orphan pigeon

[Dee Sa]

we have pigeon family nesting in a tree in our small garden, one has fallen out, its quite big but has baby down all over its chest, can flap but not fly.
I know it would probably be kinder to wring its neck but I cant do it, I have made a bed out of a large cut down cardboard box and put a old pet duvet in there, bought wild bird food and a fat ball and water and put in my shed so our cat or the foxes cant get it, it has survived 48 hrs and moves about in the shed and manages to get on the ladder rungs, advice pls on what to do next and how long before it learns to fly and I can release it ?

[4getmenot]

sorry but how do you work out it would be kinder to wring its neck??? I;d have actually just left it as maybe its time for it to leave the nest.

When I found a pigeon in my chimney i tried giving it bread but when bloke came to collect it he said they prefer rice. I always thought you wernt supposed to give birds rice.

Can you not look out to see when other birds come out the nest?

[Dee Sa]

the reason I said that was because I used to live next door to an old boy who kept and raced pigeons, and thats what he did, but I did not go into the whys and wherefores.
Penelope [ the pigeon] seems to have settled in okay, but is not eating much, I check on her approx 6 times a day and talk to her so she wont be afraid of my voice.
Foxes will get her if I leave her outside and my cat sits outside the shed for hours.
just want to do whats best for her to survive.
Dee

[4getmenot]

yer mine never ate so this is why the pigeon bloke said they only eat meal worms or rice. But really I would have left it there to survive for itself

[lankeela]

The mother bird would have come down and fed it. You need to eat some worms and regurgitate them then offer them to the baby from your own mouth. Or you could try some mealworms from your local wild bird food supplier.

[Dee Sa]

Penelope the pigeon is eating the wild bird feed,not a lot but some, also now I have crumbled some of the fat ball, wiil cook a little rice and start looking for worms in the garden.she is quite big too.
Too worried the fox would get her of left outside, I know I am batts but I have explained to the mother that she is safe.

[4getmenot]

And Ilm sure she understood. Coooo Coooo Cooooo :-)

[Nosha123]

do you have an animal sanctuary near you you could take it to? Keeping a baby bird is an awful lot of work.... plus its highly likely you wont succeed.... I think scrambled egg is supposed to be alright to feed them (no salt!) but maybe check with a local vet or bird sanc...
If you are near Guildford, Surrey there is a place there you could take it.

[Nosha123]

OR.. try to get the baby back in the nest - without leaving your scent on it!!! (if possible)

[kita1]

Pigeon's eat corn or seeds. They do NOT eat worms (or mealworms). Bread is OK to give young ones (preferably brown), I usually wet it first so they get a drink at the same time.

You can get poultry corn from most pet shops. Just put it in a heap near the bird and watch to see if it picks it up, if it does not then you can feed it.

It will probably start to fly within a couple of weeks or so.

[kita1]

Found this:

Your best bet would be just for the evening some bread soaked in a little water. You may have to open it's mouth and sort of stuff it in. Just a few pieces to hold him off for the night. Then can get to the store and buy some bird seed. either wild or parakeet what ever you can find, If possible add a few split peas. Also some grit. then pour about 1teas. of seed to a 1/4 teas of grit into a little water and do the same thing put it down the baby's throat. Do this untill you can feel it in the birds crop. (the area just down past the throat.) You may have to feed it 3-4 times a day. Also keep water and seed (on the floor) of it's cage. It may know how to eat. You may see him pecking around at the seed soon.

[danchip]

put an old mattress underneath an upstairs window and drop it out of the window if it is ready to fly it will and then you'll never see it again

[Dee Sa]

many tks for all the help. Penelope is almost full size pigeon, she is okay so far in the shed, hopping about and is now perched on the middle rung of a ladder in there. she does flap her wings but nothing happens she cant fly poor thing,she has eaten a little and had some water.was out the garden at 5am looking for worms to chop up, couldnt find any !
I live in Essex but would be prepared to go to Guildford at the weekend if you can give me contact number pls.
Dee

[Nosha123]

Hi Dee Sa
The animal sanctuary near Guildford (actually Leatherhead) is Wildlife Aid.
www.wildlifeaid.org.uk/index.php?option=com_contact&Itemid=3
Call them to check they will take it in so your journey isnt wasted.
I have been there a couple of times to drop off wounded or baby animals! They do an amazing job.
Good Luck