Our Pigeon Belle and the flight suit

Nakiska

New member
May 30, 2011
787
0
Washington
Parrots
4 Cockatiels 2 males Chicken Little & Charlie, 2 Females Chiquita and Sweet pea. Yellow Sided Green Cheek Conure -Franklin and our now tame, rescued feral Pigeon - Belle.
Hey everyone, been a while since I've been able to visit here and I wanted to share an update on the feral pigeon I rescued from the big city.
(I know it's a PARROT forum, but well...I have parrots too) ;)

September 16th 2011 I found and rescued Belle, sore, missing all but 2 tail feathers, couldn't fly and I couldn't just walk away and leave her so I brought her home with every intention of letting her heal and release her when she was ready.

Okay, well that plan didn't follow through exactly as Belle and I have become extremely attached to each other.

Within a week or so, Belle was making squeeking noises and a pigeon forum told me I had a young pigeon...a squeeker. Not sure if it's male or female...really, but I call it a her.

We let Belle fly around the house and she loves to hang out with me on my shoulder while doing dishes, cooking, reading, just doesn't matter, she just loves to be with me. If she up on the window ceil and I walk toward her and pat my shoulder and say, "come here Belle" She (usually) flies right to me.

When she hears my voice she starts cooing and I think if she could talk english words, she would! Although, I really do think SHE is actually a HE...because of the cooing turning/dancing behavior I've seen daily.

Anyway, I decided to buy her a flightsuit so I could take her outside without risking loosing her, I purchased it through Petco's website, and I bought her a Wide Plus size. Fits her GREAT! Works Great! I LOVE IT! Now I put it on her everytime I let her out of her cage for hours, so I don't have to be watching for poo's. The suit works extremely well and really does keep the poo's away from the body.

So Belle has been living in our home as I stated, since September 16th. A couple weeks ago after we got her flightsuit and let her get used to it we thought we'd take her outside and this pigeon wanted NOTHING to do with being out there! (I had a feeling, as a few times the neighbor kids left our front door open when Belle was out and she never once attempted to fly out)

So...my husband and I thought she'd like to sit on the picnic table while he was working on the fence, she wouldn't get off his arm, he tried to perch her up on top of the totem in our yard, she pretty much curled into a ball and rolled off into his hands, absolutely REFUSING to TRY and stand anywhere outside! I couldn't believe it, her behavior was soo hillarious!

I cracked up lauging saying, my gosh! She'd rather die then live outside again!

When I brought her back in the house, she was sooo relieved and went back to "normal." Later that afternoon, I thought I'd bring her back outside with me. She was on my arm, I walked out onto the porch, offering her the opportunity to fly and instead of even trying, she frantically hopped from my arm, onto my chest, scrambled up onto my shoulder and snuggled into my neck and refused to move anymore. Hahahhahhaha! Tooo funny!

I was fine with that, I walked around outside, talking to her and she was plenty happy to just be with me, but has absolutely NO desire fly around outside at all.

I've taken her out on my shoulder several times since then, and still, she shows no desire to be outside.

Anyway, I couldn't love this pigeon more. I have no idea of age or sex all I know is this pigeon is quite happy to live in her huge parrot cage inside the warm house, with the mega buffet, fresh water, no predators...livin' and lovin' the cush life.

I'm SOO glad I rescued her! Here's a couple pictures with her flight suit on....can you believe she likes to roost/perch in my plant...stinker! And yes, I really was talking to my daughter when I took the self shot of Belle and Franklin both on me. :)

Toni
 
Last edited:

lene1949

New member
Sep 26, 2011
1,701
1
Brisbane, Australia
Parrots
Cory: Short billed Corella -
Echo: Galah -
Max: Alexandrine -
Skye: Yellow Sided conure -
Luka: Green Cheek Conure -
RIP Shrek: Quaker
What a lovely story...

I don't think flighted birds are likely to fly out of an open door, since they know the parameters of their flying space (unless they're flying after their caregiver)..

Obviously Belle loves her life with you... Well done for rescuing her.
 

Remy

New member
Jul 13, 2011
1,905
1
California
Parrots
Darcy (Golden-Collared Macaw), Puck (Caique - RIP)
What a sweetie! I found a pidgeon about 8 years ago, who couldn't fly yet. He's always been somewhat friendly, but I was never able to get him to be THAT friendly! We even have a ringneck that my mom hand fed, and it lands on her sometimes, but it's never let me pick it up. These guys are in an aviary though, so less contact with humans.

Even when I had indoor doves, they would seldom fly up to me, although they were friendly.
 

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