Pidgeon with broken wing

[Rivera]

About a moth ago I found a pidgeon outside my garage. I figured a healthy pidgeon would get out of the way seeing a huge car pass right beside it, but when it didn't move I assumed it was sick or injured. So I picked him up and put him in a dog carrier. I had nursed a couple of pidgeons before and in a couple of weeks they had been fine (scratched by cats and that sort of stuff). But it's been a month now and this one, "Chon", still will not move it's right wing at all. I've set him up in his "condo", which I made of a puppy cage, and placed him near my doves (I have 4 doves, one parrot and 2 parakeets too).
Since I'm pretty sure his wing is permanently messed up I figured I better start learning what pidgeons need. His balance is not very good because he can't use his wing, so he can't stand on a perch, so I made him a sort of second floor with a board and a ramp and he loved it. He can go "upstairs" to eat, and also he uses the space below the board to nap, as it's cozy and dark.
Now I guess I need to learn about diseases, parasytes and nutrition. Is this all similar to doves? Or should I look for something else? I've been feeding him the same seeds I feed my doves (white winged) plus some bread (white and whole grain). Someone told me to give him some grinded kibble, but I don't feed my dogs kibble (raw feeder) and hate the stuff. So... any suggestions?
Thanks.
G

[Florence]

Welcome to the forum G. I think you are doing a great job. The only thing I would have done different is to take him to a vet. To know precisely what he needs in relation to his 'wing' condition and general health that may be affected by this

[Rivera]

Vets here aren't good with birds. I live in a small city in Mexico. Pidgeons are pests and they don't bother to treat them. I know the answer already: it's not worth it, just let him die. It's not an endangered species or a special bird.
Anyway... Chon is happy. I made him a second floor in his cage with a wood board and a ramp and he ADORED IT!!! He's happy as a clam! Up and down the ramp all day long. I got him some crushed corn and vitamins (with vitamin D something) Cuz where the cage is he doesn't get much sun and I read that they need that vitamin and the corn is nutritious for them. Once a week I rotate the doves and Chon so he gets the sun one week and the doves get the sun one week. A lady at the vet pharmacy sold me some deworming stuff for chickens, and she said that also worked for doves. ??? to just put a pinch in his water for 3 days.
He still won't use his wing at all, but he's active, perky and gaining weight. When I first caught him he was like in shock and lethargic. He's definetly happy now. I have to go away this weekend (I have a person that comes over to take care of all my animals) and when I come back I'll see if I can build him a 3rd. floor and another ramp in his cage. I think he really liked going higher and seeing things from up above. Kinda like and "I'm the pidgeon king of the world" thing.
I'll appreciate any sugestions to keep him healthy and happy.
Thanks.
G

[Florence]

G. I don't think there is much that I can add to your splendid caretaking of this lucky bird. You are, I think, everything that can be done to keep him healthy and happy
(But I got curious :blush: do you have a photo of him in his cage?)

[Rivera]

Ugh... I haven't taken a picture yet, cuz I hadn't decided if he was going to be a permanent part of the family or if I was going to release him, but I'll take one tomorrow. I also have 4 doves (white winged), "Chicken" is the eldest dove and I got him since he was a chick and hand fed him. As time passed some other doves nested on tree branches around the house. Long story short, I've raised like 9 or 10 doves (chicks that fall off the nest too soon), of which I've kept 4 cuz they are too friendly with the dogs and won't defend themselves. I have a parrot, Napoleon, he is a white foreheaded mexican parrot. And two parakeets, Pericles and Aspacia.
I'll take a pic of the whole crew tomorrow, including Chon in his condo, of course.
Soooo... Pidgeons are seed eaters... right? No fruit or stuff like that? Hard boiled eggs? They eat more like doves than like parrots?
Thanks.
G

[Rivera]

Florence. I received your message but I can't reply to you. I'll be glad to spread the word and link you guys at my web page.
I'll do a "thing" on the birds and add a link to the forum. You've been very helpful and I'm sure I'll get lots of great tips for my otehr bids.
Hugs.
G

[Florence]

Thank you, G. That's very kind of you :kiss:

I am looking forward to the photos (sorry for being so curious but I just love photos that give a visual impression) :blush:

You know there are pigeon food pellets on the market that contain all they need? Some have, except for grains even fish in them and always provide extra vitamin B. I have no idea about brands though, but you could ask your local pet shop I think?

Wow, you sure have a lot of experience with birds I see - great work, G.! {Feel-good-000200BB}

[Rivera]

Pidgeon pellets... ok. I'll look into that. I know a place where they sell fancy pigeons (like with curly feathers and some they call peakock pigeons and stuff like that) that should carry that stuff. I once went to ask about dove food, but the stuff they had was too large for doves to eat. White winged just eat very small seeds... at least my spoiled crew does. And those things seemed HUGE! But I suppose they are OK for Chon. Maybe I'll try grinding some for the doves too as a supplement for their seeds. So... if I give him the pellets, should I cut back on the vitamins I add to his food?
Today we caught Chon flapping his "good" wing, by the way. It's the first time he's done that since he came home. I think he's feeling even perkier. He's moodier for sure: he pecked the gal that was changing his food. I guess he figured she was stealing it. Well... I'll take it as a good sign: he's defending his territory and his food.
LOL :woohoo:
G

[Rivera]

Ok, I posted the pics, but the descriptions got uploaded wrong and they all say white winged dove :angry:
But I guess you can clearly see who's the pigeon, who's the parrot, who are the parakeets, and which are the doves.
I posted a pic of one of the babies of white winged doves I've raised. The mom, who is also in the pic, is one of the doves I raised and released. She keeps coming home to eat, and she nested on a tree at the house. Her chick fell off the nest and I nursed it a couple of days before returning her to the mom. Really cute!!!
Chon, the pigeon. His messed up wing started to get all filled with poo, so I cut some of the longest feathers off. Just the tips. No permanent damage, of course. But this way he's cleaner. Though he could bathe if he wanted to... he really doesn't like to bathe, so all that pigeon poo on his wings was getting on my nerves. He was just kinda sweeping it up with the wing before we got to clean the cage in the mornings.
Sooo... how does the crew look to you?
Hugs.
G

[Florence]

So... if I give him the pellets, should I cut back on the vitamins I add to his food?

Have a look at the package how much is added and then subtract it from the amount you usually give them.

Today we caught Chon flapping his "good" wing, by the way.

That TRULY is very good news!

Ok, I posted the pics

Aaaaaaaaaaaah, they're so cute {Love-0002011D}
Chon does look very perky indeed!