Found pigeon

[crc310]

Today my sister found a homing pigeon on her window sill. After several hours they gave it water and wheat bread. It was very friendly, kept trying to get in their windows and flew circles around ppl. Luckily I was going to be there today (I live an hr away in a rural area). It has a zip tie around it's leg but no ID band. I have lost pet ads on Craigslist and local FB lost and found pages. I have chickens and a guinea so I have Layena crumbles, grain scratch, poultry grit (pea sized), and calcium (pea sized). Can I give these to it temporarily? I plan on finding it a home since I don't have proper housing and hubby doesn't want anymore animals... I have an XL dog crate for now and can keep it in basement. I was going to keep it in our dog pen but the pigeon is thin and small. The crate holes are too big and my chickens would prob kill it if I tried housing it in the crate in my coop (10'x10' shed). Going to store tomorrow to get millet, should I get a finch our wild bird food too? Any suggestions welcome! Btw, was found 2 miles N. Of Detroit in Macomb County (Center Line/ Warren area) and it needs a forever home! Thanks!

 

[ralph a]

Your scratch feed will do just fine. I house some of my pigeons with my hen all winter. I have a few place up high just for my pigeons to roost on. They eat chicken feed all winter and do fine. My chickens for the most part don`t bother them.

 

[crc310]

Thanks! I also picked up a little finch food, parakeet food, oat groats, millet sprays. That was the first time I saw it eat some food.

 

[Mr Beaks]

I have a question I hope someone can answer. Three days ago a pigeon flew into my chicken run and landed on the shade canopy just above my head. I noticed it has a red band on its leg and it's leg is all lumpy/infected looking from the band all the way up to under its wing. It seems to preen a lot and looks like it may be itchy. It visits every day, several times a day. What should I do about this bird? I worry that my flock will end up catching a disease. The pigeon is friendly but will not let me close enough to catch it or read it's band.

 

[laughingdog]

Make atrap that has feed in it like box trap or string on door to close after it gets in.

 

[Mr Beaks]

Make atrap that has feed in it like box trap or string on door to close after it gets in.

Thank you for taking the time to respond. I really appreciate it! Just after I posted my question she flew off and hasn't returned. I saw her go and land on the roof of our backyard neighbors house and I am certain that is where she belongs as they seem to have an outdoor aviary. We are fairly new to this area but I can hear all the birds over there, especially at night. Kinda sad though, I was growing rather fond of the little bugger . Thanks again for your response.

 

[Shiza]

The first bird on this post is considered a "Squeaker." When you're breeding racing, homing pigeons that is just a fledging.. You can tell by how small it is.
An actual racing pigeon will have a band on it's foot with a number and the year of birth. There is a registry that you can go to, to check for missing birds.
This bird was definitely NOT in a race.

Sometimes, people will loose a "First Flight" bird. It takes time and patience to train a good Racing Homer.

I'd sooner say if there's just a plain band on, it's not a very important bird.

They will eat just about anything, just not sunflowers in the shell. Chicken feed might not be good either but a pigeon will eat just about anything. People that are into racing have they're own special food......
One pigeon lover will never tell another his secrete blend!

 

[laughingdog]

A good old time racer will share with usually young enthusiastic apprentice.
As a few have that are now more over retired racers, though more self important american ones don't do that here. What good being best thinking if nothing to test against n with.

You could go show interest asking about your neighbors birds, and maybe that one wasn't theirs and just hanging out or trapped in. They may share pair or few with you of young.. I do with white racers and Birmingham rollers.