My first living scalped baby (Graphic pics)

[Thepigeonguy]

Since I’ve never found one that’s alive (unfortunately I don’t really have enough space to keep parents separate from the rest full time), this is a first for me. He’s
almost 30 days old.
I found his grandma (!) beating him up this morning, and I’m curious about how bad you guys think he is. I’m also worried about this: his legs aren’t working. They’re completely limp and he lays sprawled out on the ground.

I’m keeping him in the garage and he should be good there during the day. I’ve force fed and watered him pretty well.
I’m mostly worried about his legs, has anything like that happened to your birds?

 

[danceswithronin]

He looks like he has a puncture in the top of the skull, which probably means brain damage. If he's paralyzed I would cull personally.

Since I’ve never found one that’s alive

How many babies do you find getting scalped or killed by adult birds? If it's a regular or common issue I'd definitely figure out a way to separate them.

 

[Thepigeonguy]

He looks like he has a puncture in the top of the skull, which probably means brain damage. If he's paralyzed I would cull personally.



How many babies do you find getting scalped or killed by adult birds? If it's a regular or common issue I'd definitely figure out a way to separate them.

It looks pretty bad in the picture, however I don't think it broke bone.
I usually don't lose that many babies, because my birds aren't that broody, they almost never actually hatch their young. If they do hatch, they usually make it. This guy had the rest of the birds back with him because I thought that he was old enough (guess I thought wrong) to be okay. Also, these particular birds have historically been gentle (unlike some of my Birmingham Rollers.
I should add that this guy has had some walking problems (just delayed) and has never been very feisty or skittish. He probably does have week genes.

 

[danceswithronin]

It looks pretty bad in the picture, however I don't think it broke bone.
I usually don't lose that many babies, because my birds aren't that broody, they almost never actually hatch their young. If they do hatch, they usually make it. This guy had the rest of the birds back with him because I thought that he was old enough (guess I thought wrong) to be okay. Also, these particular birds have historically been gentle (unlike some of my Birmingham Rollers.
I should add that this guy has had some walking problems (just delayed) and has never been very feisty or skittish. He probably does have week genes.

The circled area is the area that concerns me the most.

 

[Thepigeonguy]

View attachment 1770748
The circled area is the area that concerns me the most.

Yes, in better lighting and a little cleaning, I can see it was broken. I've put him alone with his parents and temporarily moved the other birds away. We cleaned it then put some antibiotics on it. If he gets worse/doesn't get better I'll put him down, just to spare him some pain and suffering.

 

[cavemanrich]

Do you have overcrowding in your loft, for such activities to happen.???
I never encountered scalping of squabs.
Do you have individual breeding enclosures??? If not,,,, then maybe you should consider making some. This way the young get protection from the parent so the rest of the flock does not bully it. When you have squab free-roaming in the loft, a parent is not going to show up and provide bodyguard protection there.
I did encounter a splayed legs condition in 2 of my pigeons one time. Everything I tried, I could not get it to correct. Once the bandage supports were removed, the legs just did a split. Not sure if that was a genetic thing. Both squabs were from same hatch. They did not make to adult.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,, with your injured

 

[Hokum Coco]

I’m mostly worried about his legs, has anything like that happened to your birds?

Yes a few times I have been raising pigeons for decades. Culling is definitely and option I am leaning in that direction. On the other hand where there is life there is hope. I never had a squab survive such a severe scalping. The spayed leg condition would have been noticed long before this and in my opinion shows signs of brain damage due to the scalping. That being said culling is a decision that can only be made by you and you alone.

 

[Hokum Coco]

Once the bandage supports were removed, the legs just did a split.

Just for the record. I have seen pigeons with zip ties and an elastic left in place to aid in this condition permanently.

 

[Thepigeonguy]

We decided to put him down, because he was pulling himself around with his wings with his legs behind him. After testing, we also found that he had almost no feeling in his legs. It was very sad, but he was pretty miserable.

 

[HennyPenny2019]

We decided to put him down, because he was pulling himself around with his wings with his legs behind him. After testing, we also found that he had almost no feeling in his legs. It was very sad, but he was pretty miserable.

I am so sorry, it’s never easy, even when it’s the only option.