Fantail dove help required

2dogs2000 · #1 (**permalink**) 28-09-2009, 06:23 PM

I was called back to work this evening as a fantail dove was hunched up in a corner outside. I have now got it in a pet carrier in my shed. It doesn't look injured and immediately started to tuck in when I provided it with food and water.It has a red ring on one leg with nothing on it and a black ring on the other with an I.D. code. Is it possible to locate the owner?

I have an address and contact number for a bird sanctuary and I have left a message but they haven't got back to me yet.

Picidae · #2 (**permalink**) 28-09-2009, 08:10 PM

I doubt whether a bird sanctuary would take it in if it's not injured. (It could simply just be exhausted having gone off course if it's a homing pigeon). Take a note of the serial no. and colour of rings and try this website: (If you feel confident, gentle stretch it's wings and see if a telephone no. has been stamped on the feathers under the wing, then you could telephone the owner direct). It's really for racing pigeons and I'm not sure if garden fantail doves would come under their listings but they should be able to help I'd imagine.

Report a Lost Stray Racing Homing Pigeon

and what to feed it
http://www.homingpigeons.co.uk/foundpigeon.htm

2dogs2000 · #3 (**permalink**) 30-09-2009, 05:29 PM

Thank you for your help Picidae.
What a carry on over this bird.
The number on its leg is NPA (National Pigeon Association). Managed to get a number for them in Gloucester. The man there contacted the owner who then contacted me. He lives in Birmingham and sold it 2 1/2 years ago to someone else in Birmingham. He has no idea how it ended up in Northants and told me to dispose of it

As I am unable to locate its present owner I have now found someone with an outdoor aviary who is willing to give it a home.

I don't know if anyone on here is familiar with exhibition fantail doves but I suggest you look it up, as I found the breed distasteful and think it should never have been allowed.
If it is facing you it looks like a headless bird with its tail arranged in a fan. How it can see where it is going I don't know. They can hardly fly. When they feed they have to tip their whole body forward and then their tail feathers are over their head.

Jonathan · #4 (**permalink**) 30-09-2009, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2dogs2000

I don't know if anyone on here is familiar with exhibition fantail doves but I suggest you look it up, as I found the breed distasteful and think it should never have been allowed.
If it is facing you it looks like a headless bird with its tail arranged in a fan. How it can see where it is going I don't know. They can hardly fly. When they feed they have to tip their whole body forward and then their tail feathers are over their head.

Hi,

Many years ago I was taken to meet someone who bred Parlour Tumblers. Tumblers and Rollers have been selectively bred to tumble, flip and roll as they fly:

Tumblers are so named because in flight they frequently and regularly tumble. It was believed to be caused by a form of epilepsy. However, it is now thought to be the result of a genetic defect in the birds' inner system of balance, or a response to a decrease of available oxygen at higher altitudes.

Unfortunately, in Parlour Tumblers this behaviour is hightened to such a degree that the birds no longer fly but simply flip around on the ground when startled. Very sad to watch . . .

YouTube - Parlor Rollers of MN

Cheers
Jonathan

2dogs2000 · #5 (**permalink**) 30-09-2009, 07:30 PM

Watched the video Jonathan and I agree that is sad. How can they get away with breeding these birds without being charged with cruelty? On searching the internet for images of Exhibition fantail doves I found other breeds which I also think are very distasteful and sad. Surley these birds don't have a proper life.