Helping Injured Pigeon - Graphic Photos

Violet_Diva

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I had to go on another training course for work and was on my way back from Ipswich on the train. Got off at Cambridge to catch another train when I spotted a pigeon with a bad foot. I went and bought some extortionately priced baked snack at the station and proceed to feed the pigeon.

It looked like it had hair wrapped around its foot and it's foot was deformed as a result. The pigeon was obviously quite young and so I figured the hair was probably some unsuitable nesting material and that the bird had probably grown into the tangled hair. I went to the WHSmith store at the station and politely asked if I could take one of the small empty boxes of their delivery cage, they obliged.
Guess what - I caught the pigeon, put the box in a large bag I had with me, and smuggled the pigeon home on the train!

Every now and then, the pigeon would move in the box and I was waiting for someone on the train to notice and hear me (half expecting to be kicked off at the next stop.) But no, mission accomplished!

I got the little guy home, made it a warm bed, food & water. The next day I went to work delicately cutting away the entangled hair from the underside of the most afflicted foot. The top of the foot was too crazy to even understand :-s
I didn't photograph it.
The following day I soaked the foot and cleaned it up a bit more & got more dirt and hair from the topside of the foot. The swelling had gone down alot, as the bad foot and leg was 2 or 3 times the size of the other before. Though the pigeon is now walking on the wrist with the foot turned backwards :-( Next I'm planning to bathe & wrap the toes Individually and once all scabs etc are gone, I will try to train the foot into a better position.


Pigeon is still eating and drinking well, so I'm hopeful that I can improve this birds condition. I'll let you know how things go!
 

Kiwibird

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So glad you could help this little birdie out:) Whatever was wrapped around its food looks nasty. Poor birdie looks like it needs a good bath too. Kinda easy to forget how dirty a wild bird is up close when our pet birds are kept so clean. How is the pigeon responding to your caring for it?
 
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Violet_Diva

Violet_Diva

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It's doing OK. It's not too keen on being handled, but once I've got them wrapped and in position, they behave quite well for me. I feel a bit mean about keeping it outside, but as it's from outside I'm hoping it will handle it OK. Also my outdoor pigeons are within cooing distance, so this little guy knows that they're not alone outside.

At the mo, each day I'm just soaking and cleaning until all traces of dirt, hair and scabs have gone, then it's trying to rehab the foot into a more usable position. It's going to still be deformed but hopefully more comfortable and still able to keep its foot!

It's been eating Bucktons pigeon conditioner (probably healthier than what it's used to at the train station). I do hope this little guy makes it. Im not 100% on the gender yet, as they're only a few months old, but should be able to tell soon.
 
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Inger

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What a lucky little fellow to have wandered across your path.


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plumsmum2005

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Commend you on your compassionate nature but please be very careful regarding your fids. Hygiene and cross contamination risk is high to both you, Bella and Dexter.
 

Pureblood

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You are probably one rare person who would help a bird like that! Here where I am people call them "flying rats" and don't care in what condition they're at. You are such a good person for doing this! Keep us posted!

Personally I have a "friend" pigeon that flies to my kitchen window and I give him bird seeds from my lovebirds and grinded walnuts. He has a bad foot as well (doesn't even have all his fingers and it's just a big stump) and I can see he's older. He comes to visit almost every day at the same time, is not afraid of my hand and doesn't get frightened when I open the window and peek outside to place food, he just moves a bit so that I have room and then munches away, precious thing :smile015:
 

Taprock

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Thank your for taking the time to help the little guy. His foot looks amazingly good and doesn't look like he'll lose any of it. I hope his foot repositions enough he can get around well. We have homing pigeons and while they don't have the personality of a parrot they are individuals and special in their own way.
 

Kentuckienne

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It would have been so easy to have felt pity and walked on, because what can you do for a wild bird...but these small acts of kindness make a better world. Thank you.
 

SailBoat

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I'm sure you are, but keep a close eye out for infections and it maybe worth treating for infections as a just in case.

Thank-you, for you Heart!
 
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Violet_Diva

Violet_Diva

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Thank-you for you kind words everyone! Wasn't sure if the 'parrot people ' would be too interested in a feral pigeon, but your interest and compassion has shone through :)

I have F10 liquid soap & F10 hand sanitiser I use after dealing with the bird.
I always have a shower after contact & change my clothes too!
So there shouldn't be risk to Bella and Dexter.
Though I am keeping an extra special eye on them in the meantime & they will be going to the vets at the end of the month for a gram stain at minimum.

I will post photos of the pigeons progress (hopefully if all goes to plan)

Thanks guys :)
 

plumsmum2005

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Thank-you for you kind words everyone! Wasn't sure if the 'parrot people ' would be too interested in a feral pigeon, but your interest and compassion has shone through :)

I have F10 liquid soap & F10 hand sanitiser I use after dealing with the bird.
I always have a shower after contact & change my clothes too!
So there shouldn't be risk to Bella and Dexter.
Though I am keeping an extra special eye on them in the meantime & they will be going to the vets at the end of the month for a gram stain at minimum.

I will post photos of the pigeons progress (hopefully if all goes to plan)

Thanks guys :)

This is a new one on me so will look out for some as would be useful after I have tidied up and replenished my hedgehog box, little darling keeps leaving me pressies in it :(
 

Scott

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What a wonderful rescue and rehabilitation you are accomplishing! The world needs more attentive and caring souls as you!

Thanks for creating this thread, many of us care deeply about the wild and woolly natural world of avians.
 

LeaKP

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Pigeons are also very intelligent and resilient. I rescued one years ago, wildlife services didn't come to take hi or her so I tried. Had a broken wing that fell off ultimately. He or she was finally placed in a wildlife reserve.

Thank you, I'll keep following. Love your compassion!
 

Kiwibird

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I hope the pigeon is still doing ok? Do you intend to release it back to the wild or is the foot damaged enough it'll be joining your flock?
 
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Violet_Diva

Violet_Diva

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UPDATE:
After some cleaning & application of Vaseline & wrapping,
Then cleaning & application of Germolene & wrapping,
We have some progress!

Underside of the foot is looking much nicer


Though when at rest, two of the toes fold under the foot still


The topside of the foot has also improved, though still looks rather crazy


Ontop of this, I've now found that the little guy has tapeworm, so I'm treating for this at present with fingers crossed they have enough fight in them to recover, they need as much sustenance as possible!
 

Kiwibird

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Her foot looks better. That's a shame she has worms. Hopefully that can be treated too. I think that's so sweet you got her in a little cast/brace to help her foot:)
 

Inger

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Amazing work. Her foot looks so much better!


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RavensGryf

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You're doing something amazing for this bird. Thanks to you the foot is looking so much better. I'm sure even though it is wild, he knows you're trying to help. I assume it's natural for wild creatures living outdoors to have worms. With the right meds, they should be eradicated soon.
 

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