Pigeon toed

Tinkerbell · #1 (**permalink**) 09-11-2010, 07:59 AM

I'm noticing more and more pigeons without toes - just stumps on which they hop about. Does anyone have any theories about the reasons for this? I appreciate some of them spend quite a lot of time on the ground, but so do seagulls and some other birds.

Tinkerbell

Dogghound · #2 (**permalink**) 09-11-2010, 08:10 AM

Possibly if a pigeon has damaged its foot and walks with it curled up, this may damage it further and cause its toes to drop off. Just a thought.

RKB · #3 (**permalink**) 09-11-2010, 08:17 AM

I take it you mean feral/town pigeons?

This is very common. I have caught very many in local parks and removed fibres and twine from their feet. It varies from baler twine, carpet fibres and other plastic fibres. They are probably coming into contact with this at depots, warehouses and derelict properties, which they will enter more readily than other birds. It gets wrapped round the feet, cuts off circulation, and the toes fall off. It's not unusual for them to lose the whole foot.

Tinkerbell · #4 (**permalink**) 25-11-2010, 01:40 PM

Thanks for your answers - sorry for the delay in replying, our landline has been down. When I looked at fully footed pigeons this week I could see just how much those without toes had lost, but full credit to them for managing.

Tinkerbell