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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Injured pigeon - what the hell do I do

120 replies

shoulditbethishard1 · 20/05/2023 19:04

An injured pigeon has landed on my drive, it looks like it might have been hit by a car, it can flap its wings but it’s like it’s back end is stuck to the floor and it can’t get up.

I think it’s days are numbered but I’ve just been back out there, it’s breathing very heavily, I don’t want it to suffer needlessly but I couldn’t put an end to its misery myself.

vets won’t be interested, RSPB won’t be interested.

what would you do?

OP posts:
Costacoffeeisbetterthansex · 20/05/2023 19:06

Please take to local vet. I promise you they will do the right thing

Xrays · 20/05/2023 19:06

Vets will be interested. Ring them and ask. Alternatively if you have a local community facebook page post there. Where we live we have several bird rescue places who would respond to a post and come and collect the bird - but we live in Norfolk and I appreciate different areas might not be as pigeon friendly sadly.

Fatkittythinkitty · 20/05/2023 19:06

We have a bird rescue place near us. I took them a pigeon recently. Might be worth a google or ask on your local Facebook page if you're on there.

TomatoSandwiches · 20/05/2023 19:07

Have you got a spade?

astarielle · 20/05/2023 19:08

Took an injured seagull to a vet once and they were happy to take. RSPB also came to collect an injured buzzard. I'm sure they will help.

partypompoms · 20/05/2023 19:08

Any vet has to deal with it for free.

DachshundsAreLoud · 20/05/2023 19:10

Absolutely take it to the vets. They will treat it.

marshmallowmatcha · 20/05/2023 19:11

Take it to the vet

TheInterceptor · 20/05/2023 19:13

DachshundsAreLoud · 20/05/2023 19:10

Absolutely take it to the vets. They will treat it.

'Treat' it

Wbeezer · 20/05/2023 19:13

I was shown how to wring an injured birds neck by my Dads friend who was a part time RSPB warden ( fun thing to show a child!). I had to do it once to an injured blackbird, difficult to do confidently, so if you're squeamishv take it to a vet or rescue.

Fleur405 · 20/05/2023 19:14

I’m in Scotland and the SSPB have come out to rescue injured birds I’ve found including a seagull and a blackbird and they were going to come to get a pigeon that got stuck in my chimney (the stupid thing managed to get out on its own). Obviously there is nothing to be done but put it to sleep but I’m sure the RSPB or a local vet will help.

Sapphire387 · 20/05/2023 19:15

I think you will need to make a decision quickly, otherwise a local cat or fox will do it for you.

SallyWD · 20/05/2023 19:15

I found an injured pigeon and took it to the vets. I phoned first to check this was OK and they said, yes they do take in wildlife. I expect they may have put it down but they told me that if it could be saved it would. I felt that at least I gave it a chance. If it couldn't be saved then it was killed humanely.

TooManyAnimals94 · 20/05/2023 19:15

YouTube how to wring a neck humanely.

GoodChat · 20/05/2023 19:18

Put it in a cardboard box in the shade until you can find someone who can care for it, to prevent other animals getting to it

Zwellers · 20/05/2023 19:19

partypompoms no they dont. Please stop spreading uniformed facts. They are only obliged to relieve suffering,@ i.e put the pigeon out of its misrey.

marshmallowmatcha · 20/05/2023 19:19

TooManyAnimals94 · 20/05/2023 19:15

YouTube how to wring a neck humanely.

Now is not the time to be watching you tube tutorials. Just call a vet op

mauvish · 20/05/2023 19:21

Don't try wringing a neck if you've no idea how. My OH has done so in the past and says it's v difficult to get right first time.

Your pigeon may well have a broken spine at a low level (ie near tail) and a speedy, hopefully painfree death will be the kindest resolution.

When one like this landed in my driveway, I caught it using a long handled kids fishing net, then put it gently underneath a bush with some water in a bowl. I thought that it would be less terrified if it knew it wasn't on open view. By the next day it had gone (fox, I expect) and there were no feathers so it hadn't struggled. I think it probably died quietly in private then fed a fox cub.

LadyRos · 20/05/2023 19:21

Vets can also put him/her down humanly. Poor thing

Original poster
shoulditbethishard1 · 20/05/2023 19:23

I’ve put a cardboard box out, it can still flap its wings but literally cannot go anywhere. Vets is closed and doesn’t open until tomorrow. I’ll post on my Facebook group and see if anyone can help

OP posts:
JennyForeigner · 20/05/2023 19:24

We had a similarly struggling pigeon and took it to the local vet. As pps have said, they were very good about it. They get a fungal infection apparently and it was dying. They gave it a gentle end.

So yes, I would do that.

CopyThenPaste · 20/05/2023 19:25

Vets have to give pain relief or euthanise. Put it in a box and take it to the vet. We’ve done this with a few birds over the years. Most were euthanised but a couple did survive.

SBHon · 20/05/2023 19:26

shoulditbethishard1 · 20/05/2023 19:23

I’ve put a cardboard box out, it can still flap its wings but literally cannot go anywhere. Vets is closed and doesn’t open until tomorrow. I’ll post on my Facebook group and see if anyone can help

There will be an emergency vet. If you call the closed vets the details of who they are will probably be on their answering machine. Or just Google ‘emergency vet [in your location]’.

UthredofBattenberg · 20/05/2023 19:27

Facebook might be able to help local rescuers, or even if there are pigeon racers about, they will be able to help I'm sure

Flopsythebunny · 20/05/2023 19:27

DachshundsAreLoud · 20/05/2023 19:10

Absolutely take it to the vets. They will treat it.

They will dispatch it quickly and painlessly