Not really sure how to take
care of the pigeon you found?
PEOPLE THAT FIND PIGEONS NEED TO KNOW !
(1) A small bowl ( coffee cup size ) of water will
suffice.
(2) The Pigeon will eat any type of bird seed or corn.
(3) A (temporary) 2' sqaure wire cage will work fine.
(4) Don't be afraid to handle the found pigeon.
(5) The Worst you can do is ruffle feathers.
(6) By the way, Pigeons don't bite.
Not Really sure how to read the
band on the pigeon you found?
HOW TO READ A BAND
The letters on the band will tell you the origin of the bird.
(EXAMPLE BAND BELOW)
Say... the band number reads, NPA 7 07 AT 1089
The ( NPA ) means it originated from the National Pigeon
Association.
The (7) is the band size.
The (07) is the year the pigeon was born.
The (AT) is the band alphabetical sequence.
The (1089) is a unique serial number for identifying that bird
If there is No band, it is a wild pigeon and no club member owns
it.
If you find an injured un-banded pigeon, contact your Humane
Society.
The banded pigeons could have originated from several
organizations.
Below are some pigeon organization contacts that hopefully will
help you.
IF =
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION ORG. -
www.ifpigeon.com
AU = AMERICAN RACING PIGEON UNION ORGANIZATION
-
www.pigeon.org
NPA = NATIONAL PIGEON ASSOCIATION -
pm66052@cox.net
CU = CANADIAN PIGEON UNION -
www.canadianracingpigeonunion.com
IPB = INDEPENDENT PIGEON BREEDERS -
http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com
NBRC = NATIONAL BIRMINGHAM CLUB -
www.nbrconline.com
Not Really sure how to take care of the pigeon you found ?
What
to do if you find a lost pigeon.
Water
Most lost birds are hungry and thirsty. Water is necessary
before all else. Since pigeons drink bysuction, any water
container should be at least 1 in. (2.5 cm) deep. An open
container, i.e., adish, an old margarine container tub, etc., is
best. While a thirsty bird may drink immediately, italso may
not. A bird which has gone without water for a while is
sometimes a bit less than itself. It may be so exhausted, it
doesn't even realize that water is in front of it, especially if
the water container you use is different from what it is
familiar with. A trick I've often used is to trickle a few drops
of water from on high into the container to make a splashing
sound. When they hear that, most birds will invariably head to
drink. If a bird looks really exhausted, Gatorade or other
proprietary sports drink may be added to the water. A teaspoon
or two per cup (250 ml) of water will help replenish
electrolytes.
Food
Pigeons are grain eaters. While park pigeons will eat bread,
most domestic birds have been raised on a multi-grain mixture
and have never seen a slice of it. In fact, they would likely
ignore it as possible food. Instead of bread, you might try
feeding them something else from around the house. Popcorn
(maize), rice, split peas, barley, buckwheat (kasha), canary
seed, etc., are all good first options to feed a lost bird with.
THESE GRAINS SHOULD NOT BE COOKED OR POPPED BUT FED RAW. Water
should also be provided since pigeons normally drink immediately
after eating.
What Should I
Keep It In?
Any
container that a dog or cat can't get into will be fine. An old
bird cage will hold the pigeon for a day or so with no problem,
as will a cardboard box - a screen on top of such a box is
better than simply closing the flaps since there will then be
enough light for the bird to see to eat and drink.
Finding the
bird's owner.
If
the bird has a band on its leg, the owner can sometimes be
traced through one of the national pigeon organizations.
However, this is often not even necessary. After twenty-four to
forty-eight hours rest with food and water, most homing pigeons
are more than capable of finding their way home on their own.
Simply release the bird in an area free of wires or other
obstacles and it will usually head home immediately. NEVER try
to attach a note to the owner by rubber banding it to the bird's
leg. This merely cuts off the leg's blood circulation and often
leads to gangrene and amputation of the limb. If you do want to
attach a small note, tie it carefully to the middle two tail
feathers.