Help with baby pigeon please

[MaBee]

Hello, I managed to save a baby pigeon (I thought he was a dodo), from my cat on Sunday. Due to the cat I was unable to look after him, so my mum is caring for him. Please can anyone advise on what we should feed him? we are giving him crushed rich tea biscuit mixed with water to a paste, the odd mashed pea, and egg. He is growing well and seems okay - but I think mum might be overfeeding him.

 

Please can anyone help?

[carlsberg]

put a picture up so we can see what we are dealing with

[MaBee]

Give me 5 minutes to download the photo...

[MaBee]

I've tried to upload the photo twice - is there a limit on file size?

[DOVEScot]

I've tried to upload the photo twice - is there a limit on file size?

 

It has to be below 1mb or download a resize programme if you don't have one, I use photobucket http://photobucket.com/

Get some pigeon food and soak the peas, syringe it into a balloon and cut a small cross in it, allow the yb to dip it's beak into it, you can syringe the food into the bird but it may choke, better with the balloon as it is more natural to the way a pigeon feeds

[MaBee]

Hello, Thanks DOVEScot for the advice on feeding the baby pigeon, I'll get the right pigeon food today. I am trying to attach a photo with this post - as it's difficult for anyone to help without knowing the age of the bird. I'm also unsure how much and how often he should be fed - he's certainly growing fast anyway.

[invalidusername]

Hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of quoting your new message from the other thread, and re-attaching your photo.

 

Hello, Thanks DOVEScot for the advice on feeding the baby pigeon, I'll get the right pigeon food today. I am trying to attach a photo with this post - as it's difficult for anyone to help without knowing the age of the bird. I'm also unsure how much and how often he should be fed - he's certainly growing fast anyway.

 

From my limited experience, it looks like around 10 days, but it does look like a dodo!! You'll be amazed at how quickly they grow.  Is it a pigeon? ;-)  

[DOVEScot]

Hello, Thanks DOVEScot for the advice on feeding the baby pigeon, I'll get the right pigeon food today. I am trying to attach a photo with this post - as it's difficult for anyone to help without knowing the age of the bird. I'm also unsure how much and how often he should be fed - he's certainly growing fast anyway.

 

About a week old not much more by the looks of it, the fact that it is growing indicates it is feeding

Amount; it will take about half an egg cup of soaked food to fill its crop

[Webmaster]

Hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of quoting your new message from the other thread, and re-attaching your photo.

...

 

I've merged the topics.

[Guest mikkey]

if thats a dodo ill buy it from ya ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[DOVEScot]

if thats a dodo ill buy it from ya ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

 

I am sure your chairde Ganster could get you one free ;D ;D ;D

[Guest Cock Of The North]

I think you will find it will grow into a wild wood pigeon

[pjc]

I think so too!

It may be worth crushing some acorns inwith the food as that will be part of there natural diet when available.

 

Phil

[MaBee]

Thank you all for the advice, much appreciated. We hope the little dodo makes it, as we've become quite attached to him. Think he could be a wood pigeon, we see more wood pigeons than normal pigeons here. I'm guessing wood pigeons don't make good racers eh?

[invalidusername]

Thank you all for the advice, much appreciated. We hope the little dodo makes it, as we've become quite attached to him. Think he could be a wood pigeon, we see more wood pigeons than normal pigeons here. I'm guessing wood pigeons don't make good racers eh?

 

Having only had one baby pigeon (racing variety), I didn't think it was one - but keep on feeding it and it'll be in the garden for ever!  And.... doubt it it'll win any races, but a lucky little thing to have found you.  Well done :-)

 

 

[Guest Freebird]

Hi, If it is a cushy ( wood pigeon ) he/she will be a beautiful friend for life no doubt but you realise he will need his freedom to be with his own kind. I'm quite sure it will visit you regularly and you will have the privilege of being up close to a very colourful bird. I didn’t realise cushy squabs were so dark as the adults beak etc. are light in colour. Please keep us up-dated on the progress as you and mum are doing a grand job. Take care and good luck with your new friend.

[DOVEScot]

This is what you have, a baby wood pigeon

 

http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/birds/Columba_palumbus/ARK008667.html?offset=0px

 

[DJ]

well done for taking care of it mabee  as freebird said it will need to go back with its own kind (when its old enough to look after itself) but carry on feeding it preferably with pigeon corn (soaked in water for about an hour before feeding) pigeons normally have another drink about 30 mins -1hr after eating so feel his crop area (his chest) and if it feels hard then try using a syringe to get some more water into him  your doing a grand job keep up the good work   debbie

[Peckedhen]

He can have defrosted peas and beech nuts if there are any around at the moment.