I Need A Bit Of Help.....

[Ratzy]

A teacher dropped off a pigeon at my house just now with a supposedly broken wing. I've checked the wing, doesn't seem to be broken ( my extensive veterinary training coming in here ), perhaps sprained. There is a scab ( yuck ) on the top of the wing, and some feathers and flesh hanging off. It is a bit tame ( perhaps somebody's pet or racing pigeon ). I'm wondering if I can use Benedine to clear to wound? A sling to hold the wing in place? I have no experience with pigeons and have no food for it except poultry pellets, would they be all right until I can get some pigeon food? It is of course in strict quarantine. It is a bit thin and has an empty crop. So, is Benedine Ok to use?

 

[antoinette]

Hi Ratzy,
I came across this link, scroll down and read
You will find it most useful

http://www.ccwr.org/membership/members_only/symposium handouts/Bird Breaks-Bloomfield CCWR'07.pdf

Good luck, keep us updated

 

[bogo1]

I would avoid betadine ...too. caustic. Warm salt water would be a more neutral wash.Triple antibiotic cream could be used over the scab. If bird survives all this then attention should mostly be on nutrition and hydration. I am assuming vet is not an option here. Listen though Sarah...in this case protecting you is every bit as important as protecting your flock. Wild birds have parasites that can harm you and Amy so washing and separation is huge.

 

[Ratzy]

Thanks! He/she is eating and drinking. No, vet is not an option... they'd put it down immediately. Neither is the wildlife centre, they'd also euthanize. I'm very strict on quarantine and have been washing a lot.

 

[Von1983]

Aww bless you Ratzy.

Puts me in mind of when Dave brought home before we were married. A pigeon that had been attacked in the garden of a customer who's bathroom he was renovating. It had been caught and attacked by a crow.

He (as we called him lol Oliver!) had cuts where the crow had tried to peck his eye out.

I bathed it in salt water and bought some food. Kept him in a carry case where it was dark with towels and hot water bottles on the outside.

On day 3 the cut had healed over and he'd come out of his shock.

I woke up to him calling to the flock and running around in the cage. I took a few videos that is still on my phone of his recuperation and release lol. Funny, I saw them only last night!

I was advised by the vet who I phoned for advice (she found it quite funny as I started off with saying: Hi Sarah, Dave's under the impression I'm Dr Dolittle again....this time it's a shocked pigeon with a cut eye!") that if he made it through the night then she was 90% sure he'd be ok as it's normally shock they die of.

Hope all goes well with your temp patient!

 

[Ratzy]

I'm starting to suspect it is dislocated. I'm actually more worried he/she will develop an infection in the wound. Poos have firmed up and look normal. He/she is robust and healthy apart from the obvious.

 

[Pheonix Rising]

Great news ratzy
perhaps try splinting it or just wrapping the wing in against the body to stop it from flapping and causing damage

Keep up thr good work

 

[Bobby34231]

Hi Ratzy, as Barb has stated avoid the Betadine, you can use Hydrogen Peroxide to cleanse the wound and follow up with an antibacterial ointment such as neosporin, polysporin or triple antibiotic ointment, you can place a sterile guaze bandage over the wound and hold it in place by wrapping the wing close to the body with vet wrap

 

[Ratzy]

I cleaned up the wound, snipped off the flesh that was hanging off it's feathers and discovered that the only thing causing the poor pigeon to hold it's wing out like it is broken is the wound. After I sterilized it I put a cotton pad on with some toilet roll on top and tied it on to the wing.

 

[Ratzy]

'Cyrus' has been doing well, so well that I released him this morning. He's been living in my chook pen after dad threatened to ring his neck unless I moved him out of the house and/or shed. He reasoned that the chooks get visits from wild birds all the time, including the occasional pigeon so I couldn't quarantine. I took him out of the chook pen and put him on the ground-he went straight back in. So, I caught him again and chucked him over the chook fence. He landed in the pen next to it and I left him there. I think he'll be in the chook pen when I get back from school though. I'm kicking myself for not quarantining, but it was the only thing I could do. If he's in the pen when I get home, I'll release him in town. Chances are he'll hook up with a flock. First I might put an identification ring on him though, so he doesn't get killed by anybody ( Ozzies don't exactly take kindly to feral pigeons ).