HELP !!! Reporting a lost Racing Pigeon

Number 1 jasper · #1 (**permalink**) 03-09-2009, 04:35 PM

WE have a racing pigeon ( Unintentionally ) , we kept it in the shed for 2 days then ( last sunday ) let it go .

withhindsight we should not have as it will NOT go away .

all the web-sites say do NOT report a pigeon unless you have it in a secure place .

Any help please ?

anyone know of anyone I can contact to come and get it ?

or any tips on how to catch it ?

The garage door is open all day with food and water in there for it , as is the shed .........

We have the info from the tag on it's leg written down , but we are at our wits end as to where to go next for help / Advice .

Picidae · #2 (**permalink**) 03-09-2009, 04:46 PM

You can either catch the bird again and keep it secure/shut it in the garage - then report the tag no. to the site below: (provide it with fresh water/dried rice/lentils/corn)

Royal Pigeon Racing Association > Reporting a Stray Pigeon

Or:

Allow it it's freedom and continue to provide food/water outside the garage - in a few days it will carry on it's journey and very likely find it's way home - sometimes they just need to rest up for a few days - if it doesn't find it's way back to the loft, then I'm sure it will quite happily join the local gene pool of wild feral pigeons!

(Obviously ensure it's not injured - if it is, take it to a Vet and report it to website above with the tag no. explaining it's injured and the owner needs to contact the Vet that's holding it ASAP - the RSPCA may cover initial costs if you were to contact them)

Number 1 jasper · #3 (**permalink**) 03-09-2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Picidae

You can either catch the bird again and keep it secure/shut it in the garage - then report the tag no. to the site below: (provide it with fresh water/dried rice/lentils/corn)

Royal Pigeon Racing Association > Reporting a Stray Pigeon

Or:

Allow it it's freedom and continue to provide food/water outside the garage - in a few days it will carry on it's journey and very likely find it's way home - sometimes they just need to rest up for a few days - if it doesn't find it's way back to the loft, then I'm sure it will quite happily join the local gene pool of wild feral pigeons!

(Obviously ensure it's not injured - if it is, take it to a Vet and report it to website above with the tag no. explaining it's injured and the owner needs to contact the Vet that's holding it ASAP - the RSPCA may cover initial costs if you were to contact them)

Thanks Picidae

It is NOT in the garage , we just have that open as it will provide it with shelter If it wants it & food and wtaer are readily availabe from our normal bird feeders & water .

It seems fine , we just want it to go home . we have 3 cast and if it is not carefull it will come to a sticky end.so far amazingly our cats have seen it but are NOT interested ........

The Woodman · #4 (**permalink**) 03-09-2009, 06:13 PM

You can also report it via Euring, website link...

Euring Web Recoveries

If you do manage to catch it, have a look beneath the wings. Some owners rubber stamp their details on the underwing.

lol geoff · #5 (**permalink**) 03-09-2009, 09:51 PM

We had one at work a few years ago with contact details stamped on the wing feathers. I rang the owner and he said to leave it where it was as it wasn't any use to him if it couldn't find it's way back home again.

lilyrose · #6 (**permalink**) 07-05-2011, 11:32 AM

We have a lost racing Pigeon in our garden, been here and next door for about a week. He has had access to water and food from the stuff I put out for the garden birds. I wish he would go home as he is making such a mess pooping everywhere. I do not feel inclined to handle it, even if I did have somewhere to put it - I have got the number from the ring but if the owner is just going to kill it because it didn't get home then I don't see the point of catching it and reporting it anyway.

larachmor · #7 (**permalink**) 07-05-2011, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilyrose

We have a lost racing Pigeon in our garden, been here and next door for about a week. He has had access to water and food from the stuff I put out for the garden birds. I wish he would go home as he is making such a mess pooping everywhere. I do not feel inclined to handle it, even if I did have somewhere to put it - I have got the number from the ring but if the owner is just going to kill it because it didn't get home then I don't see the point of catching it and reporting it anyway.

A few years ago, a friend of mine who ran a sanctuary for injured birds took possession of a racing pigeon. Being a responsible type of person she contacted the owner. He didn't live too far away, called, and promptly snapped its neck in front of her. I would just leave it to its own devices, and hopefully it should recover and continue on its way.

lilyrose · #8 (**permalink**) 07-05-2011, 02:22 PM

Thanks for replying - it's a problem to know what to do for the best. He doesn't seem injured, could be a young bird. I suppose the poor thing is doomed whatever

, it seems too tame to be out in the wild.

werdnal · #9 (**permalink**) 07-05-2011, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilyrose

Thanks for replying - it's a problem to know what to do for the best. He doesn't seem injured, could be a young bird. I suppose the poor thing is doomed whatever

, it seems too tame to be out in the wild.

They adapt surprisingly well to living wild - the majority of pigeons in our towns and cities are lost racing pigeons. Not all owners will kill them if they don't return home, but pigeon racing is a sport, and sadly, like many sports involving animals, if they don't earn their keep they are not worth keeping! It could have been on an actual race - racing starts in April. Or be a local bird on a training flight, or been out living rough for a while.

They do become tame, but are still wary of predators. We have our own pigeons and doves (pets - we don't race them), and they have always steered clear of our cats, even though they see them every day. It will probably move on eventually.

lilyrose · #10 (**permalink**) 08-05-2011, 05:35 PM

As he had taken to following me around the garden and looking like he might peck my leg I gave him a good helping of sunflower hearts and a big bowl of water. (I think I am too soft hearted, my husband said to leave him and he would go somewhere else for food) He ate up and then flew off, so I thought he had gone. But this morning he was back, apparently he spent the night on a roof a few doors down. I am now hoping he will take up with the local Woodies, but if he is here much longer I think we shall have to try and catch him and report him. I am still undecided what is for the best. I still think that people who breed and keep animals for sport should be responsible for them and make sure they are cared for, for their natural life span, not kill them just because they don't perform.