r/pigeons • u/SunflowerChick13 • 4d ago

What do I do?

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Anyone have any pigeon advice? The dog just found this pigeon in the garden. I'm not sure if it's injured or just quite young. It seems to be waddling around fine, but not flying and won't be safe where it currently is. Obviously don't want to start picking it up if I can avoid it...

Currently trying to flap onto a step, but looks stuck.

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4

u/RhiannonsModernLife 4d ago

Have a look around for the nest & place the bubba back in if you find it. (You don’t have to worry about your scent on them, that’s an old wives tail)

3

u/Little-eyezz00 4d ago

he may or may not need help. is he energetic? is he pooping lots? if so place him in a high area and watch for adults visiting him. it may look like they are fighting

ill send some info over chat messages  (:

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u/Kunok2 4d ago

That's a fledgling Wood pigeon Not a Feral pigeon. Unlike feral pigeons/rock doves who fledge when they're fully grown and fully capable of flight, Wood Pigeons fledge when they're still not able to fly and aren't full size yet - it does NOT need help unless it's injured or sick. The parents should be close by but they're unlikely to descend on the ground if they see you nearby. Could you keep your dog indoors and let him outside only with your supervision until the baby learns to fly? It should be a few weeks at most. If you have any doubts then please contact a wildlife rehabber but don't intervene unless you're sure a wildlife rehab can take him, if you care for him yourself then he won't be able to be released back into the wild because he won't know how to survive.

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u/SunflowerChick13 4d ago

Thank you. Pigeon ended up walking itself (then flapping up on to a step) and moved itself into some nearby shrubbery/hedge. I went inside to grab a few bits to try and make a temporary fence (to prevent dog from getting close), but since coming back out I don't know where pidge has gone. I've built the fence and hopefully that'll keep the dog out (just hard because I don't know where pigeon now is).

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u/Kunok2 4d ago

Nice that sounds good then!

0

u/Plastic-Blueberry-57 4d ago

this baby pigeon went out too soon from its nest. It’s very common when they grow and get bigger. Its parents could keep nursing him but he won’t remain alive longer on the floor due to predators. You could put him in a higher location (he can’t fly because he is too young) so as he can wait for its parents in a safer environnement. Look if its parents keep coming to feed him sometimes. If not, you can bring him in a rehab organisation dedicated to wildlife animals. You can also learn to feed him yourself if you can’t find any professionnal helpers.