Pigeon drama. What to do?

But you have to pay surely?

It's not nice to see any creature suffer but....the pigeon population in the UK is out of control now since shooting them was banned.
They are a menace in towns, they devastate crops in minutes and they take over people's gardens, terrorising smaller birds.
We've had pigeons nesting in our small trees for years and they are a complete nuisance with their noise and poop all over the garden. Our small housing estate is overrun by them.
I'm sorry but this sentimentality over one pigeon is a bit OTT.

I'm glad someone is coming to help you. Hopefully the pigeon will be okay. It may have just been badly stunned. I hate to see any living creature suffer.
Just for future reference, my now husband and I once found a hedgehog which was clearly suffering (poor mite had a maggot-infested eye), and we took it to a vet who humanely euthanized him / her. There was absolutely zero charge. Even an emergency vet will help out of hours. Please keep us updated. I hope the pigeon makes a full recovery,

@dawngreen this is the advice I was given by our local bird rescue, put it in a box, provide seed/food and water but don't feed it and leave it for 24 hours. It'll either die or start to recover at which point you can then get in touch with the bird or pigeon rescue in your area.

Best put in a cardboard box with holes in, and either put in a dark cool quite room away from pets. leave a water dish in with it. Check on it the next day or take to a vets asap. Some times they are dazed , and are ok the next day or not.

I live near the downs and have found three pigeons on different occasions like this, put them in a box, took them to the emergency vets and they dealt with it. No idea if they lived or if they were put down but on no occasion did they charge me any money. One time I did request an update and they just said it had been passed onto a wildlife charity for care. Couldn't bear to see them get mauled by a fox or cat and at least if they were un saveable they went peacefully.

I have had a lot of birds fly into our patio doors, lie stunned for a surprisingly long period of time, and then fly off. I try to loosely cover them in the meantime, without hampering their freedom, no idea if this helps or not. I hope that the rescue turns out well!

You've done the right thing, OP. A wildlife volunteer came and collected a non-flying pigeon from my garden and took it off to some place on the edge of London where it was going to be nursed and released into a flock. I was surprised how quickly they came and how much they cared.

I can’t believe how many people are advocating to just kill the pigeon, very unnecessarily cruel! Glad you contacted the wildlife sanctuary OP - we have one near us and I've taken birds including a pigeon and mice, you can even ring for an update. Pigeons are very sweet

I'd try and take it to a rescue.I wouldn't pay £££ for an emergency vet.

Yes they do, as do lots of vets. That's why they're are loads of pigeon rehabbers.

I can see you've got someone coming out so I'll just post this for information for others.

There are loads of pigeon rescues all over the country. You can find most of them on Facebook. Please don't kill pigeons unnecessarily. Contact local rescuers (often just individual people) and post on the pigeon Facebook groups and someone WILL help.

If you wouldn't automatically kill a dog, or a fox, or a beautiful bird of prey, please don't do it to a pigeon either. They deserve life just as much.

Glad the wildlife rescue people are on their way.

i would not personally hit an animal with a spade, or put it out of its misery with my car. I don’t mind if someone else does. Also squishing spiders etc is also not for me. Not for any like peta esque reasons, more because I don’t want the crunch or anything 😂

as for the secateur method comment, that is very up close and personal, and a bit oh Jesus Christ 😂

Oh poor little creature. I hope the wildlife people are able to save it.
I think they told you not to take it to the rspca because they may put it to sleep it without giving it a chance.

Chop it's head off with a hoe/spade to the neck. Instant.

Its awful isn't it. Folk advocating cruelty wirh spades.

Birds often do this, fly into things and are stunned for a bit then perk up.

Glad the wildlife folk coming, they aren't usually interested in birds. If there's a next time just leave it to recover, if it doesn't pop in shoe box so it can die peacefully without being tortured by a cat.

If you call your vets they will usually have a recorded message telling you who the emergency vets are. You can call them and either they'll take it or give the contact details of a wildlife carer/rescue who will help.

This thread has made me feel a bit sick... other than the 10 year rescued pigeon. I just could not bring myself to do any of those things!

I'm glad you got in contact with a rescue. They will at least deal with the bird humanely.

I was also going to say wildlife rescue. Well done OP

If it laid out all night without moving anything other than its head then it's really not likely to have a survivable injury.

Anyway, at least the pigeon experts will be there soon and help it, either way.

Yay that's great news!

With a broken spine? ok options are spade it or drive over it idk but come on please don't just leave it

i had to do it to a cat once it was horrific but seriously the best thing to do for the poor animal that had been hit by a car and left to die by someone who didn't stop.

So glad you rang them and they're coming out @JustWing

I hope they can save the pigeon but worse case at least they'll know the kindest way to do it if there's no chance.