Patience for pigeons

We get injured pigeons and doves brought in to us nearly every day.   There are seven in our ‘pigeon hospital’ at present.  Often they don’t have obvious physical injuries but are stunned or dazed  or have had a knock.  A caller yesterday asked why the pigeon that had flown into his patio window a couple of days earlier wasn’t able to fly yet.   Pigeons don’t seem able to pick themselves up and get going again quickly.  They need a lot of recuperation and it may take weeks or longer for them to recover.   If they are badly bruised (which of course, doesn’t show) they have to heal and this is a slow process. Some pigeons we’ve rescued have taken six months to recover but when they do they fly off without any problems.

If you find an injured pigeon you are welcome to bring it to the sanctuary, please check with us first though.  If you have a suitable shed you can rehabilitate the bird yourself.   An advantage to bringing it here is that the pigeon will have other birds to socialize with.  Sometimes pigeons need the stimulus of companions to give them reassurance and motivate them to eat.  An advantage of keeping the bird with you is that he can be relessed back in to territory he knows and meet up with friends and family.

Pigeons are the most intelligent of bird species and are gentle and rewarding to look after.  They recognise their carers and soon become tame and friendly.   This isn’t the problem that occurs with other species, when we want them to stay wild.  Pigeons live alongside man and will go back to their former lifestyles as soon as they are released.

They are easy to feed and pigeon corn can be bought at most pet shops.  They also like bread crumbs soaked in milk, a bit of raw egg yolk, a spoonful of raw mince and especially peas, even the mushy sort.   An invalid diet is appreciated while they are getting better.

If an injured pigeon can’t fly it will still need a perch to keep it’s feet in order, so a suitably sized branch (just right for the toes to curl round) should be placed on the floor of the cage or a little bit higher, so that our pigeon friend can roost as he is accustomed to doing.

Most important of all is water, pigeons drink a lot and it has to be given in a deep dish.  They suck up water through their beak just like a straw, if the water is in a shallow dish they can’t get it and may die of dehydration.  Be sire to put plenty of braches and greenery in their pen or cage so that they feel at home in as near to a natural environment as you can get it.

All the pigeons and doves brought in to us recently are doing well.  Some are nearly ready to be released, others are at the flutter stage and we still have just one who can’t fly at all.  Early days.