Hello there. I am new and just in need of some advice. Apologies if I am posting in the wrong place.
Two weeks ago I heard a noise that sounded like a bird was caught by one of our cats. Rushing out to the garden, there was a bird and he was walking towards the out house, one cat looking on (not that interested thankfully). This bird was a Pigeon - a very young Pigeon (a fledgling). He remained in the out house for 3 hours (I left him alone to calm while I figured out the next step).
Later that evening I went out to check on him and he was nowhere to be seen, then I saw his head in a plant pot! So he was safe - phew. I had kept the cats indoors since he entered the shed so I knew he'd be okay. He wasn't injured, he was just not fully flighted.
To cut it short, it's now been 2 weeks and he has remained in the garden - mostly sat on top of the barbecue lid during the day, and roosting on the window ledge at night. I had to go out and clean up as there was a lot of poo each day, and he jumped on to my hand (I wore an oven glove) and I was able to pop him on a tree branch while I cleaned. A very sweet guy!
I had put water out for him from day one and replaced it with fresh every day - he always drank it. I didn't feed him at first as I was told the mother may still be feeding him, and judging from all the poop he was being fed! I did then try some muesli soaked in water, as that was all I had that I thought suitable. I wanted him to have some food source just in case he wasn't being fed (this was early on). I then realised he was being fed as of the poop, and plus he would fly up to the outhouse roof each day (same time) where the mum would feed him. Then he would fly back to the barbecue.
He has been pruning and chirping and pottering around just fine over the last 2 weeks.
Today I went out and he was on the out house roof (he's been making his way up there every day). I looked up and saw, what looked like all his family, above on the house roof cheering him on to fly up to them! It still seems that he isn't fully flighted as he can't seem to mange any higher than the outhouse - this is about 8ft from barbecue and a height of 8ft.
His yellow feathers have now gone (he had a few at the start) and his beak is more formed (not so knobbly). I put seed and meal worms out occasionally, as I am now not sure if the mother is feeding him.
Any advice on next steps would be greatly appreciated.
The problem is, my cats have been shut in for the past 2 weeks and are eager to get out in the garden (plus I am not liking the litter trays being indoors, ha). Also the Pigeon poop is increasing and it's a lot of hosing and scrubbing each day. Having said that, I am all for giving him as much time as he needs, but how soon do you think it will be until he'll be on his way? And is there a chance he may never leave? I mean, okay, he'll soon be off for mating and food etc, but will he always come back?
Years ago my elderly neighbours had Homing Pigeons and I wonder if he, and the others, (we've always had Pigeons around that roost in the Honeysuckle) are descendants? I'll kind of miss him when he's gone but I have cats so he can't stay much longer! :cat:
Thank you for any help!
I can attach photos.
Two weeks ago I heard a noise that sounded like a bird was caught by one of our cats. Rushing out to the garden, there was a bird and he was walking towards the out house, one cat looking on (not that interested thankfully). This bird was a Pigeon - a very young Pigeon (a fledgling). He remained in the out house for 3 hours (I left him alone to calm while I figured out the next step).
Later that evening I went out to check on him and he was nowhere to be seen, then I saw his head in a plant pot! So he was safe - phew. I had kept the cats indoors since he entered the shed so I knew he'd be okay. He wasn't injured, he was just not fully flighted.
To cut it short, it's now been 2 weeks and he has remained in the garden - mostly sat on top of the barbecue lid during the day, and roosting on the window ledge at night. I had to go out and clean up as there was a lot of poo each day, and he jumped on to my hand (I wore an oven glove) and I was able to pop him on a tree branch while I cleaned. A very sweet guy!
I had put water out for him from day one and replaced it with fresh every day - he always drank it. I didn't feed him at first as I was told the mother may still be feeding him, and judging from all the poop he was being fed! I did then try some muesli soaked in water, as that was all I had that I thought suitable. I wanted him to have some food source just in case he wasn't being fed (this was early on). I then realised he was being fed as of the poop, and plus he would fly up to the outhouse roof each day (same time) where the mum would feed him. Then he would fly back to the barbecue.
He has been pruning and chirping and pottering around just fine over the last 2 weeks.
Today I went out and he was on the out house roof (he's been making his way up there every day). I looked up and saw, what looked like all his family, above on the house roof cheering him on to fly up to them! It still seems that he isn't fully flighted as he can't seem to mange any higher than the outhouse - this is about 8ft from barbecue and a height of 8ft.
His yellow feathers have now gone (he had a few at the start) and his beak is more formed (not so knobbly). I put seed and meal worms out occasionally, as I am now not sure if the mother is feeding him.
Any advice on next steps would be greatly appreciated.
The problem is, my cats have been shut in for the past 2 weeks and are eager to get out in the garden (plus I am not liking the litter trays being indoors, ha). Also the Pigeon poop is increasing and it's a lot of hosing and scrubbing each day. Having said that, I am all for giving him as much time as he needs, but how soon do you think it will be until he'll be on his way? And is there a chance he may never leave? I mean, okay, he'll soon be off for mating and food etc, but will he always come back?
Years ago my elderly neighbours had Homing Pigeons and I wonder if he, and the others, (we've always had Pigeons around that roost in the Honeysuckle) are descendants? I'll kind of miss him when he's gone but I have cats so he can't stay much longer! :cat:
Thank you for any help!
I can attach photos.
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