Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.

Click for 65% off Shipping with Reptiles 2 You
Click for ZooMed
Click for 65% off Shipping with Reptiles 2 You

injured legs - broken?

lizzee Apr 22, 2008 09:14 AM

have an obviously FORMER racing pigeon here, with what i initially thought was a broken leg. cut the band off, amid many tears, and apologies to the poor birdling, and now it appears that the bird doesn't have the use of anything below the thighs on both legs.
he was found in a parking lot,and it looks like he must have sat there, flat on his chest and dragging himself thru pools of oil. little trooper he is. so this is day three that he's been observed surviving, and day two that he's in my care.
he's eating like a champ, a mix of my birds' food, dog food, cornmeal, salt free peanuts, and some apple. he's had some bird tea as well.
two baths and a blow dry later, i cut the matted feathers off his chest, and put him to bed on his back in a small box filled with cushy t.p.
woke up this morning, and he blinks at me, still on his back. washed off some poo, he drinks, he eats, and attempts to move around on his drumsticks, still no foot use.
he's very tame, loves being pet, doesn't appear to have any bugs and doesn't seem to be in pain, but we all know how birds are, and the worst is that my avian vet won't see him, because he's a pigeon! the wildlife rehab center won't see him, because he's a racing pigeon, and not wildlife. i'm screwed!
what should i do? i'll have a vet euthanize him if i must, but i don't know that it's necessary just yet.
any help? advice?

Replies (1)

lizzee Apr 27, 2008 01:35 PM

okee doke - now he's survived past a week. he has a cast on each leg, sleeps in a 'shirt' [footie sock with the toes cut out]on his back, spends the day in a sling with his leggies dangling behind him. he eats like a champ still, even tried some herbal tea. seemed shocked at first, but i think he liked it! he's as sweet as can be, i'm in love with pigeons now!
i have hookbills, so he's eating their food, with some exact sprinkled in there, and some peanuts crushed up, too. i keep reading racing pigeons eat austrian peas, etc, bt where can i find him a sort of super food mix, that will help him heal? i'm not a big fan of seeds, but i read they eat canary seed, hemp seed, but i'm not sure that's the best way to go.
we're going to see THE GREATEST VET THAT EVER LIVED, in three weeks, and i guess that's when we'll decide what's what with him. i say dr. wright is the greatest vet ever because he races pigeons, actually got on the phone with me, and agreed to see the boy.
i don't want to bug him , so that's why i'm looking for extra info here.
anybody?

Site Tools