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How to help a feral pigeon
Hey advicenators :) Does anyone have experience/knowledge about feral pigeons?
I have this adorable little family of rock pigeons that came into my life when the parents decided to nest on my apartment balcony. I watched them raise their babies every day (they made a nest in my bucket). The babies are all grown up and flown away now, but I still see the parents here every now and then.
The male (atleast I assume he is the male cause he is much bigger than his partner) always had a stick stuck to his leg, with what looks like tangled thin twine. The twig is gone now, but his foot is all curled up and full of twine stuff and it looks like he's trying not to walk on it.. I'm scared he may lose his foot, do you think that it would do any harm if I tried to catch him so I can take it off him? I haven't tried to do anything about it before because I didnt want to scare them away, and I'm pretty high up so I cant do anything when they're off the balcony.
Thanks for any advice
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Catching any wild/feral bird isn't that easy unless they have wing damage or they're too exhasuted to fly, or they fly. As you'd imagine. Trail of food and a pile of it inside a picnic basket with a hinged lid, if it's fairly tame and used to coming near you for food might do it. Basket on it's side, lid propped open with a stick, string tied to the stick. When he's inside pull the stick away. A biggish net, heavy enough to 'throw' will often catch a bird. He won't be able to fly once he's covered. Once you've got him, I do know how to pick him up. Tips of your thumbs together, palms facing each other, fingers outstrectched. Come down on him from above, and behind him. Sort of stroke/press his wings down towards his body as your hands come around him. Till your fingers come round under his breast. Gently, but you will have to be a bit firm. He'll try and spread his wings to fly, and they're a lot stronger than you might think..be ready! Once you've got him in that position he's not going anywhere. Hold him up so a friend can have a look at his leg. Pigeons can stand a lot of handling easily and without harm. He might well poop all over you in fright though, expect that too. It's harmless. Couldn't guess what might be wrong, you'll have to have a good, see if you can help. I have noticed a quite a few pigeons over the years with crooked and/or damaged looking legs now you mention it. They seem to handle it. Never seen a one-legged bird of any kind though, assume they don't make it? Good luck, and it's nice that you care. I always have a good look at a distressed looking bird if it's close to my house and see what I can do. Some people sort of wonder 'What for...it's just a bird' but I ignore them! As I said, it's easy catching them if they can't fly properly. If you can get him in a box he'll be ok there for a while so you can keep an eye on him. A cardboard box with the lid closed is dark, and once a bird's in the dark he'll go as quiet as a mouse, he won't flap and bang about trying to get out and damage himself. Not sure why. Hope it's a bit of help.
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