Found a pigeon -- how to help it

[AntiqueB]

My friend found a pigeon on the ground when she went to fill her feeder. It didn't fly away. She put up a temporary shelter around it, and the pigeon was still there in the morning, so she took it inside, thinking it might be cold (it's been below freezing for a few days).

It is living in her bathroom, and seems to be able to fly. It managed to fly onto the sink from a table a couple feet away, but it doesn't fly any further, and doesn't make much effort to get away from her when she picks it up.

It has a lump on the side of its neck, but if it's an injury, it's an old one because there is neither blood nor scab. The eyes are clear and bright, there is no nasal discharge. It does eat and drink.

It has no band, so it's wild, but we don't want to put it outside where a raccoon or cat will inevitably get it. Does anyone have any idea what might be wrong, how to help it, and what they eat? She's been giving it bird seed and chicken feed.

Thank you!

 

[horror_trashcan]

Said lump could be a tumor or honestly anything, if she wants it to live as long as possible I would say to keep it until it passes or until it begins trying to get away from her when she tries to pick it up- that is not normal wild animal behavior so I would expect it to be ill of some sort. If its eating and drinking it looks like you have a new pet Pidgeon

 

[Qwerty3159]

Any photos of the pigeon/lump?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Have you guys not heard of Avian Influenza???? You should not be handling sick wild birds at all! Instead call your local wildlife officer. Wash your hands!!!

 

[AntiqueB]

It has no symptoms of AI. It has no nasal discharge, wheezing, or rasping. Eyes are clear and bright. He is eating and drinking, just not flying much, or attempting to get away.

I can ask for a photo in the morning, but it basically only appears as a spot where the feathers kind of rise away from the skin. You can feel it when you pet him, though.

And I always wash my hands!

 

[Qwerty3159]

Have you guys not heard of Avian Influenza???? You should not be handling sick wild birds at all! Instead call your local wildlife officer. Wash your hands!!!

It’s interesting you bring up avian influenza since the cases that they just revealed in California were from poultry house workers, not people helping injured wildlife. It’s a shame BYC doesn’t yet have a medal for leaving a judgmental comment that contributes nothing

A common disease pigeons can get that causes them to develop lumps is pigeon pox. It’s a pretty horrific illness though and doesn’t really sound like what your pigeon has going on. It could be an odd tumor, weird lump from a healed injury, etc. One of my homing pigeons took a bad gash to the flank from a hawk a few years back, and while it is completely healed and the pigeon flies and lives happily, the skin underneath is definitely a different texture and you can feel where the injury occurred. Pics will help!

 

[AntiqueB]

This is the picture I have. (I asked for others.) You can kind of see the feathers sticking out on the side of his neck, just above the box. Other than that, it's really more tactile than visual. I couldn't find a scar, but the skin is normal pink, just with a horizontal lump under it. It makes me think of a large splinter that healed under the skin. He didn't mind my touching it, either.

 

[horror_trashcan]

This is the picture I have. (I asked for others.) You can kind of see the feathers sticking out on the side of his neck, just above the box. Other than that, it's really more tactile than visual. I couldn't find a scar, but the skin is normal pink, just with a horizontal lump under it. It makes me think of a large splinter that healed under the skin. He didn't mind my touching it, either.
View attachment 4013441

He is very cute, I have no other advice but he is just super cute.

 

[Evadig]

@CCsGarden maybe you could help? Don't know if you do pigeons as well as doves ?

 

[fowltemptress]

Pigeons are doves. And oh my gosh, I always forget how cute they are! Those cute little nares kill me. I would definitely feel inclined to keep it, but also make sure it doesn't have access to any other birds, and wash before handling other birds. They're easy to tame in my experience, but as with anything, you or your friend would need to be willing to put in the time to tame it.
If there are any other pet birds in the house I'd get it out immediately. Dander spreads rapidly through a home.