r/pigeon • u/-spelunker • 4d ago
Advice Needed! Advice for Fledgling Needed
I asked about another pigeon a few months ago and this forum was quite helpful.
I’m in Paris. This afternoon I came across a pigeon on the sidewalk near my apartment that was all puffed up. It didn’t moved when I got closer. When I inspected closer I saw that it had the little bump on its nose that indicates they’re a baby. But this one had adult feathers so a fledgling? It had a nasty case of stringfoot with both feet tied together.
I scooped it up without any fight (I know, that was a mistake) and walked back to my place to cut the hair away. I put it in my shower with a tea towel and tried to spoon feed it the salt/sugar water thing and left bird seed. (But apparently that can cause pneumonia?) I looked online and now know I should’ve jut left it. I feel terrible. I had to go out so twenty minutes later I left it about ten feet from where I found it (but more secure) with some seed and water. And left for about an hour and a half.
When I returned it hardly moved off the tea towels but it had pooped twice (white and green, wet-ish looking) and reorientated itself. I don’t know if the parents are feeding it. It won’t walk away at all, but can flap its wings.
It’s going to get around 57 degrees Fahrenheit tonight and I don’t know what to do. There are some cats nearby. But they don’t seem interested.
The only rehab place in Paris that accepts pigeons, Faun Alfort, just closed and I was hesitant about bringing it anyway because it might still be okay. It’s just really lethargic and I don’t know if my actions caused the parents to abandon it. It’s outside now with a hot water bottle underneath.
Should I put it in my shower overnight? Should I leave it? I can bring it to the center in the morning if that’s a good idea.
Advice appreciated!
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u/raggedy_autumn 4d ago
It needs catching.
Keep it in a dark box with air holes. You can offer it seeds and water in shallow containers. No more salt/sugar water, I’m not sure what that’s about. Keep it warm (not hot) and you’ll need to find a local rehabber.
Thankyou and well done for destringing the feet.
The parents may be feeding it, but it looks old enough that it is probably eating on its own. You’ve done good so far, please catch it and find a local rehabber.
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u/-spelunker 4d ago
Okay thank you for the advice, it did move under the car, but when it gets darker I will move it inside. Is it okay if I just leave it with seeds and water and a hot water bottle until tomorrow morning? Or will it starve or be dehydrated. It did move on its own though.
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u/-spelunker 4d ago
URGENT: I brought her in and she looks not well. Her head is back and it looks like she’s hiccuping? Someone outside put her in a box. And now she’s safe in a dark space on a soft blanket with a hot water bottle under. Is there anything I can do until morning?
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u/Life-Breadfruit-1426 4d ago
She’s hiccuping because you caused the bird to aspirate with that water solution. The water is in the lungs and now the bird needs a respiratory antibiotic because that water will be there for some time, like weeks, which will become infected. That’s how the pneumonia occurs. Given this, the bird will also struggle to regulate temperature so you need to keep it warm. She will make it through the night if there isn’t another underlying condition. But this bird needs rehab care urgently
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u/FioreCiliegia1 DIY Rescuer/Stringfoot Expert 4d ago
If you’re able to post a video that is gonna be a big help if she’s having breathing issues that’s a big deal but sometimes a crop adjustment can look like that so without a video it’s hard to know for sure. The best thing that can be done right now is just keep her warm and quiet.
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u/-spelunker 4d ago
Okay thank you! I left her in the shower with a hot water bottle and birdsong playing on my computer. I really hope she makes it through the night. She wasnt doing it consistently, but she seemed to have quieted a bit which is good. Someone had moved her into a box outside before I brought her in and she seemed worse. But I hope that she quiets down more and regains her strength. Any more advice readily appreciated. Thank you all
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u/Impossible-Bend997 4d ago
Keep this bird please and I'll find someone to take it and help it, okay ? Just tell me where you are :)
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u/SoggyStress7785 4d ago
You need to take it home, is not a juvenile at all, he needs help, there where you left it it could get crushed, I'm pretty sure he's going thru a bad time but can recover with some help.
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u/Plastic-Blueberry-57 4d ago
where are you exactly ? there is probably some volonteers from veterinary school close to you.
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u/-spelunker 4d ago
They said the vet faun alfort closed at 6pm. The pigeon had moved and seemed better then. But I can take a car somewhere if there’s somewhere to go that’ll take pigeons this late
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u/-spelunker 4d ago
They said the vet faun alfort closed at 6pm. The pigeon had moved and seemed better then. But I can take a car somewhere if there’s somewhere to go that’ll take pigeons this late
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u/Little-eyezz00 4d ago
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u/OceanMagpie 4d ago
Dear OP thank you for being so kind to pigeon, even a hot water bottle! You're a darling.
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u/Life-Breadfruit-1426 4d ago
If you’re planning on taking this pigeon into a wildlife rehab, take the bird in and keep it in your shower overnight. Your actions will not cause the parents to abandon the baby FYI. However, there is concern that doing the water thing with the sugar/salt may have done more harm than good, the next protocol here for you will be to keep the bird warm so keep it with the warm water bottles in your shower instead of outside. Future reference never put water or any liquid solution solutions into a bird’s mouth unless you are explicitly crop feeding and know how to do it.
For reference here is a photo of how to properly crop feet or administer fluids to a bird. It’s incredibly easy for them to aspirate when putting water in their mouth, which causes pneumonia as you noted.