Just a Pigeon?

[NISaxoVTR]

So I came home this evening and it appeared someone had thrown a massive shuttlecock into my front garden but on closer inspection it was this guy



It doesn't show in the photo that well but he's quite a large brute, and very white. He looks like a very fat pigeon to me but I've never seen one this colour before, is there anything special about him? He's been sitting in the same spot more or less for several hours now and doesn't flinch when I walk up to him. He'll only move at all if I move my hand very close to him. He has walked around a bit and flew a very short distance, but then returns to the same spot under the hedge.

I thought he maybe a lost racing pigeon but I can't see any leg rings or markings, but I haven't had a good view to be honest and he has fluffy legs. My other thought was he's just a regular pigeon who's ill and on his last legs. I've left him out some food and water (which he took some of), but don't really know what to do with him if he keeps up his occupation of my garden!

[roystinho]

It is just a pigeon. If he doesn't learn to fly off he won't last long. I remember a blackbird at my grandad's house that didn't move even when you touched it, was alive and sat in top of the hedge, well, he was for about 20 mins until a sparrowhawk had him for dinner.

This could go the same way, maybe a cat or fox will have it

[mike-r]

Something might've already got to it, my cat has been known to petrify a few birds before. Some fly off and are fine, some just end up dying in the same spot.

[lamboman100]

Box it in the garage for a few days and see if the bird can be fed and watered back to health. It will flap around in the garage when it is ready to move on.

[NISaxoVTR]

Well Mr Pigeon made it through the night and has been sitting out there now for over 24 hours straight. He's been pottering about a bit and doesn't look sick or distressed to my untrained eye.

With his lack of fear of humans (or anything really) I think it's most likely he's escaped from a pigeon keeper somewhere. It seems a shame for him to get eaten, but if I did get him in a box who would want him?



£5 ono, pickup only

[lamboman100]

He seems well fed. Maybe put him in the garage, see if there are any tags on his legs or wings under the feathers, and stick his photo up on a couple of pigeon-fancier websites to see if anyone can claim him (and provide decent proof of ownership / identity).

[medieval]

That is quite a strange looking fellow I must admit - we inherited a number if doves including Javas when we bought our house and over the fourteen years we have been here the pure lines of the originals have been corrupted by the local wood pigeons so it could be some form of dove hybrid possibly

As said if he survives a few nights then his chance of long term survival is quite good but we have never had mush success in keeping the young ones alive once they are pushed or fall from the nest

Birds do not seem over parentally concerned once their young exit the nest for whatever reason sadly

Hawks and cats seem to be the agents of fate for these poor chaos sadly

Edited by medieval on Monday 12th May 19:50

[digger the goat]

The pigeon is certainly a 'bred' specimen and not feral ( unless offspring of feral and escaped bird ).
The fact that it ( almost certain that 'it' is male by the size, shape and demeanour), is not afraid of humans suggest that he is an escapee.

Try these folks for local breeders and more knowledge.

http://nationalpigeonassociation.co.uk/#/lost-fanc...

[Mobile Chicane]

The reason you 'don't see baby pigeons' is that they stay in the nest for ages; that looks a fully grown one to me. ie. of the stage its parents would have turfed it out.

If it isn't flying / feeding for itself, there's something wrong. Leave nature to take it's course I'd say.

[bexVN]

Any local friendly wildlife rescues in your area. We send most wildlife that isn't severely injured to Secret World, we're lucky to have a volunteer that lives round the corner! Act now he will perish fast if he isn't helped now, 24hrs being ill for a bird is like 2 weeks of us not eating. Give your local vets a ring and see if they know anyone.

[NISaxoVTR]

Thanks for the info, I've registered on a local pigeon site so I'll see if anyone wants to claim him. He's still hanging around (probably because I've been feeding him) and has found a nice spot to sleep on top of my wall under the roof. The wall is 6ft high and smooth rendered, so maybe a little difficult for cats to get to.

I'm a bit too worried of 'breaking' him by trying to catch him and put him in a box. Is he likely to be worth any money? I'm guessing not but don't want to give away somebodies £100 bird to the first chancer that's wants to claim him!

[bexVN]

If he has no ring on him he's not likely to be of great concern to anyone re value. At least he's eating. I'll be surprised (but happy) if you get a reply. Some birds have wings stamped (but only lasts few weeks) but would still expect at least 1 ring on a leg.

[gareth_r]

Some sort of fancy pigeon, but I've no idea of the particular variety.

http://nationalpigeonassociation.co.uk/#/lost-fanc...