cat mawled baby pigeon

[crimbofairy]

Help - I have brought in from my garden a baby pigeon - must have fallen out of the tree above - empty nest with adult bird hopping around it. I have 2 cats - so put the poor thing in my washing basket with a towel, saucer of water and a freshly caght worm. looks like its been a bit mawled by my neighbours cat as I found it after shooing that cat away. Its got blood under its wing but quite lively. What do I feed it - how do I tell how badly hurt it is and I how do I return it to the adult pigeon and nest?

[tiggerblue10]

Take it to your local RSPCA or other rescue centre.

[kita1]

You can try feeding it wet bread (pigeons don't eat worms). Gently open its beak and push a small piece of wet bread down its throat. I use wet bread so that the bird gets a drink of water as well as food. The first couple of days I do this every few hours (not at night though!). I aim to get roughly a slice of bread down them.

If it survives you can feed it corn, you can get poultry corn from the pet shop.

It may have already died of shock, but if it has not then you could probably try releasing it in about a week (providing it has all its feathers and can fly!).

Pigeons often leave the nest a couple of days too early. They can usually overcome any injuries (never bothered with a vet myself - they will probably just wring its neck!).

Some seem to die even though they appear not to be injured.

The best you can do is try and feed it for a while and let nature take its course.

[lizzydrippin]

I hope the pigeon is still surviving, if it is then you need to get some professional help. Most RSPCA clinics will just put it to sleep but there are many bird rescue centres and bird sanctuary's that will be only too pleased to help. Google in Bird Rescue plus the area you live in and you will get contact numbers and addresses for places local to you. What part of the country are you in? Please let us know how the bird got on.