Will my pet wood pigeon survive the winter?

Is there a wildlife rehab center near where you live?  Perhaps one associated with a local college or university?  If the bird can be safely netted (or otherwise live-trapped), then taking it to such a place would be my recommendation.

There is such a facility about 30 minutes away from us (www.wrcmn.org) and, unfortunately, we seem to deliver some poor, damaged creature there each and every year. For animals and birds that can't be rehabbed and reintroduced into the wild, it becomes a permanent, no-kill shelter. The level of dedication by the employees and volunteer vets there is pretty amazing, and I am more than happy to send them a yearly donation.

Good luck -- hope things work out well for Woody.

Hook

Many  years ago before I retired we had an injured pigeon turn up outside the warehouse. I phoned the RSPCA who told me to try and contain it. I got a large empty box out of the w/house and managed to drop it over the bird. The RSPCA came along an hour later and collected it.

Mista H

fatcat

Are you sure the lower beak is missing?

I can't tell by the photo above.

Beak shapes tend to differ greatly from one pigeion to another, the lower beak can be very much smaller and maybe [with a bit of luck in this case] just seem to look like it's not there, or am i hoping too much?

Debs

Looking at the picture, I had the same query as Debs. I think the top beak usually curls down over the lower beak.

Simon

Message for Debs

Just to let you know we had to have Mogs put to sleep yesterday,she had stopped eating and drinking.

The house feels very empty this morning.  My thoughts are to get an older cat in a few weeks time.

Mista H

Hi Mista H,

You’ve done a fine job looking after Mogs over her long health decline.

There always comes a time when an elderly feline friend will become ill enough to tip the balance and their health can very quickly spiral out of control. I believe it is a gift of caring and compassion that allows ’letting go’ for euthanasia in preventing the discomfort of a painful lingering death. Try not to feel too bad about it, always remember the happy times. You have my empathy and sympathy.

Debs

Sorry to hear about Mogs Mista H.

Eloquently  put Debs.

I took this photo on Thursday, not in focus but it shows most of the bottom beak is missing. He seems healthy enough, he's preening, looks well fed and able to eat bread, rice and probably seeds that don't have a hard case/husk.

I'll give the RSPB a ring next week, they might be able to give me some advice. 

My sympathies, mista h. Having to have a beloved pet put to sleep is a heart-breaking experience.  The hurt put my wife and I off getting another dog for more than a year.  But another has amply filled the void so I'm sure you're right to look to get another cat soon.

MDS      

Hello Fatcat

Firstly I would just like to apologize if it seems like I am trying to gatecrash and takeover a thread that you started,i can assure you that is not the case. It was just the chance to tell Debs how things were going with mogs as i first posted on our cat problems to her  many months ago.

As regards your bird it looks far from starving from the top photo you have taken. The RSPCB is as you say the people to contact. If they give it a clean bill of health I see no reason why you should not adopt it as it clearly likes your grub. You could also give it a name,he looks like a Cyril to me.

Thanks to all for your kind replies RE Mogs. Ella @ Anne Nelson vets who put Her to sleep is going to keep an eye out for us as they often have senior cats turn up needing a home.

Mista h

Fatcat

Rather than contacting the RSPB you should contact a local wildlife rescue centre (find your local one at http://bwrc.org.uk/ ) or RSPCA (or SSPCA if in Scotland).  However it is often best to leave well alone, with the exception of supplementary feeding as you are doing, and let nature take its course.  Indeed many wild animals survive with what look to be quite serious injuries.  This is well illustrated by the following link to a beakless wood pigeon which makes your pigeon look quite healthy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6MZwVXRvXQ

No need to apologies, I've been following your reports on Mogs problems with interest and concern.

My wife's already given the pigeon a name, Pie. Can't say I approve.

That's amazing. Hard to believe it could survive in that condition. My pigeons in good shape in comparison.

We've also had a female blackbird feeding in our garden since spring, it's name is scruffy. I very much doubted it would survive the winter.

Didn't have a feather on its chest up until about a month ago. Now it's got a perfect plumage of feathers.

Another message for Debs if I may Fat Cat(a rather apt name,pls read on)

Just got a new cat today Debs. Very friendly,his name is Cooper. He has been looked after by a wonderful lady who is a cat fosterer. When she first had him he was all skin and bones,now he is about 9 stone and about to go on a slow but steady diet. I have a broken wrist at the moment and it was to painfull to pick him up.

If you want to see a picture of him go to the Croydon cat Samaritans website,click on cats seeking homes. He is almost at the bottom of the page.

Fat Cat....Any update on your bird??

Mista h

You don't mean 9 stone do you?!

Mista h,

hope you don't mind me posting Cooper's picture.

He looks like a cuddles to me

You're going to need a big cat-flap!

Debs

Only joking about the weight Phil,but he is bloody heavy.

Great pic Debs.....thanks When I got him home he let kate cuddle him like a baby,early days but I think he he going to be a great cat. Only problem we have tonite is that's its all strange to him,and he has decided to set up camp at the back of a HEAVY 3 seater leather sofa and wont move,so we have decided to leave him in peace and quite tonite and have put his food/litter tray in the lounge.

Mista H

Lovely looking cat Mista H.

Good for you getting a rescue cat.About 3 years ago I lost the cat in my avatar,she was vey old and never came back.Her sister was put to sleep a couple of months earlier.It was so strange getting home in the evening and not having any animal company.I went to my local cat shelter and could'nt really decide on any of the cats,until a came on the last one.There was something calm and friendly about her.She loved having her head stroked.She was 3 and had a sad life.When she was 1 her owner moved abroad and left her and her mum and sister at the shelter.After a coulpe of months they where both rehomed leaving her there for another 5 months.A lady rehomed her but she escaped after the first night threw a window.She was a stray.But eventually was found as she was microchiped went back to the shelter again !

She then stayed there for another 6 months,until I got her.

Have to say she has given me so much joy and great to give an animal some love and of cause a home with some good music !

Seeing the pic of your cooper reminded me of my Florance.

Kind regrds Ian

A nice looking sturdy cat. Very similar in markings and size to our previous cat Dylan. He came from the cat's protection, they insisted he loved being outside. Turned out we couldn't get him out of the house for 3 months. Once outside he was quite timid and wouldn't leave the garden, however no other cat could enter the garden. He didn't go in for the usual cat etiquette of howling, hissing, stalking and staring, on spotting a cat he simply charged at it like a rhino.

So, it's just a matter of learning Cooper's foibles, ways, likes and dislikes, then rearranging your life to fit in with his needs.

The pigeon is doing OK. Since discovering his disability we've been observing his eating habits. He eats peanuts discarded by the tits, he's able to smash them to pieces with his beak. This morning for breakfast he ate bread, crushed nuts and soft seed mix. At 1 pm he was sat on the roof, he watched me put bread out for him, but didn't eat it, so I don't think he's going hungry.

Our dear sweet Cooper is becoming a nightmare.

This morning we managed to get him out from behind the sofa after taking half the lounge apart.

Being a pair of smart arses Kate and I decided to put him in the kitchen,complete with tray,food,etc,etc,thinking he would have nowhere to hide.   WRONG,WRONG,WRONG.

In between our cooker and gas boiler is a tiny gap that goes to all the ducting for our warm air heating,up to the first  and second floors of the house.

give you 2 guesses where cooper is now !!!

Mista H

Rescue cats usually need some time alone in a quiet place to settle down and become happy in their new home. They can act very strangely sometimes and seem ungrateful to kindness but he probably feels very lost or overwhelmed in his new surroundings.

It maybe better to keep him in room that’s quiet, and preferably with a view out the window.

You never know the full history of a adult rescue cat, they can take a lot of time and understanding to win over. Always worth the effort though.

Early days yet, hope you get him out of the air heating duct okay.

Try dinging his dinner plate

Thanks Debs

A very sensible reply. kate has just put out a tin of marks & sparks tuna for the cat. Just hope that I get fed as well.

mista H

Maybe he just doesn't like you very much.

A question RE our Cooper......ALL replies would be most welcome.

I collected him Thursday afternoon and since then he has gone into hiding behind one of the chairs in the lounge,or the Kitchen. He comes out at nite to use the litter tray,eats & drinks very little then goes back into hiding.

Should I leave things as they are or would it be a good idea to get him out from behind the sofa each day,make a bit of a fuss of him for 10 mins or so and then let him go back behind the sofa.

Whilst we had Mogs for some 14 years,she was our neighbours cat and she settled in within about 5 mins as she always came in every day to say hello.

Looking for advice on this.

Thanks

Mista H

Over the years we've had 6 cats from the cats protection society, all adult and all behaved differently on arrival. Checked with my wife, she said one in particular hid for quite a while, but a couple of noisy kids might have been a factor. She said definitely don't make him come out of hiding, leave him behind the sofa and try not to make any sudden loud noise.

Might be an idea to put a cat blanket/fleece behind the sofa so he feels more at home.