Injured pigeon not eating

That grit was a great find!

It's good to know that Kader is improving! I hope your husband comes to agree with you about the cage, especially as it only needs to be closed when it's essential to her safety. It would be awful if there was another seagull atack!

Dear All,

Kader's grid has just arrived. I mixed the different varieties and presented a small quantity to her in a small dish. I am hoping that she will eat a bit tomorrow morning (right now it is night here and she is sleeping).

My husband changed his mind after I told him that all the pigeon experts say it is best for her. He already started checking some alternatives on the internet for buying. Because he is not sure if he can make it himself. But he keeps complaining that they are too small.

Unfortunately I have to make another trip starting from early tomorrow and I will be away for about ten days. My husband and Kader will take care of each other when I am away. I am posting a recent picture of her before I leave. The quality of the picture is poor but I like it because she looks very nice against the background.


Best Wishes.

Kader is an absolute darling, Ghanima.
The picture is wonderful and I thank you for sharing it with us.

Wishing you a pleasant and safe journey.

to your husband.

AZWhitefeather wrote:

Kader is an absolute darling, Ghanima.
The picture is wonderful and I thank you for sharing it with us.

Wishing you a pleasant and safe journey.

to your husband.

I second that on all counts!
She's looking so much better, and very alert and curious.
See you soon...

I love seeing her look healthy. It makes me very, very happy. You and your husband have done such a wonderful job caring for her.

I'm sure your husband will come up with something. Big,r than my suggestion would be okay too. Just remind him that pigeons like a cage that's' long rather than tall.

Have a wonderful trip. We'll be looking forward to your return.

Dear All,

Thank you for your comments and for good wishes.

Matilda wrote:

Just remind him that pigeons like a cage that's' long rather than tall.

Sure, I will remind him that. Thank you for reminding.

I will have internet connection during my trip so I can write you if there is an urgency. Otherwise, I will write when I return.

Many Thanks to All.

Ghanima, I am so happy that everything is going so well. You have done such a very good job!
Love the photo - what a difference it is now!!!

Dear All,

I came back from my trip and settled down a few things at home. Now I am happy to write back to you.

We have bought a cage for Kader. I am posting its picture below. Our original plan was to move the cage out to the balcony and back inside from time to time but we realized that the cage is just too big and too heavy for this (I think it is cast iron). So, for the time being we placed it next to the window so that she can enjoy sunshine and watch the other birds which come to the balcony for food and water.

We keep the cage door open for most of the day. Although she doesn't protest being inside the cage when the door is closed, she prefers to get out as soon as we open door. She heads straight to the kitchen and spends the rest of the day under the kitchen table. She doesn't go back to the cage even when she is surely hungry. Every evening I have to catch her and put her back into the cage so that she can eat. None of this is a big problem for us but we would prefer that she stays mostly in the cage, get out when she wants to and come back on her own

But then again, she has the cage for only four days now. Maybe she needs some more time to get used to it.

Best Wishes.

Hi Ghanima,
It's great to hear from you. I'm glad you've returned home safely.

Kader looks great. And seems to enjoy her new 'home'.
Thank you for sharing the photo with us.

Let us know how things are coming along.

I'm glad everything is going well. Maybe if you were to make the cage a bit more comfortable for him. They like a brick or a flat board to perch on for the night. That way they can even lay down when they want to. Pigeons aren't really "perching" birds. He may like going in better at the end of the day. Just a thought.

Dear NiteOwl

NiteOwl wrote:

They like a brick or a flat board to perch on for the night. That way they can even lay down when they want to. Pigeons aren't really "perching" birds. He may like going in better at the end of the day. Just a thought.

That's right! I think Mathilda already told me this but I totally forgot. I'll find something like that. Let's see if our little lady will like it.

Best Wishes.

Ghanima wrote:

Dear NiteOwl

NiteOwl wrote:

They like a brick or a flat board to perch on for the night. That way they can even lay down when they want to. Pigeons aren't really "perching" birds. He may like going in better at the end of the day. Just a thought.

That's right! I think Mathilda already told me this but I totally forgot. I'll find something like that. Let's see if our little lady will like it.

Best Wishes.

She'd probably love it. My birds do. And when they're relaxing, they lay down on it and look so comfy. It's really cute.
I have a loft ful of rescues, and they normally prefer those perches. As far as returning to her cage, well we also have a disabled pij. who lives in the house with us. We keep her in the living room because that is where we spend most of our time when home, and want her to e able to interact with us. She follows us around, and if we leave the room, will fly after us. She just loves being out of the cage, and will complain loudly until we take her out. But getting her to go to bed at night has always been challenging. She just wants to stay out and spend the night on her living room perch. She gets mad at us for putting her back in her cage. If you turn the lights way down low, or shut them off with just enough light to be able to see her, she will be easier to catch, without having to chase her all over. They don't see well at night, and won't normally fly away from you. Try it. Makes it tons easier.

One thing though is that she loves peanuts, so sometimes I will let her see me putting them in her cage, and she will then often return on her own to get the treat. Also, sometimes when she gets tired or hungry, she will return to the cage on her own. But she has been caged since a small baby, so she does think of it as her home. This comes with time.

Dear NiteOwl

NiteOwl wrote:

If you turn the lights way down low, or shut them off with just enough light to be able to see her, she will be easier to catch, without having to chase her all over. They don't see well at night, and won't normally fly away from you. Try it. Makes it tons easier.

That looks like a very good tip! Thank you very much. I'll give it a try.

NiteOwl wrote:

One thing though is that she loves peanuts, so sometimes I will let her see me putting them in her cage, and she will then often return on her own to get the treat. Also, sometimes when she gets tired or hungry, she will return to the cage on her own. But she has been caged since a small baby, so she does think of it as her home. This comes with time.

Well, if I put peanuts in there I am afraid my husband may go into the cage instead of our rescue . But I'll give it a try, too.

Many thanks for the advise.

Ghanima wrote:

Dear NiteOwl

NiteOwl wrote:

If you turn the lights way down low, or shut them off with just enough light to be able to see her, she will be easier to catch, without having to chase her all over. They don't see well at night, and won't normally fly away from you. Try it. Makes it tons easier.

That looks like a very good tip! Thank you very much. I'll give it a try.

NiteOwl wrote:

One thing though is that she loves peanuts, so sometimes I will let her see me putting them in her cage, and she will then often return on her own to get the treat. Also, sometimes when she gets tired or hungry, she will return to the cage on her own. But she has been caged since a small baby, so she does think of it as her home. This comes with time.

Well, if I put peanuts in there I am afraid my husband may go into the cage instead of our rescue . But I'll give it a try, too.

Many thanks for the advise.

LOL. I know what you mean. I actually have to do it when mine isn't looking, but Scooter is. Then you also tell your hubby that if he goes after them, he sleeps in the cage.

NiteOwl wrote:

Ghanima wrote:

Dear NiteOwl

NiteOwl wrote:

If you turn the lights way down low, or shut them off with just enough light to be able to see her, she will be easier to catch, without having to chase her all over. They don't see well at night, and won't normally fly away from you. Try it. Makes it tons easier.

That looks like a very good tip! Thank you very much. I'll give it a try.

NiteOwl wrote:

One thing though is that she loves peanuts, so sometimes I will let her see me putting them in her cage, and she will then often return on her own to get the treat. Also, sometimes when she gets tired or hungry, she will return to the cage on her own. But she has been caged since a small baby, so she does think of it as her home. This comes with time.

Well, if I put peanuts in there I am afraid my husband may go into the cage instead of our rescue . But I'll give it a try, too.

Many thanks for the advise.

LOL. I know what you mean. I actually have to do it when mine isn't looking, but Scooter is. Then you also tell your hubby that if he goes after them, he sleeps in the cage.

That's very funny!

Dear NiteOwl

We have put a flat board inside our little lady's cage as you suggested. Like you said, she immediately settled down on it. It has been a few days since we put the board and I can definitely say that she now spends more time in the cage and seems happier. She only gets out when she feels like pooping in our slippers. I am posting a picture of the new lay out of her cage. Thank you for your help and best wishes.

That's perfect!

She might enjoy a nest too. Many thing will work form a wooden box, basket, etc. I always put a towel in the bottom of the nest and offer twigs they can play with to decorate the nest.

Be sure and protect your slippers!

Dear Matilda,

Matilda wrote:

That's perfect!

She might enjoy a nest too. Many thing will work form a wooden box, basket, etc. I always put a towel in the bottom of the nest and offer twigs they can play with to decorate the nest.

Many thanks for the advise. Let me find something that may work out as a nest and then post the new pictures.

Matilda wrote:

Be sure and protect your slippers!

You bet!

Don't forget to hang a hand mirror.

It will be fun to see what you come up with for a nest.

That's a great perch setup you have for the little lady, Ghanima.
They do love having something to perch on.

If you have any around, pine needles make great nesting material.
I love watching my guys arrange and rearrange them, so that they are just perfect.

I can not resist replying to this post. Not to add advice, I am overwhelmed and also more learned from all I have read, i can not better any of it. BUT, I have to say, in years and years of internet reading, sharing, learning, never have I seen such devotion, such unashamed welcoming of guidance and advice, and such a gathering of none-judgemental, kind hearted and helpful people.
It has been a pure joy to read.
May God/your God/whatever you believe in, bless you all.
This thread is just beautiful.

Ghanima, that looks great! And she looks very comfy on her new perch. And yes, a mirror would be grand. Another soft nesting material for the nest would be that fake lambs wool that you can get at a fabric store. My Scooter, house pidge, just loves it. Nice and soft.

NiteOwl wrote:

Ghanima, that looks great! And she looks very comfy on her new perch.
And yes, a mirror would be grand.

Another soft nesting material for the nest would be that fake lambs wool that you can get at a fabric store. My Scooter, house pidge, just loves it. Nice and soft.

Mikko loves the mirror.
And he could care less that Malio is waiting patiently for his turn.

Dear Matilda, AZWhitefeather and NiteOwl,

Matilda wrote:

Don't forget to hang a hand mirror.

Yes, I remember that one of you told me about the mirror, earlier. I brought a small mirror with a stand and put it in the bathroom when she was living there. But everyday, we found that the mirror was knocked down. Eventually my husband removed it, thinking that she was fighting with the mirror. But now that I saw in AZWhitefeather's photo how Mikko and Malio enjoy the mirror, I can give it another try.

By the way, AZWhitefeather, Mikko and Malio look marvelous!

AZWhitefeather wrote:

If you have any around, pine needles make great nesting material.
I love watching my guys arrange and rearrange them, so that they are just perfect.

Yes, I am sure I can find plenty of them here. Right now, we are having a storm. But I will go out today and collect some twigs and pine needles if the storm eases a bit.

NiteOwl wrote:

Another soft nesting material for the nest would be that fake lambs wool that you can get at a fabric store. My Scooter, house pidge, just loves it. Nice and soft.

Thank you for the tip. Let me see if I can find something like that around here.