Injured Pigeon With Egg

[Blackbirdboxer]

So yet again a bird has taken refuge in my garden. I noticed there was an injured pigeon thats ended up trapped in my garden and cant fly. Ive been putting water down and giving it rice for a few days and ive now noticed that its laid an egg on ground level on some pepples in the corner where its shady. Any advice on what to do to ensure mother and chicks survival?

[bookbinder]

I'd leave it alone. The pigeon knows best what to do. Keep a lookout for cats, and other predators, so that you can scare them off, but, otherwise, do not interfere.

[Chipchopper]

I think, what I would do, is take it to a wildlife centre so it can be taken care of 24x7, phone them first, mind.

[Chipchopper]

^^wildlife rescue centre^^

[hereIam]

I think chip's idea is good because it can't fly. Or do you think it may fly again at some point, say after a rest?

[andres]

First priority move it somewhere safe before the cats get it. Perhaps a cardboard box in a shed ?Do you know any pigeon fanciers in the area? They will advise on what to do.

[bookbinder]

What happens to the egg whilst the bird's in the wildlife rescue centre?

[Blackbirdboxer]

I am just leaving it alone just been putting water out as the weather is really hot at the moment. And sprinkling rice around. It doesnt sit on the egg it just hides somewhere else but will the egg be ok just on the ground it has no cover or nest built or anything. And also with it not being able to fly is it going to struggle to feed itself and its chick. I heard that if i was to take it to a vet or animal welfare place theyd basically just euthanise it

[hereIam]

bookbinder - I would have thought it was obvious, take the egg with it ...

Wildlife Rescue would only euthanise it if it was beyond help.

[KARL]

A diet of rice only is not likely to be adequate, oats, wheat and maize in addition would help and in sufficient quantity should suffice. If the bird succeeds in hatching one or more eggs it will, if sufficiently fed, feed the offspring by expressing what is called crop milk. Thus so long as it has sufficient food and water it will survive and raise its offspring. If you want to try and have a go as a protector to the birds then you might do well to create a cage for them in situ where they are, this would then serve as a safe haven - predators are a very real threat, but you would have to ensure that sufficient food and water are provided. One point, if there is a risk of the parent bird struggling to keep the egg and/or later the offspring warm on the ground, for example if it rains and the ground becomes waterlogged and cold, then it might be worth attempting to put something underneath the egg/infant to raise it and keep it dry/incubated/protected. Perhaps you have a small, flat basketry item of some sort ? If the bird stops sitting on the egg then it is all over.

[ladybirder]

Get it and the egg to your local Wildlife Rescue Centre pronto. This is, imo, its only hope of survival. They will do their best for it and have the knowledge necessary to give it the best possible chance.