Advice needed - wood pigeon

Christina_1990 · #1 (**permalink**) 20-08-2010, 04:34 PM

hi 2 weeks ago my partner and I found a young wood pigeon with a damaged wing . we strapped the wing up as best we could but he soon removed the bandage after a few days and we weren't able to get him to keep another one on and he's been living in our bathroom in an indoor rabbit hutch ever since .

i've looked after birds with broken wings before and had a starling living with us for 6 years and have hand reared and released a collared dove .

Although he is still having trouble holding his wing in the correct position he now seems able to fly (as he demonstrated by flying round the living room yesterday)

do you think he's ready for release ?

any advice would be greatly received

p.s

we did try to keep him away from people and pets as much as possible and he is still very much scared of being approached

Littlesparrow · #2 (**permalink**) 20-08-2010, 07:22 PM

You could see if your local bird sanctuary has an aviary that you could give him a trial flight in first to make sure he is using his wing properly.Other than that you will have to risk it at some point, but if you have to recapture him it could be a bit of a bother.

faz · #3 (**permalink**) 20-08-2010, 07:40 PM

why is ther a cat only feet away from the woody ? and it looksd like in its home /house

my advice is to take the poor thing to a rescue center ASAP you say you have experiance in looking after sick birds

i dont think you have

it needs proper attention and it needs it now

faz · #4 (**permalink**) 20-08-2010, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Littlesparrow

You could see if your local bird sanctuary has an aviary that you could give him a trial flight in first to make sure he is using his wing properly.Other than that you will have to risk it at some point, but if you have to recapture him it could be a bit of a bother.

what

sort of advice is that

Christina_1990 · #5 (**permalink**) 20-08-2010, 07:52 PM

henry made his own choice .... as in my partner accidentally left the door open and he flew over his head ... I hope he makes it back to his home safely ...

As for the cat ... we have a very strange moggy who is best friends with all small creatures inc hamsters , degu's , tortoises , rats and apparently pigeons

Thanks
Christina

faz · #6 (**permalink**) 20-08-2010, 07:57 PM

but dose the woody no it aint going to kill him

Christina_1990 · #7 (**permalink**) 20-08-2010, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faz

why is ther a cat only feet away from the woody ? and it looksd like in its home /house

my advice is to take the poor thing to a rescue center ASAP you say you have experiance in looking after sick birds

i dont think you have

it needs proper attention and it needs it now

the pigeon flew down next to the cat and they sunbathed together

yes it was in my flat ,and spent 90% of his time in the quiet of the bathroom in a large cage with branches to perch on

There wasn't a rescue centre close by and I dont drive

I said i had hand reared a few birds and looked after a starling with a broken wing yes ...

he's fine now and back in the wild

cara pace · #8 (**permalink**) 20-08-2010, 08:00 PM

Hello Christina_1990. Welcome to WAB.
I'd still be concerned about his wing from the photo's. Also he's quite young, so I would be cautious about releasing him without letting him socialise with other birds -especially as he has been used to human contact and obviously has no fear of cats. To me, he does not look fit enough for release.

It is illegal to release a bird that does not have a reasonable chance of survival(equivalent to non-rehabilitated birds).
Personally, I recommend you give him the best chance, by taking him to a sanctuary.

Christina_1990 · #9 (**permalink**) 20-08-2010, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cara pace

Hello Christina_1990. Welcome to WAB.
I'd still be concerned about his wing from the photo's. Also he's quite young, so I would be cautious about releasing him without letting him socialise with other birds -especially as he has been used to human contact and obviously has no fear of cats. To me, he does not look fit enough for release.

It is illegal to release a bird that does not have a reasonable chance of survival(equivalent to non-rehabilitated birds).
Personally, I recommend you give him the best chance, by taking him to a sanctuary.

his wing was alot better the last few days and I followed him to check he made his way home . he joined a group of older wood pigeons and they flew off together in the direction of the fields .

Cowgirl · #10 (**permalink**) 20-08-2010, 08:04 PM

Hi Christina, welcome to WAB.

If he escaped I don't suppose there's anything you can do about it except keep an eye out for him. Hope he'll be ok. You did your best that's all you can do.

Your cat does seem very strange

, wish more of them could be like that.