go to: Detailed Instructions on Hand Feeding a Pigeon
I get numerous letters from kind people who
have rescued orphaned or injured pigeons.
Here's some information to get you started.
Keep the baby warm (at least 80 degrees).
Keep the baby dry!
If the baby needs medical attention, please seek out a professional immediately!
Keep the baby in a quiet, safe place --- away from noise, curious humans, cats, dogs, trumpet players, etc.
You must get food and water into the baby: if she is too young to eat by herself, you will need to feed her by hand. Go to the pet store and buy some baby bird formula, such as Kaytee Exact or LaFeber Nutri-Strart. Also buy a feeding syringe (no needles, just a feeding syringe).
Follow the directions provided with the formula. You will be mixing formula with warm water (not hot, just lukewarm!). Fill the syringe with formula; make sure it's not too thick or you won't be able to push it through. Carefully open the little squeaker's beak. Insert the syringe carefully into her mouth and squeeze a little bit at a time. It will take you a good twenty to thirty minutes probably, and the squeaker needs feeding at least five times a day. Therefore, you will have to make a big commitment or you will need to find someone else who will. Babies must be fed! Don't let her starve to death. Experienced bird feeders can crop feed a pigeon (feed directly into the crop), but if you haven't done this before, please don't try it: you can kill the bird if you let liquid go into her lungs. You might also choke her with the tube. Just be patient and feed her by mouth. Soon she'll learn that you are the food provider and she'll start calling you Mom.
Feed your bird every day, even after she begins eating seed by herself. When she first starts showing an interest in picking up seed, she'll need at least one more week of handfeeding to be sure she's getting enough nutrition. It takes a while for a baby to learn how to eat and drink, so be patient.
About 45 days after birth, a pigeon can fly. Please do not release her until you are sure she can fly well and defend herself. If you release her, bring her back to where you found her or to a safe area nearby, preferably where there are other pigeons.
If you rescued her at a very young age and feel that she should not be released into the wild, or if any other injury/condition exists that makes her unreleasable, then you should provide her with a good home. That means she should have room to fly and always have dry, fresh food and clean water. Pigeons make lovely pets: they are smart, affectionate, beautiful, and fascinating. If you've rescued a baby that you decide to keep, I believe you will find great joy in befriending her. I keep the ones that cannot safely be released, and they have their own bedroom and access to a large screened-in porch.
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