Pigeon problem, can't walk can fly

[ashbourn]

I know it is not a chicken but thought someone might have some insight on this problem.
I found a pigeon the other day flaping around the yard. It was able to fly but could not land on it's feet or walk. I was easily able to catch it and I have had it in a cage. It's legs do not appear to be broken and when I push on a leg it can push back, it does not walk at all. It can fly and moves it self around by flaping around the cage. It is eating and drinking but shows no improvement in the past few days other then getting used to it's living condition. This is the 3rd pigeon I found like this, one other I was able to catch but it only lived a day or 2 getting worse each day.
Any ideas would be great.
Joe Fox

 

[dlhunicorn]

could be mareks or a poisoned water supply (or heavy metal toxicity> they often eat anything they see including little bits of metal)...be sure to keep well away from your other stock and disinfect your hands and shoes after handling...
anytime you find birds like this the main problem is usally dehydration which will kill them quicker than what may be ailing them... you need to give electrolytes immediately (gatorade or pedialyte will do in a pinch)

 

[justusnak]

Sounds like poisoning to me. A few years back, we were finding birds in that condition every day it seemed. I was very worried ( even tho we didnt have chickens yet) so I called around to see who could check out these birds for AF ( avian flu) I was told the farmers, and factorys put poisons out to detere them from getting in the buildings and pooping all over. Its NOT RIGHT, but...legal. UGH! I was worried then that one of my dogs would eat a dying bird and get sick. How horrible.