A POX ON ALL SPIKE BELTS AS PIJ CONTROL!!

A POX ON PIGEON SPIKES!!

Today when I went to feed my flock of farels are the park, two of them are limping badly. One is very distinctive (a brown speckle) and he had not been limping prior to today. I cannot help but wunder if he and the other pij have injured their feet on those disgusting spikebelts that are erected as HUMANE PIGEON CONTROL DIVICES, when they are not! They were close to me and I was able to see that they have no evident injury (all toes are there, no cuts visible, just swelling).

Pigeons do try and land on these spikes, and if they do they get impaled by the foot and though they may manage to fly free, they often wind up with a nasty infection, which in a farel is a death sentence. I was able to hand feed these two, but they were timid (because they are in pain). I wish pest control agencies would get real and go with the round wire coils rather than flogging these damn spikes ! Also, the wire meshes work well, without injury to the doves. But, of course it is all about CHEAP pigeon control, isn't it?

I tried to get ahold of these two, but, as you know, when they are in pain they have two ways of dealing with us -- total AVOIDANCE and actually seeking us out. They chose to avoid handling (can't say as I blame them. If you have any suggestions on how I can treat them (say, by making sure the feed I give them has a herbal remedy known to protect and kill infection) I would appreciate the suggestions. I know it is hard to say, as I cannot be 100% sure that it is NOT some other thing wrong with their feet, but at least this would not add to their pain and misery by trying to fight the possible infection. Thanks friends. You can e-mail me at lindaroberts@shaw.ca

I'm sorry to hear this about the two little pijjies.
Since they will not cooperate with you catching them, I would suggest keeping an eye on them and making sure they are eating.

With both of them having a recent onset of foot problems, the spikes very well may be the culprit.

Are the spikes up all over or certain buildings?

Try taking a small animal carrier with you when you go to feed the Pigeons. Put some food inside the kennel and maybe one of both will go inside. Be ready to close the door if they do.
Do they seem to be a mated pair?

So sorry to hear this Were you able to catch them?

These spike are horrific and so cruel. I feed my feral flock in my backyard and my neighbor directly behind me has placed tousands of them all over his roof. Most of my ferals have learned to stay totally away from them, but my little baby rescue with the eye injury has been the spikes latest victim. This little baby has lost his eye because of these spikes, and he is lucky to be alive. I wish there was a way to have these awful spikes banned.

Jackie\'s Mom wrote:

This little baby has lost his eye because of these spikes, and he is lucky to be alive. I wish there was a way to have these awful spikes banned.

Oh that's so so awful Can't these people adopt some other humane means if they don't want the birds to come?
I hope the baby is recovering

oh that is so terrible. How heartless these people are that choose to use these devices.

I hope you can eventually get a chance to check these poor souls over.

Louise, I didn't realise this was how your little one lost her eye. Dreadful, just dreadful.

Janet