretty loudly for food. Speaking of which I have come back with questions!

1. He only eats out of my hand..and only eats peas. Seed and cut corn are rejected and tossed out of my palm by him. I would like him to start eating out of the container so he can get at food when we release him. How do I do this?

2. Is a pea only diet hurting the bird? I have noticed that his feces have become less of raisin sized watery droppings to now a semi solid matter? It is also larger and he drops them less. heres the dropping and it's a bit hard to see since I cleaned him off but his droppings get all over his legs! Ick

3. How can I tell when he is full? I know he has a crop I can check but where specifically is that located? Also does he know when he is full so he will stop eating before he makes himself sick?

 

[biophiliac]

New report! Still doing pretty good, the little guy likes running and flapping at me while whistling pretty loudly for food. Speaking of which I have come back with questions!

1. He only eats out of my hand..and only eats peas. Seed and cut corn are rejected and tossed out of my palm by him. On Monday you said he was eating seeds and oatsI would like him to start eating out of the container so he can get at food when we release him. How do I do this?

2. Is a pea only diet hurting the bird? I have noticed that his feces have become less of raisin sized watery droppings to now a semi solid matter? It is also larger and he drops them less. heres the dropping and it's a bit hard to see since I cleaned him off but his droppings get all over his legs! Ick

3. How can I tell when he is full? I know he has a crop I can check but where specifically is that located? Also does he know when he is full so he will stop eating before he makes himself sick?

1) Just put the food in a container, he will eat when he gets hungry. His parents would have stopped feeding him by now. They begin by ignoring his begging. You can still play with him.

2) The peas can sustain him for now but you should add some bird seed mix so he learns to eat a varied diet like he will have to when he is free. On Monday you said he was eating seeds and oats, give those back and decrease the amount of peas in his diet gradually over a weeks time. Pigeons always eat their favorite items first but will finish the rest when hungry. His poop looks healthy to me. I don't understand why he is getting it on his legs. When they poop they spread the feathers around the vent and eject the feces away from themselves. Even watery dropping do not seem to get on my birds.

3) Now that he is feeding himself he knows when he is full and will not overeat like a dog might do for example

 

[LemmysCoop]

Hey everyone..it's been a long time. Gilbert's doing great! We think he might actually be a she. Also my parents have grown attached as well and.. Well we have a pigeon living with us now. Couldn't shake Gilly off even we went let her out for awhile as she stood on the window until we let her in.
She's the boss of my other pets basically, the dogs are all scared of her and even the cat's back off whenever they do get a chance to spot her before we put them away.
Gilbert is hanging out with me in my room right now
She's very good. I love her. The only thing I really dislike but can live with is the constant biting, sometimes it can hurt quite a bit (especially on my inner arm..) and almost always causes welting (I welt easily though). I heard this is just a phase but I want to make sure this doesn't go into adulthood. any tips?
she really likes phones.
I can't upload the video I took but she makes this grunting noise a lot, not cooing. What is this?