~ •°• ~
START HERE
~ •°• ~
thank you for being here
•°•
•°•
first, pick up the pigeon ...
•°•
Most rescuers have a good intuition. If you think the pigeon needs help, you are probably right.
can you pick him up easily?
If you are able to grab the pigeon, that means a seagull, cat, or other animal could too.
A baby pigeon's parents will still take him back after you touch him.
he is too fast
That is usually a good sign. It means he is able to keep himself safe from predators who are trying to catch him. He may also just look funny because he is molting or relaxing.
If you can, give him food and water in a bowl deep enough for his beak.
tips to catch a pigeon
(coming soon)
how to hold a pigeon
Gently cup your hand around his lower back to hold his feet against his body, and his wings closed so he can not open them.
"will he get me sick?"
Thousands of pigeon rescuers and feeders pick pigeons up everyday with their bare hands. You can wear gloves, use a towel, or wash your hands very well after if it makes you feel more comfortable.
•°•
...put him in a safe area...
•°•
"i am holding the pigeon"
If you are outside, you can hold him in your hands, or use a bag, scarf, or loose sock to keep him wrapped up. A local shop may have a cardboard box.
"he is inside my home"
Even if the pigeon is not flying, he may suddenly feel better and start flying around your home. Keep him away from your pets, ceiling fan, mirrors, glass windows, and open doors. If the pigeon is stumbling, place him on a thick folded towel to protect his head in case he falls. Do not leave a stumbling pigeon alone near water.
If he is in your old bird cage, put cardboard over the floor to protect his feet from the wires.
"he is in a cardboard box outside my home"
An animal like a cat, can still get into the box easily. On your balcony, larger birds like crows, seagulls, and hawks may find him.
If you calmly talk to your parents or roommates, they may change their mind. The bathroom, shed, garage, or your closet are all good options inside.
can't bring him home?
find local help
(coming soon)
•°•
...look for emergencies...
•°•
keep looking for more issues after you find one ~>
When holding a pigeon, he will feel calmest if you hold him on his side rather than belly up when possible. You will need to initially need to look at all areas of his body including his belly and bum (cloaca).
diarrea, pooping water, or "pee"
~> ~> !! Diarrea is a life-threatening emergency, due to the water loss. Focus on giving him water safely right now, before you do anything else !! <~ <~
For safety, always let the pigeon drink water on his own.
electrolyte water recipe (for emergencies only)
if the pigeon is too tired to drink water
You can encourage the pigeon to drink by holding the water bowl to his beak. His water bowl should be at least 2.5cm (1 inch) deep for his beak, which he uses like a straw. He may prefer to drink warm water.
In an emergency, hold the pigeon on his side, and place one drop of water at a time on the outside of his beak using a q-tip, cotton swab, or eye-dropper. You can also soak a q-tip or cotton swab in the water and ‘paint’ his beak. Always give him time to swallow the drops on his own. Also, be careful to avoid his nostrils.
drowned or found in water
Gently tilt the pigeon forward to drain any water that may still be in his airways.
A drowned pigeon may have gotten water into his lungs which will make him vulnerable to a lung infection. Provide him with food, water, and immune boosting support for a couple days to ensure he stays healthy.
(Read more below on what symptoms of illness and infections are)
Wet feathers can cause a pigeon to become too cold, and he may have trouble warming up. You can use a heat pad on "low", a microwaved sock of rice, or hot water bottle wrapped in a thick towel. Keep him at a comfortably warm temperature, and do not overheat or burn him. Your hair dryer may contain a piece called "teflon", which is toxic to birds.
bitten by a cat or found by your pet cat
Even if the pigeon was not bitten by the cat, he may have been exposed to a dangerous bacteria. He will need antibiotics.
hunched over or "tail bending down" or "dropping both wings at the same time"
This position usually indicates severe pain in the lower belly, which is usually either from an illness or trouble laying an egg (called egg bound or egg binding.)
found in hot weather
In hot weather, a pigeon may show symptoms of dehydration and overheating such as being very tired or breathing with his beak open. He may only need a drink of water and offering a bath. Leaving out a large flat dish of clean water may prevent him from becoming overheated again.
(Read tips above under "diarrea" if the pigeon is too tired to drink water.)
found in cold weather or wet feathers
Wet feathers can cause a pigeon to become too cold, and they may have trouble warming up if they are very young or sick. In cases of extreme cold, warm the pigeon slowly for safety reasons.
(Read tips above under "drowned pigeons" for warming cold or wet pigeons.)
concussion or head injury
or unconscious, twisted body, and breathing with beak open
A head injury from hitting a window or car can look like serious injuries elsewhere in the body. A concussion can temporarily cause a pigeon to look badly twisted in other areas of his body like his neck, back, wings, or feet. He may also be breathing with his beak open, or look asleep, limp, or "dead". A pigeon may be standing still and not moving, or have his head tilted or dropped. Concussions are a very common injury, and a broken neck or spine is a very rare injury.
Did you find the pigeon close by a glass window or a road?
If so, he will likely make a full recovery after sleeping for a couple days. Keep him in a cool place, or run a fan on the lowest setting near him.
emaciation, bone visible in chest, or very extreme starvation
Water and food should always be given slowly in order to prevent the pigeon's body from being overwhelmed. Giving food and water too quickly may kill him.
To help him digest his food, use a heat pad on "low", a microwaved sock of rice or hot water bottle wrapped in a thick towel. Your hair dryer may contain a piece called "teflon", which is toxic to birds. Keep him at a comfortably warm temperature, and do not overheat or burn him.
electrolyte water recipe (for emergencies only)
(Read tips above under "diarrea" if the pigeon is too tired to drink water.)
other possible causes for a pigeon being unconscious, twisted body, and breathing with beak open
Other possible causes may not be listed here, so please continue to research elsewhere and post online for help.
~> keep looking for more issues ~>
•°•
...look for hunger and thirst...
•°•
most pigeons are suffering from hunger and thirst
You may be suprised to see how much better the pigeon will be with just food and water.
types of pigeons who are affected by hunger and thirst
symptoms
photo of an ideal poop
https://www.auspigeonco.com.au/...
His poops may be runny for up to a day if he has been starving, but they should firm up.
treatments
Allow the pigeon to eat and drink on his own whenever possible. It is normal for a found pigeon to only want to drink water for up to a day before he wants to eat food.
(Read tips above under "diarrea" if the pigeon is too tired to drink water.)
~> keep looking for more issues ~>
•°•
...look for injuries...
•°•
behaviour symptoms
body symptoms
"neurological symptoms"
(from concussions or head injuries)
treatments
~> keep looking for more issues below ~>
•°•
...look for illnesses and infections...
•°•
behaviour symptoms
body symptoms
"neurological symptoms"
other symptoms
treatments
~> keep looking for more issues ~>
•°•
...finally, check if he is a baby...
•°•
~> keep looking for more issues below ~>
"he looks like an old pigeon"
If you think the pigeon looks "very old", he is probably actually a baby.
"he has a funny looking beak"
One of the most obvious signs that a pigeon is a baby is that his beak looks small, thin, or "funny". This is because his cere, or the white part of his beak, is still growing.
behaviour signs
(he may not have every sign.)
body signs
(he may not have every sign.)
photos of baby pigeons
(a baby may have slower growth due to hunger or illness)
daily growth chart:
www.mumtazticloft.com/BabyPigeons.asp
eight day old baby:
https://i0.wp.com/www.helpwildlife.co.uk/...
sixteen day old baby:
https://i0.wp.com/www.helpwildlife.co.uk/...
fledgling:
https://i0.wp.com/www.helpwildlife.co.uk/...
"why is he wandering around away from his nest?"
A fledgling pigeon may need a few days to practice flying and grow the muscles in his wings before he can fly fully. Younger babies may leave the nest if they are brave and adventurous, or they may leave to find help if they have not been fed. Check the area for his sister. She may be on the ground or up high somewhere close.
"does the baby need help?"
Baby pigeons do best with their family whenever it is possible. Their parents will teach them how to find food, stay safe, and socialize.
are his parents around?
If not, that is normal! Pigeon parents spend more and more time away from the nest as the babies get bigger, in order to gather food. Sometimes the parents leave their babies alone all day, and only return home to feed them. They may even sleep away from the nest.
is he being bullied?
Violent attacks from bigger pigeons can lead to death. Look for wounds on his head and around his eyes. If he is bald on the top of his head, that is from bullying.Baby pigeons can look like they are attacking their parents when they want food. The baby may also scream, cry or beg. Is the baby chasing and pecking at the adult, or is the adult chasing and pecking at the baby?
aggressive feeding and begging video:
https://www.reddit.com/r/pigeon/...
is he pooping?
Has he pooped? That is a sign he was fed recently, and his parents are looking after him. Fresh poop looks wet, and it will be nearby or under his bottom. He may also poop while you are watching him.photo of an ideal poop:
https://www.auspigeonco.com.au/...
~> ~> !! If his poop is very bright green and watery, that is a sign that he has not eaten. !! <~ <~
does he have energy?
A baby pigeon may not be flying or walking around much yet, but he should be able to keep his eyes open and he should be aware of his surroundings.
Move him to a safe place
Predators like cats and rats are on the ground. Make sure the baby pigeon is as high up as possible. Anywhere up high works like a tree, low roof, or window ledge. If needed, you can create a "nest" or ledge for the baby and secure it in a high place. It's okay if you can't find his nest. His mom and dad will still find him, and you can check back to see if he is okay.
If you put a baby up high and he is back on the ground again later, trust your gut feeling if he needs help or if he is just exploring. If you are concerned about a specific area, such as a busy construction site or an area with a lot of young cats, you may wish to bring him in overnight or for a couple days until he is stronger. You will know best, because you are the person who is there and seeing what is happening.
did you accidentally bring him home?
Sometimes a compassionate person thinks that baby needs help when he was actually doing okay outside with his parents. Thanks for caring!
You can bring the baby back to the area where he was found, and his parents will be happy to continue feeding him. It is okay to wait until tomorrow if it is night now. Ideally, wait for one hour to see if any adult pigeons come to feed him (it may look like they are fighting). You can continue to check back later to ensure he is alert and being fed. Putting out dishes of water and food will help the parents feed the baby.
feeding and care information
~> great work looking for issues!
"something just feels wrong"
Most rescuers have a good intuition. If you think the pigeon needs help, are probably right.
•°•
thank you for being here
~ •°• ~
www.helpifoundapigeon.com
