Injured feral pigeon - need help!

[sophtoph]

Hi,

I'm not at all experienced in rescuing animals and am not very familiar with birds, so I'm hoping someone can help me with an injured feral pigeon.

He/she cannot stand, but otherwise seems in good health. There are no obvious injuries I can see, it doesn't feel emaciated and is defecating fairly frequently with quite normal looking bird mess (white/dark green). I'm not sure if the issue is with one or both legs; it seems to stick one leg straight out and won't put the other foot down. I have had a feel around for swelling or any indication or internal injuries but I don't really know what I'm looking for. Its wings seem to be functioning normally, as it keeps escaping from the enclosure I've built for him in my shed. But when it lands it just tips forward onto its chest and face. Should it be restricted to a smaller area? If so, I have a cat carrier I can use.

I'm unsure how to proceed or what is wrong with the poor fellow. He definitely needs a wash, as he keeps falling over into his own mess. Would a warm, damp cloth be best to just lightly sponge the mess off its feathers? Also it's been at least 24 hours with no water, so I'm aware I need to get some fluids in it before dehydration sets in. It seems uninterested in a small water bowl I have placed out, but I have a small syringe tube feeder (I work in an aquarium) so wondered if I should attempt to feed it some water? I am trying to keep it warm with a hot water bottle under a towel in the cat carrier I am using in a makeshift enclosure.

Any guidance would be much appreciated. I'm in North Devon, UK, by the way.

Thank you,

Sophie (and pigeon)

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

@WVduckchick can you help?

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

We meet again..
Im gonna tag a few peeps and see if we can get you some help quickly..
@biophiliac
@Hokum Coco
@CCUK
@sourland
@WVduckchick
@backyard pigeons
Can y'all please see if you have any suggestions for Sophie. And tag anyone I forgot.

 

[Fishkeeper]

Sounds like brain damage. I found a bluejay that acted a lot like that once, and the rescue I took it to said it had probably hit a car. It couldn't seem to get its legs under it, and if lifted, it would fly forward but stay low and eventually crash. The rescue said it might recover, might not.

I'd contain it so it can't keep going out and hitting things. You may even want to put it in a sling like people do with injured chickens, where it can reach food and water.

Don't try to put water down its throat. Take it very gently in your hands and dip the tip of its beak into the water, not past its nostrils. It might get the idea.

Give it things to eat, preferably things with juice in them. I'd suggest blueberries and the like.

 

[WVduckchick]

@sophtoph could you please post some pictures of the bird? It may be very young, or there may be something obvious we could see?

 

[sophtoph]

We meet again..
Im gonna tag a few peeps and see if we can get you some help quickly..
@biophiliac
@Hokum Coco
@CCUK
@sourland
@WVduckchick
@backyard pigeons
Can y'all please see if you have any suggestions for Sophie. And tag anyone I forgot.

Thank you so much!!

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

Thank you so much!!

You are more than welcome!

 

[backyard pigeons]

Pics will help. I would confine it in a smaller cage with fresh food and water. Is it disoriented in any way? Sometimes they can hit a wire and have no obvious signs of injury but be very out of it. How did you find it? Hope this helps! And please post pics asap.

 

[sophtoph]

@sophtoph could you please post some pictures of the bird? It may be very young, or there may be something obvious we could see?

I did my best with the photos, tried to get some good ones of the little guy's feet and legs. I hope they are helpful!

 

[sophtoph]

Sounds like brain damage. I found a bluejay that acted a lot like that once, and the rescue I took it to said it had probably hit a car. It couldn't seem to get its legs under it, and if lifted, it would fly forward but stay low and eventually crash. The rescue said it might recover, might not.

I'd contain it so it can't keep going out and hitting things. You may even want to put it in a sling like people do with injured chickens, where it can reach food and water.

Don't try to put water down its throat. Take it very gently in your hands and dip the tip of its beak into the water, not past its nostrils. It might get the idea.

Give it things to eat, preferably things with juice in them. I'd suggest blueberries and the like.

I have contained it in a cat carrier now, hopefully this will make him a bit warmer too as I've placed a hot water bottle under a towel in there. I just tried gently dipping his beak in some water, but he was completely disinterested. Thank you for the help!