HELP TO RESCUE PIGEON PLEASE

[maggot]

Hi all, I know nothing about Pigeons and have only joined the forum to help a pigeon on our premises.

I've been told that it is quite young by a racing pigeon fanatic. It has 3 rings as far as I can see,...yellow red and green.

I have managed to identify the STD code of the telephone number as the Barnstaple in Devon area. I read on the internet that it may rest for a day or so then continue on its way. The racing pigeon guy says that it is too young for this and to try and feed it (and water of course) then catch it to re-patriate it with the owner. My worry as an animal lover, is that it will de-hydrate and suffer. It positions itself on the top ofour industrial premises mostly, so no chance of catching it,.......I would be afraid of harming it anyway!!

If I were to catch it, what would I put it in and what to feed it?    I will continue to feed it until there is a better suggestion. Thanks for any help.

Martin Schofield 01823 666780 evenings......01823 667669 daytime  

[pjc]

If you can try and feed it somewhere it can be caught then it can be kept in something like a rabbit hutch etc with food and water until the owner can get it returned.

 

Phil

[maggot]

The best I could do if I could catch it would be a large cardboard box. Would this be OK for a night? I feed the local wild birds with seeds etc from our local pet feed shop, will this do for a while?  I'm in Wellington Somerset so not far from Barnstaple.

[Peckedhen]

Yes, that would do to start with. It will need a deepish dish of water - they dip their beaks up to the nostrils to drink.

 

  If you can catch it and post it's ring number on here we might be able to help you to locate the owner.

 

Thank you for caring.

[Peckedhen]

Here's a link to an easy  method of catching pigeons.  

 

http://www.racingbirds.com/ptrap.html

[maggot]

Thanks for that, I'll do my best...What about light, or is it best in the dark? Is the owner obliged to collect the bird? ..........If I were to catch it but with no joy in returning to the keeper, then I will have a family member care for it with her other birds,...finches, quayle, and in whatever section they think appropriate!.................Never thought I'd lose sleep over a bird!....That's life I guess!

 

Martiin

[Peckedhen]

It is the owners responsibility to arrange to have the bird returned home, he may collect it or may use a courier.

The bird will need some light to see to eat and drink but will be fine overnight in the dark.

[maggot]

Ah, just got used to this forum posting thing, I think I've repeated myself already......I blame this new Windows Vista!

How does a carrier collect a pigeon?....Are they used to this?   Is it the done thing?...

[jimmy white]

Ah, just got used to this forum posting thing, I think I've repeated myself already......I blame this new Windows Vista!

How does a carrier collect a pigeon?....Are they used to this?   Is it the done thing?... [/quote

 

the double post dissapeared,,,,,,,just like that ;D ;D ;D

 

the carriers are used to this maggy   theres amtrak , but a cheaper one in england,,,,the phantom flier ,,,,,amtrack will be in the phone book for your area , and im sure someone on the forum will give you phantom fliers no,   [off course the owner must pay for this] unless you would like to keep some ;D  looks like youde be good at that , and become interested in them and a regular poster ,,,good luck anyway and a very good deed done

[maggot]

Thanks for all the advice, I'll do my best to catch it today and get the phone number. I wouldn't like to put it on a carrier, I'd rather drive it home ......it would get me away from work for a couple of hours.......like parole I guess!

 

Will keep you posted

Martin

[invalidusername]

Well done, Martin.  Good luck :-)

[maggot]

I got sooooo close this morning with a sheet, but it's back on the roof sunning itself in the guttering. It has fed and had water, so happy there. I've tried talking to it to reassure that I mean no harm, but just ignores me! Are pigeons usually so stupid?

The green ring has GB on, I did get close enough to see this but not to catch it.

 

I'll keep trying

 

[Peckedhen]

Stupid?  Nah - he's sensible enough not to fancy being bundled up in a sheet! ;D  The green ring probably indicates that this is a 2008 bird.  He's a lost baby!!

[DOVEScot]

I got sooooo close this morning with a sheet, but it's back on the roof sunning itself in the guttering. It has fed and had water, so happy there. I've tried talking to it to reassure that I mean no harm, but just ignores me! Are pigeons usually so stupid?

The green ring has GB on, I did get close enough to see this but not to catch it.

 

I'll keep trying

 

Get a cheap cage and put some food in it, attach a pull string on the door, easiest way to catch them

[maggot]

Lost baby!....That's done it for me, I'm gonna make it my mission tomorrow to get it home. Might make a large net on a stick, ....I could use one of our cat cages,...might try that also.                     Getting quite attached to it now,...won't be long before I give it a name!LOL

Just gone to the workshop (This is where he/she/it is)...but no sign!.....

 

Let you know tomorrow.

Martin

[Blue Chequer Pied]

Martin,

Full marks for your effort in this. You are obviously an animal lover. I take my hat off to you.( or I would if I was wearing one ) I hope you manage to get a successful conclusion to this. If the bird is eating it may go  home of it's own accord once it builds up it's strength. If it does it will be credit to you for helping out. You never know you could be a pigeon fancier of the future.

All the best,

Paul.

 

p.s if you ever fancy starting up there are plenty of guys on here to help.

[maggot]

Got in work early today ready to build a trap, but seems like my new friend has gone. Yesterday it fed well and spent a lot of time preening its feathers and did a few trips around the site which I haven't noticed it do before. Is this an indication that maybe it was just having a rest for a few days before completing its journey? I would like to know. The only info I could get from the rings was part of the telephone number, which was the Barnstaple Devon area and included 32401 in the main number. If by some strange twist of luck anyone knows if it returns home, I would love to know.

 

This forum looks like a real friendly and helpful place...........I belong to several Bluegrass music forums and sometimes the backstabbing and political incorrectness is painful!

 

Best of luck to you all and Thanks a lot

 

Martin

[Peckedhen]

Yesterday it fed well and spent a lot of time preening its feathers and did a few trips around the site which I haven't noticed it do before. Is this an indication that maybe it was just having a rest for a few days before completing its journey? I would like to know.

 

Yes, this is what's probably happened. He will have flown until he was exhausted. After a good rest and feed he has set off to search fopr home BUT, keep your eyes open he may well be back, now he knows where there is a good food source!

 

This forum looks like a real friendly and helpful place...........I belong to several Bluegrass music forums and sometimes the backstabbing and political incorrectness is painful!

 

Don't you believe it Martin. ;D

 

Thanks for helping the little lost fella.

 

 

 

 

[DJ]

well done martin for feeding/watering the lost young,un  hes probably built up his strength enough to try and make his own way home but as peckedhen says keep your eyes open as he may well decide to return to u when hes hungry     keep us all updated on any news  debbie

[maggot]

Will look out for it and keep food and water in place, just in case.......missing it already!    

 

Cheers Martin

[Guest shadow]

well done not many make the effort to look after tired pigeons

[invalidusername]

Martin - fingers crossed, he's gone on his way, and might even be back in his loft with his mates.  But, as Susan and others have said, keep an eye out - he might be back ;-)

 

Well done for looking out for him and your concern.  Excellent :-)

[sherbs]

Just thought i would let everyone know that i think the bird Martin has been looking out for is mine. My club The Barnstaple and Pilton RPC had a club race come training toss for young birds from Wellington on sunday the 6th. This turned out to be a disasterous race with only one bird being timed in race time. This from a race point which is only 35 miles to most members. It is rumoured that most birds never left the race point with talk of birds being lined up on local rooftops. I myself only sent six as i am just starting back in the sport with young birds this season. I had 3 on the day and one next morning, one member lost 21 out of 26. A few have been picked up from Wellington in the week and a couple have worked home but no great numbers. The bird i think Martin has been helping was waiting on my loft roof when i returned from club this Friday evening the 11th the day Martin says the bird disappeared. The colour of the rings he described matches mine as does the phone number. I have just phoned Martin but he is not home i have left my number and will do all i can to thank him personally. It's very nice to know that some none fanciers at least see pigeons as more than just flying rats, and it is very interesting to find out what at least one of the lost birds had been up to. Hopefully this will be the first and last smack we take this year but knowing pigeon racing there will be more to come.

[maggot]

After a totally rubbish week,....central heating boiler packed up,..shed loads of awkward customers,...telly blew up today......But what a fantastic start to the week!!!  It was a privilige to get so close to a bird, something I've never really experienced before,.....had a pet rook when I was a kid but that's about it.

 

I dont think I could get into this thing, I couldn't let them fly off not knowing if they would return. I guess I'm just too soft!

 

Mark, we have a gig at the Pilton hall (in the main street) coming up later in the year I think, 25th October comes to mind, try and make it if you can for an evening of Bluegrass music by me and the band www.thunderbridgebluegrass.com  would be good to meet you and talk about the progress of the new love in my life! Hope he stops by for refreshments again sometime!.....(HE?....Really had it in my head that it was a female.....Soooooooooo pretty!)

 

Martin

 

[invalidusername]

What a great end to the story :-)  It's great for Martin to know that his efforts paid off and that the bird was sent on his way home after a rest and some refreshment.  Well done again Martin.

 

If you'd like to keep birds, you don't actually have to race them (what am I saying on a pigeon fancying/racing site ;-))  You can keep them as 'pets' and enjoy them without the risk.  Plenty of advice here on what to have as a loft (I have a 6'x4' shed).  They can hopefully go out for exercise, but they don't need to go long distances like the pros here.  You need to be careful what you get and what age, but as I say, it is possible to have these lovely birds without being a racer.  This is what I'm currently doing.  If you have a spare few hours ;-) , check out the pigeon in my kitchen thread.  It's long, but shows how I got attached to pigeons - and now have three :-)

 

http://forum.pigeonbasics.com/m-1206123382/

 

Well done again, and good on you sherbs for coming on and reporting the return.