Hi there, looking for some urgent advice.
I found a 2 week old wood pigeon on the side of the road about two weeks ago- he was very cold and thin with an empty crop and covered in mites, wandering around.
I picked it up and took it home, treated the bugs and started feeding it a baby pigeon formula, using the bottle technique with a rubber glove. 2 weeks later he's much stronger, larger and has double the feathers, his baby down has left his body everywhere but his head, and he can fly.
I started to wean him on peas, as he was going off the bottle. He took to the peas, but still struggled to eat large quantities, and also found it difficult to eat seeds. (he seemed to be able to eat small stones with no problem, though)
I started to take him outside for 10 minutes per day, and put grains in the grass for him to pick at, and learn about feeding this way. On Monady, however, during one of our feeding sessions, a neighbors cat leapt out of nowhere at him, which startled him and he flew high into a tree.
I called him for hours, but he wouldn't come down. Eventually after much exhaustive efforts to retrieve him, he flew away as it was getting dark and cold, and I didn't see him all night. I live in England, and it's getting very cold and wet on the nights.
Today, it's been raining all day. After searching and calling every hour for him in the garden, I spotted him on the fence during a brief moment of sunshine, when other pigeons began to land in the garden to eat. He looked very wet from the rain. I tried to call him and slowly go over to him, but he didn't respond to my calls and flew off, and I've not seen him since.
My worry is that he can't feed himself, he's hungry, cold and wet or he won't survive another night. He can fly very well and clearly can flee danger, but wasn't too great at feeding himself without assistance, and does not have full feathering under his wings yet (it's about 85% feathered). It's now 8 pm in England and getting dark- we are due for a rain storm over the next 2 days. Even if he miraculously appears back in my garden again, I have no idea how I'd catch him as he's fast, and is no longer keen on being handled and doesn't approach when called.
All help is appreciated- could a pigeon this age survive on it's own, and is there a posibility he'd be able to make it through to next week, when the rain has passed? I noticed that pigeons do not come to the floor during rain or cold.
Many thanks
This is the last photograph (Right) I have of him, taken on Saturday.
I found a 2 week old wood pigeon on the side of the road about two weeks ago- he was very cold and thin with an empty crop and covered in mites, wandering around.
I picked it up and took it home, treated the bugs and started feeding it a baby pigeon formula, using the bottle technique with a rubber glove. 2 weeks later he's much stronger, larger and has double the feathers, his baby down has left his body everywhere but his head, and he can fly.
I started to wean him on peas, as he was going off the bottle. He took to the peas, but still struggled to eat large quantities, and also found it difficult to eat seeds. (he seemed to be able to eat small stones with no problem, though)
I started to take him outside for 10 minutes per day, and put grains in the grass for him to pick at, and learn about feeding this way. On Monady, however, during one of our feeding sessions, a neighbors cat leapt out of nowhere at him, which startled him and he flew high into a tree.
I called him for hours, but he wouldn't come down. Eventually after much exhaustive efforts to retrieve him, he flew away as it was getting dark and cold, and I didn't see him all night. I live in England, and it's getting very cold and wet on the nights.
Today, it's been raining all day. After searching and calling every hour for him in the garden, I spotted him on the fence during a brief moment of sunshine, when other pigeons began to land in the garden to eat. He looked very wet from the rain. I tried to call him and slowly go over to him, but he didn't respond to my calls and flew off, and I've not seen him since.
My worry is that he can't feed himself, he's hungry, cold and wet or he won't survive another night. He can fly very well and clearly can flee danger, but wasn't too great at feeding himself without assistance, and does not have full feathering under his wings yet (it's about 85% feathered). It's now 8 pm in England and getting dark- we are due for a rain storm over the next 2 days. Even if he miraculously appears back in my garden again, I have no idea how I'd catch him as he's fast, and is no longer keen on being handled and doesn't approach when called.
All help is appreciated- could a pigeon this age survive on it's own, and is there a posibility he'd be able to make it through to next week, when the rain has passed? I noticed that pigeons do not come to the floor during rain or cold.
Many thanks
. Like domestic pigeons he has some waterproofing powder on his feathers and I believe he looks feathered enough to handle the cold. He will learn by observation of the wild birds where to find food. You could put some seeds and water out for him in your garden or where you live in case he still needs a little extra help. Or you could try to live trap him if you feel like you have to.
