Please help with injured baby wood pigeon

[leeb4321]

Hi,

I'm new here but could really use some help.

Yesterday morning I found a baby wood pigeon which I think must have been taken from its nest by a larger bird. I found it on the floor not near a tree - it was making a noise so I left it to see if mum returned - she did not so as the area is full of cats I picked it up placed in a dark box and left overnight.

It was still alive this morning and is currently sat in my house singing away!!

I can not see any injury to the bird. I have tried to research it and from pictures I have seen I believe it to be about 2wks old.

I can not get it to eat any thing.

Can someone please advise how I can feed it and what to feed it.

I read somewhere about using a balloon but not sure how.

Any help greatly appreciated.

[tcvarlh]

Hi,
Do you have a foto of it you could upload? That would be a help in ascertaining it's age.
Pigeons produce a gruel type substance for their young, partially digested/fermented seeds, so if you can boil up some wheat, barley, grass seeds etc, into a a milky 'porridge' and get some of that down the Squab. Don't serve it hot tho' will you? Or with milk! There is a lot of info on here about rescueing Woodie squabs, have a look around.
All the best
h

[Elevate29]

The 'pigeon mixture' isn't easy to make or feed to the squab as they have to be tube fed. Your best bet is to contact your local wildlife hospital who have the resources to do the job.

Elevate

[leeb4321]

Thanks for the help. Pictures in links below. I would like to take it to a sanctuary but the closest one is Rochdale (apparently) and I live in Lytham - near Blackpool and I do not have a car! If anybody knows anywhere in the Blackpool area it would be a great help - I am sure transporting wild birds on public transport would be both traumatic for the bird and frowned upon by authorities!!!

[Elevate29]

Looks to me like a young collared dove. You could try the following places and they may be able to collect.

ANIMAL CARE
Val Harwood (Manager),
Blea Tarn Road
Scotforth
LANCASTER
LA2 0RD
01524 65495


R S P C A - SOUTHPORT BIRKDALE & DISTRICT ANIMAL SHELTER
Mr S Powell (Manager),
New Cut Lane
Birkdale
Southport
01704 67624
Advice & assistance for rescue of birds and small animals.

In the meantime if you can get a little water into it using a small syringe or very carefully spooning a few drops down its beak, it may buy you some time.

Elevate

[valleyforge]

Here are some other places in your general area, that might be able to help you if you call them:

Wood Cottage Wildlife Sanctuary, Middleton - tel: 0161 654 8278

Colne Wildlife Rescue, Colne - tel: 01282 843844

Greenmount Wild Bird Hospital, Bury - tel: 01204 884086

I tend to agree with Elevate29 that this is probably more likely a collared dove than a woodpigeon.

The bird does not appear to be very well however, and there may well be more than just hunger underlying its current condition, so getting it to some experienced help is going to be necessary to ensure its survival.

Tube feeding (gavaging) is not something an inexperienced person should attempt if there are still other options available.

I would also urge extreme caution in trying to administer water using a syringe ... if even a small amount of fluid is accidentally inhaled (perhaps because of a condition that prevents the bird from swallowing) then the bird will die pretty quickly from pneumonia. It is generally best NOT to try to feed or water a casualty until its condition can be properly assessed.

By all means offer a shallow dish of water, but don't try to force it to drink.

If you are unable to find a wildlife rescue group in your area that is prepared/able to help you with this bird, then you could also try the veterinary surgeons in your local area. They may be able to better diagnose the bird's chances of recovery ... and may also know of some local rehabilitator or pigeon fancier with the necessary experience for raising a youngster.

[MrLouKnee]

got an update ?