Hurt Pigeon?

[FloweredHemlock]

I found a pigeon in my driveway and it didn't seem okay, I couldn't tell if it was injured or if it was just exhausted so I've put them in a kennel until I can figure out what to do with them. I didn't want to just let them die or get eaten by the neighborhood cats, and I have no idea how to care for an unwell wild pigeon. Ive given it food and water because it doesnt have any outward injuries that I can see. I've posted the pictures I could get of her, and she's eating and showing interest in the water but my dogs keep startling her. Any advice would be welcome, I just don't have the heart to let them die without at least trying to help.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you contact a bird rescue?

Not sure what's going on. I'd provide water and bird seed. If you have a little chick grit, provide that too. I give my Pigeon chick grit and bird seed.

I'm going to assume she probably has lice, so check for those. If you spread the wing and hold it to a light, often you can see them. A little Permethrin dust rubbed in will help. They don't like their feathers ruffled, but we can't have lice either.

Look inside her beak for any signs of Canker (yellow to white pasty material). If there is any, do be sure to not share any containers/food/water with chickens or other birds you have. Canker is contagious and Pigeons can have it.

Wonder if she flew into something and dinged herself. Hopefully she'll be bright in a day or so and then you can determine what to do with her.

 

[FloweredHemlock]

Can you contact a bird rescue?

Not sure what's going on. I'd provide water and bird seed. If you have a little chick grit, provide that too. I give my Pigeon chick grit and bird seed.

I'm going to assume she probably has lice, so check for those. If you spread the wing and hold it to a light, often you can see them. A little Permethrin dust rubbed in will help. They don't like their feathers ruffled, but we can't have lice either.

Look inside her beak for any signs of Canker (yellow to white pasty material). If there is any, do be sure to not share any containers/food/water with chickens or other birds you have. Canker is contagious and Pigeons can have it.

Wonder if she flew into something and dinged herself. Hopefully she'll be bright in a day or so and then you can determine what to do with her.

Thank you so much for this! Everyone else in my household told me to just let it die and that a vet or whatever would just kill it cuz no one cares about pigeons but they're such lovely birds. I haven't touched it, used a towel to catch it just in case she was sick or like you said, had lice. I kept her overnight and she seems to be doing better. My mom is the one who saw her hobble into the corner of our little porch, they thought she had a broken wing but I saw her stretch her wings and they're not droopy so Im going to keep her a little longer and try to release her later. I don't know much about pigeon behavior but I think she's gonna be okay!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you so much for this! Everyone else in my household told me to just let it die and that a vet or whatever would just kill it cuz no one cares about pigeons but they're such lovely birds. I haven't touched it, used a towel to catch it just in case she was sick or like you said, had lice. I kept her overnight and she seems to be doing better. My mom is the one who saw her hobble into the corner of our little porch, they thought she had a broken wing but I saw her stretch her wings and they're not droopy so Im going to keep her a little longer and try to release her later. I don't know much about pigeon behavior but I think she's gonna be okay!

I think they are lovely too. They are quite gentle.
Stretching the wings is a good sign. In the photos she doesn't look in that bad of shape, sick or hunched up, she's alert.
Is she eating/drinking?

If you are going to keep her for a while and it not really cold, provide her with a separate shallow(ish) dish of water so if she's inclined, she can take a bath. Pigeons water bathe, chickens dust bathe. I did not know this until I "found" mine LOL She may or may not take a bath, a lot depends on how comfortable she is and if she's been injured and sore, she may not feel like splashing about just yet.


Mine found me sort of. She was banded and 100+ miles from home, had been in the wind, rain and through polar vortex and was fairly weak. I was able to track the owner and they didn't want her back, she'd gone missing for a few weeks, so I kept her. Food, water and some warmth brought her back around after a couple of days.
I still do not know much about Pigeons, there's so much to learn and I'm still learning about chickens!
This is mine; I really like her. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/pigeon-talk.1276029/post-27483752

 

[FloweredHemlock]

At think they are lovely too. They are quite gentle.
Stretching the wings is a good sign. In the photos she doesn't look in that bad of shape, sick or hunched up, she's alert.
Is she eating/drinking?

If you are going to keep her for a while and it not really cold, provide her with a separate shallow(ish) dish of water so if she's inclined, she can take a bath. Pigeons water bathe, chickens dust bathe. I did not know this until I "found" mine LOL She may or may not take a bath, a lot depends on how comfortable she is and if she's been injured and sore, she may not feel like splashing about just yet.


Mine found me sort of. She was banded and 100+ miles from home, had been in the wind, rain and through polar vortex and was fairly weak. I was able to track the owner and they didn't want her back, she'd gone missing for a few weeks, so I kept her. Food, water and some warmth brought her back around after a couple of days.
I still do not know much about Pigeons, there's so much to learn and I'm still learning about chickens!
This is mine; I really like her. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/pigeon-talk.1276029/post-27483752

Unfortunately it is quite cold and we've been having rain, but I've kept her fairly warm and very dry. Problem is, I opened the door to let her fly out if she was feeling better, took a while but eventually she hopped out. She tried to fly and I immediately saw what was wrong, she has a broken wing. It's not the worst break I don't think but I've never delt with a broken wing or even a broken bone. At this point I'm not sure what to do, I've only had to work with open wounds so far so this is beyond my knowledge.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Unfortunately it is quite cold and we've been having rain, but I've kept her fairly warm and very dry. Problem is, I opened the door to let her fly out if she was feeling better, took a while but eventually she hopped out. She tried to fly and I immediately saw what was wrong, she has a broken wing. It's not the worst break I don't think but I've never delt with a broken wing or even a broken bone. At this point I'm not sure what to do, I've only had to work with open wounds so far so this is beyond my knowledge.

I've not dealt with a broken wing either.
Is she "using" or moving the wing at all?

Hard to know what to do. It may heal o.k. on its own, birds are pretty good at self limiting their activity.
Splinting is another option, but you'd want to make sure which part of the wing is broken so you wrap/splint it the correct way. I've included a splinting manual below.

I'll tag in @Amer and @cavemanrich to see if they have any tips or suggestions.

https://theiwrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Duerr_Splinting_Manual_2010.pdf

 

[Amer]

I've not dealt with a broken wing either.
Is she "using" or moving the wing at all?

Hard to know what to do. It may heal o.k. on its own, birds are pretty good at self limiting their activity.
Splinting is another option, but you'd want to make sure which part of the wing is broken so you wrap/splint it the correct way. I've included a splinting manual below.

I'll tag in @Amer and @cavemanrich to see if they have any tips or suggestions.

https://theiwrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Duerr_Splinting_Manual_2010.pdf

One of my birds hurt her wing and she didn't even appear to have anything out of place but she never flew again. Fortunately because of the loft design she got by fine.

 

[cavemanrich]

A broken wing may take a while to heal.
for taking pigeon in.
Some wildlife rescue will take animals regardless of type. Other, may be more selective.
If you can,, keep in your home, until you may find someone that would take in an injured pigeon.
You can just feed pigeon wild bird seeds.
As for water,,,,,,,,, the bowl/dish needs to be somewhat deep. 1 inch or a little deeper will do. Pigeons drink differently than chickens. They immerse their beak totally, and drink like using a straw.
I will tag @CCsGarden
She is knowledgeable in such things.

 

[CCsGarden]

How is he today? He looks okay in the pictures? Does he put weight on both feet?

 

[Blue Andalusian]

I found a pigeon in my driveway and it didn't seem okay, I couldn't tell if it was injured or if it was just exhausted so I've put them in a kennel until I can figure out what to do with them. I didn't want to just let them die or get eaten by the neighborhood cats, and I have no idea how to care for an unwell wild pigeon. Ive given it food and water because it doesnt have any outward injuries that I can see. I've posted the pictures I could get of her, and she's eating and showing interest in the water but my dogs keep startling her. Any advice would be welcome, I just don't have the heart to let them die without at least trying to help.

I've never Rescued a Pigeon, But i have Rescued a Wood Duck and a Baby Bird. I took the Wood Duck to a Wildlife Rehab, Maybe you could try Contacting a Bird Rescue/Wildlife Rehab. Good Luck, Though!